[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 8677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4133]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact 
for Proposed Field Evaluation of Innovative Capping Technologies for 
Contaminated Sediment Remediation, Anacostia River, Washington, DC

ACTION: Notice of availability of Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations, National Park Service 
(NPS) guidance and requirements, the NPS prepared an environmental 
assessment (EA) evaluating environmental impacts potentially resulting 
from implementation of a demonstration project of innovative capping 
techniques for contaminated sediment remediation. This EA presented a 
pilot project recommended by the Anacostia Watershed Toxics Alliance 
and coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency for evaluating 
innovative capping techniques, which involve placement of a covering or 
cap of material over river bottom areas that contain known contaminated 
sediments to physically and chemically isolate them from the aquatic 
environment. The EA was made available for a 30-day public review 
period that ended on October 24, 2003. It was also discussed in 
meetings open to the public. The NPS conducted the EA as part of its 
decision making process for its issuance of a special use permit to 
authorize this proposed action to occur on the bed of the Anacostia 
River, which it administers. After the comment period, NPS selected 
Alternative 2: Implement the Demonstration Project, and on November 25, 
2003 it issued a FONSI.
    In Alternative 2, researchers would use caps made from alternative 
materials that can degrade or control sediment-bound contaminants more 
efficiently than sand alone. This approach of ``active capping,'' could 
significantly improve the effectiveness of capping as a remedial 
approach and has great potential to reduce costs and durations of 
cleanups across the country. A grid of capping cells will be 
established of approximately 200 by 300 feet at a site in the Anacostia 
River near the General Services Administration Southeast Federal 
Center, Washington, DC. The installation of the demonstration project 
would occur over a two-month period and the capping material would be 
studied over a two-year period. The cap material would be placed in a 
manner that would provide the necessary layer thickness while 
minimizing re-suspension of the contaminated sediment and dispersal of 
the capping materials.
    The Anacostia River offers an opportunity for the proposed 
demonstration under realistic, well-documented, in-situ conditions at 
contaminated sediment sites. The demonstration will advance the ongoing 
federal restoration of the Anacostia River and it will also provide 
better technical understanding of controlling factors, guidance for 
proper remedy selection and approaches, and broader scientific, 
regulatory and public acceptance of innovative approaches. The results 
of the proposed study would be available to the public.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests for copies of the NPS' DN/FONSI/EA, 
or for any additional information, should be directed to Mr. Michael 
Wilderman, National Capital Parks-East, 1900 Anacostia Drive, SE., 
Washington, DC 20020, Telephone: (202) 690-5165.

    Dated: January 28, 2004.
Terry R. Carlstrom,
Regional Director, National Park Service, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 04-4133 Filed 2-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-71-P