[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49476-49477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21025]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Floodplain/Wetlands Statement of Findings for the Security 
Perimeter Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New 
Mexico

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

ACTION: Notice of floodplain/wetlands statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This floodplain/wetlands statement of findings is for the 
construction of a single bypass road at the north end of Technical Area 
(TA) 3 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in Los Alamos, New 
Mexico, as part of the Security Perimeter Project. This project 
combines the installation of access control stations at key locations 
around TA-3 and modification of road intersections with the 
construction of a bypass road to control unauthorized access to the 
core technical and administrative area at LANL. A wetland of less than 
1,000 square feet in area would be filled during construction of the 
bypass road. The 100-year floodplain of Los Alamos Canyon is located on 
the canyon floor below the Research Park and would not be directly 
impacted by the project.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA 
had prepared a floodplain/wetlands assessment that evaluates the 
positive and negative, direct and indirect, and long- and short-term 
effects on floodplains and wetlands in and near the project area.

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,

[[Page 49477]]

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 10 CFR part 1022, NNSA 
published a Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement on July 21, 
2003 (68 FR 43104). 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 could be viewed at two public DOE reading rooms in 
Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico. One comment was received from 
the Federal Register notice on the proposed floodplain action.
    Project Description: As a result of the events of September 11, 
2001, the nature and extent of the terrorist threat has changed 
significantly in terms of the potential magnitude of the attack as well 
as the terrorists' motivations, targets, and methods. In recognition of 
this increased threat, LANL management and security officials have 
determined that there is a critical need to upgrade the physical 
protection around the core LANL technical and administrative area in 
TA-3, which houses vital national assets, government property, and key 
scientific and support staff.
    The selected approach combines the installation of three access 
control stations at key locations and modification of road 
intersections with the development of a single bypass road at the north 
end of TA-3 to accomplish the mission need described. The proposed 
North Bypass Road would connect East Jemez Road, Diamond Drive, and 
State Road 501 by detouring behind the Los Alamos Research Park and 
along the south rim of Los Alamos Canyon. A bridge would be used to 
span a small tributary canyon. There is a small wetland within the 
Research Park that is primarily fed by stormwater runoff from adjacent 
buildings and parking lots. This wetland would be directly affected by 
the project. Indirect impacts to the 100-year floodplain of Los Alamos 
Canyon would be avoided by the use of best management practices for 
erosion and siltation control.
    Alternatives: Several alternative alignments for the North Bypass 
Road were considered in the design of the project in an attempt to 
avoid sensitive environmental resources (wetlands, archaeological 
sites, areas of contamination, etc.); however, in order to maintain a 
safe and secure separation from the TA-3 boundaries, the roadway was 
confined to the corridor between the Research Park buildings and the 
canyon rim where the wetland is located. Hence, destruction of the 
wetland was unavoidable. The No Action alternative, where the bypass 
road would not be constructed and no activity would be taken to disturb 
the Los Alamos Canyon floodplain or the Research Park wetland, was 
dismissed as unviable because it would not meet the National Security 
purpose and need for the project.
    Floodplain/Wetland Impacts And Mitigation Actions: The primary 
direct impact of the project is the removal of the wetland for the road 
construction, which has been determined to be necessary for National 
Security purposes. No potential for loss of life or property has been 
identified with respect to floodplains or other wetlands in Los Alamos 
Canyon, as long as best management practices for soil erosion control 
are implemented. Possible primary direct effects of the project are a 
reduction in vegetation cover, exposure, and compaction of mineral 
soils due to excavation and heavy equipment. Possible secondary direct 
effects are the potential for the increase of erosion and storm water 
runoff from the mesa top to the floodplain below.
    There are no primary indirect impacts (within the canyon) to the 
floodplains resulting from the project. If work conducted in the 
Research Park contributed to increased sediment movement, there may be 
some retention of those sediments by the floodplains or wetlands down 
canyon. Secondary indirect impacts (outside of the project area) 
resulting from the project would result in possible impacts to 
floodplains and wetlands not associated with the project area (e.g., 
downstream to the Rio Grande).
    The Security Perimeter Project does conform to applicable State or 
local floodplain protection standards. At a minimum, best management 
practices for runoff control, such as silt barriers, would be emplaced 
to mitigate runoff effects during the project. These best management 
practices would incorporate considerations of the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System permit program and Environmental 
Protection Agency requirements for a Notice of Intent and a Storm Water 
Pollution Prevention Plan under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water 
Act.

    Issued in Los Alamos, NM, on August 8, 2003.
Ralph E. Erickson,
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Los Alamos Site Office.
[FR Doc. 03-21025 Filed 8-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P