[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28203-28204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13007]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Floodplain/Wetlands Statement of Findings for Interim Action at 
the Moab Project Site

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hereby provides this 
Statement of Findings as required by 10 CFR part 1022 of the effects of 
interim action on the 100-year and 500-year floodplain of the Colorado 
River at the Moab Project Site near Moab, Utah. The purposes of the 
interim action described in this statement are to protect human health, 
address environmental concerns and regulatory issues, while long-term 
solutions to site contamination are being evaluated. An Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared to evaluate alternatives for 
site remediation.
    The interim action involving the floodplain at the Moab site, 
scheduled for 2003, involves the installation of extraction and monitor 
wells and a pipeline to pump contaminated ground water from the 
alluvial aquifer to an evaporation pond. Contaminant concentrations in 
the ground water underlying the floodplain exceed maximum concentration 
limits established in 40 CFR 192, ``Health and Environmental Protection 
Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings.''
    A floodplain/wetlands assessment has been prepared to analyze the 
potential environmental effects of these actions and to evaluate 
alternatives. The floodplain/wetlands assessment is available to the 
public on the project web page at http://www.gjo.doe.gov/moab/project-docs.html. DOE will allow 15 days of public review after publication of 
this Statement of Findings before implementing the proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel D. Berwick, Moab Project Manager, 
U.S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Office, 2597 B 3/4 Road, Grand 
Junction, Colorado, 81503, (970) 248-6020, e-mail 
[email protected]; fax (970) 248-6040.
    For further information on general DOE floodplain/wetlands 
environmental review requirements, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, 
Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to conduct an EIS that 
included a Floodplain and Wetlands Notice was published in the Federal 
Register on December 20, 2002, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022.
    The interim remedial action includes intercepting contaminated 
ground water before it reaches the Colorado River. Ground water 
extraction wells would be installed adjacent to the Colorado River near 
existing access roads to optimize the interception of contaminated 
ground water discharging into the river near critical fish habitat. 
Ground water would be pumped at the rate of approximately 3 to 5 
gallons per minute per well and conveyed via pipeline to a lined 
evaporation pond. The evaporation pond will cover up to 8 acres and 
will be located outside of the 100-year floodplain, on top of the 
tailings pile. There is a potential for up to 2 acres of surface 
disturbance in the 100-year floodplain, including some clearing of 
tamarisk, for the installation of the extraction wells and pipeline. In 
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022.14, a map of the proposed interim 
remedial action can be found in the floodplain/wetlands assessment at 
http://www.gjo.doe.gov/moab/project-docs.html.
    The ground water extraction system would operate continuously until 
a final decision is made for remedial action at the Moab Project Site. 
This interim action is not intended as a long-term activity. Ground 
water sampling will be conducted throughout the process to assess 
effectiveness of the system.
    Alternatives evaluated for the evaporation system included up to 13 
alternatives including different pond locations with sizes ranging from 
3 to 10 acres, and evaporation systems including solar evaporation, 
spray evaporation, and apron evaporation. There is no practical 
alternative to locating the extraction wells and pipeline within the 
floodplain.
    All activities will be coordinated with the appropriate federal and 
state

[[Page 28204]]

agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and the Utah Division of Water Resources. 
Additionally, activities will conform to local floodplain requirements.
    Findings: The Floodplain and Wetlands Assessment concluded that 
these activities would have no significant effects on the 100-year or 
500-year floodplains and associated wetlands of the Colorado River and 
Moab Wash. Risks to human health, property, and the environment will 
not be increased as a result of these actions. DOE will allow 15 days 
after publication of this Statement of Findings before implementing 
these proposed actions.

    Signed in Grand Junction, Colorado, this 14th day of May, 2003.
Donna Bergman-Tabbert,
Manager, DOE--Grand Junction Office.
[FR Doc. 03-13007 Filed 5-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P