[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48358-48359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20585]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Los Alamos Site Office; Floodplain/Wetlands Statement of Findings 
for Two Monitoring Wells at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, 
NM

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site 
Office, DOE.

ACTION: Floodplain/Wetlands statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This floodplain/wetlands statement of findings is for the 
installation and operation of two groundwater monitoring wells within 
two separate canyon floodplain locations at Los Alamos National 
Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico. Monitoring well CdV-16-1 (i) 
would be located within LANL in Canon de Valle, and monitoring well R-2 
would be located near the LANL boundary within the Incorporated County 
of Los Alamos in Pueblo Canyon. The installation process for the wells 
would include the placement of small cement pads around the wells, 
along with a gravel-covered area, and road improvements, culverts and 
erosion control materials and mechanisms as needed. The wells would be 
operated and monitored periodically after installation was completed. 
In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, the Department of Energy (DOE), 
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Los Alamos 
Site Operations has prepared a floodplain/wetland assessment and would 
perform this proposed action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize 
potential harm to or within the affected floodplain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Withers, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site 
Office, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Telephone (505) 667-
8690, of facsimile (505) 667-9998; or electronic address: 
[email protected].
    For Further Information on General DOE Floodplain Environmental 
Review Requirements, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Compliance, EH-42, Department of Energy, 100 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119. Telephone (202) 
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756, facsimile (202) 586-7031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with DOE regulations for 
compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review 
requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA prepared a floodplain/wetland 
assessment for this action. The NNSA published a Notice of Floodplain 
and Wetlands Involvement (Volume 68, Number 139). This Notice announced 
that the floodplain/wetlands assessment document was available for a 
15-day review period and that copies of the document could be obtained 
by contacting Ms. Withers at the above address or were available for 
review at two public DOE reading rooms in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, 
New Mexico. No comments were received from the Federal Register notice 
on the proposed floodplain action.
    Project Description: The DOE is installing a network of monitoring 
wells around and within LANL to characterize the hydrogeological 
setting of the Pajarito Plateau. These monitoring wells will be 
installed at varying depths and used to provide information on the 
groundwater aquifers present and to monitor various characteristics of 
the aquifers over time. The two subject monitoring wells would be 
installed in canyon-bottom settings chosen by the New Mexico 
Environment Department, which is the local regulator for water quality 
appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
    Alternatives: Alternative locations for the wells were not 
considered for this project due to the focused scope of the 
hydrogeological characterization of groundwater impacts from past LANL 
activities. The placement of wells R-2 and CdV-16-1 (i) has been 
mandated by the New Mexico Environment Department, hence alternate well 
sites were not deemed feasible. However, the proposed drilling 
activities would be conducted outside the stream channel and the short-
term adverse construction impacts to the floodplains of Ca[ntilde]on de 
Valle and Pueblo Canyon would be mitigated to the extent practicable.
    Floodplain/Wetlands Impacts: Well CdV-16-1 (i) in Ca[ntilde]on de 
Valle would be located above the top bank of the stream and would not 
directly impact wetlands. Erosion and sediment control best management 
practices (BMPs) would be installed to prevent material from entering 
the stream channel. Short-term, direct impacts to the floodplain above 
the top bank of the Ca[ntilde]on de Valle stream channel would occur 
from the construction of the well, the concrete pad, and the graveled 
area around the pad.
    There would be short-term indirect impacts from discharge of well 
development water to the ground.
    Wetlands are not present at well location R-2 or along the existing 
access road to the construction site in Pueblo Canyon. Short-term 
direct impacts to the stream channel would result from improving the 
access road stream crossings. A culvert would be installed of 
sufficient size to pass normal flows and would be removed at the 
completion of the project. In addition, direct impacts to the 
floodplain would occur above the top bank of the Pueblo Canyon stream 
channel due to construction of the well, concrete pad, and graveled 
area. As with the well in Ca[ntilde]on de Valle, there would be short-
term indirect impacts from discharge of well development water to the 
ground.
    The proposed action of installing and operating two monitoring 
wells does conform to applicable State or local floodplain protection 
standards. The pertinent Los Alamos County Code Ordinance is: 85-70 
``An Ordinance Repealing Chapter 15.16 of the Los Alamos County Code 
Adopting a New Chapter 17.70 Pertaining to Flood Damage Prevention.''
    Floodplain Mitigation: Placement of BMPs (such as silt fences, 
straw bales or wattles, or wooden or rock structures to slow down water 
runoff and run-on at cleared sites) at the construction area and post-
construction reseeding and

[[Page 48359]]

revegetation of the disturbed ground around the well pads would 
minimize soil disturbance and reduce or prevent the potential for soil 
erosion. The road design would include an appropriately designed 
culvert so that downstream flow and function of the floodplain will not 
be impeded. Indirect impacts from discharge of well development water 
to the ground would be minimized. The water would be sampled and the 
analytical results would be sent to the New Mexico Environment 
Department for their approval prior to discharge. Discharge would be 
through sprinklers or via a water truck along the access roads. No 
debris would be left at the work site. No vehicle maintenance or 
fueling within 100 feet of the floodplain would occur. Any sediment 
movement from the site would be short term and temporary.

    Issued in Los Alamos, NM, on August 5, 2003.
Ralph E. Erickson,
Manager, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Los Alamos Site Office.
[FR Doc. 03-20585 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P