[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23244-23248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9322]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration

[PBS-N04]


Finding of No Significant Impact; Modernization of Facilities and 
Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear Production Activities Conducted at 
the National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant 
Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA-1592)

AGENCY: General Services Administration and National Nuclear Security 
Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department 
of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issue this 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on their proposal to relocate 
certain non-nuclear component production and procurement activities to 
a smaller, more efficient and flexible facility. This FONSI is based on 
the General Services Administration/National Nuclear Security 
Administration ``Modernization of Facilities and Infrastructure for the 
Non-Nuclear Production Activities Conducted at the National Nuclear 
Security Administration's Kansas City Plant Environmental Assessment'' 
(EA), DOE/EA-1592, April 21, 2008. The EA was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  
4321 et seq.), regulations implementing NEPA issued by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500--1508), and the NEPA 
implementing procedures of GSA (ADM 1095.1F) and the Department of 
Energy (10 C.F.R. Part 1021).
    The selected alternative is for GSA to procure the construction of 
a new facility at the intersection of Botts Road and Missouri Highway 
150 in Kansas City, Missouri. GSA would lease the facility on NNSA's 
behalf, and NNSA would move its operations from the Bannister Federal 
Complex to the new facility, and conduct production and procurement 
operations for electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components there 
(the phrase ``electrical and mechanical'' non-nuclear components, as 
used in the EA and this FONSI, also includes electronics, 
electromechanical parts, and engineered materials such as plastics, 
ceramics, glass, polymers and foams). The NNSA's Kansas City Plant 
(KCP) performs these activities for NNSA, Department of Energy (DOE) 
programs, and other federal agencies (``work for others'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information, including an 
electronic copy of the EA, FONSI, Mitigation Action Plan, and other 
supporting NEPA documents, will be made available on the following Web 
site: http://www.gsa.gov/kansascityplant. The EA and FONSI will also be 
made available at: http://eh.doe.gov/nepa.
    Requests for copies of the EA and FONSI may be sent to: Carlos 
Salazar, General Services Administration, 1500 East Bannister Road, 
Room 2191 (6PTA), Kansas City, MO 64131. Requests for copies of the EA 
and FONSI may also be made by calling (816) 823-2305 or via e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSA and NNSA issued a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) on May 1, 2007 in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No 83, page 
23822) informing the public of the proposed action and inviting public 
comments on the scope of the EA. The NOI also stated that a public 
scoping meeting would be held in Kansas City, on May 23, 2007. A total 
of 97 people signed in at the public meeting. Fourteen written comments 
were submitted and 24 speakers provided comments that were transcribed 
for the record. Everyone who requested to speak was provided the 
opportunity to do so. Additional public comments were received by mail 
and email during the scoping period, which ended on May 30, 2007. 
Approximately 500 people provided comments during the public scoping 
process. All comments were considered during the preparation of the 
draft EA. A copy of the transcript from the scoping meeting is 
available on the GSA website by following the ``NEPA library'' link 
(www.gsa.gov/kansascityplant).
    On December 10, 2007, the GSA and NNSA issued a Notice of 
Availability (NOA) of the draft EA in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No 
236, page 69690) informing the public that the draft EA was available 
for review and comment. The NOA stated that the deadline for submission 
of public comments was January 14, 2008. An electronic copy of the 
draft EA and other supporting documents were posted on the GSA website. 
An electronic copy of the draft EA was also posted on the DOE website.

[[Page 23245]]

    On January 14, 2008, the GSA and NNSA notified the public through 
the website that they were extending the public comment period until 
January 30, 2008. On January 17, 2008, the federal agencies issued a 
Notice of Extension of Comment Period in the Federal Register (Vol. 73, 
No 12, page 3256) informing the public of the extension. More than 250 
public comments on the draft EA were submitted to GSA and NNSA. After 
considering all the comments received as a result of the public review 
process, including those received after the formal comment period 
closed, GSA and NNSA have made significant revisions to the EA, 
including the analysis of additional alternatives outside of the Kansas 
City area (i.e. at NNSA's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia 
National Laboratories in New Mexico and Lawrence Livermore National 
Laboratory in California).
    Because the draft EA only analyzed alternatives in the State of 
Missouri, in December 2007, the GSA and NNSA specifically requested the 
State of Missouri to review and comment on the draft EA (although other 
states had the opportunity to comment through the public comment 
process). On April 4, 2008, the GSA and NNSA provided a pre-approval 
review copy of the EA, containing the analysis of additional 
alternatives outside of the Kansas City area, to the States of 
Missouri, New Mexico, and California, and requested comments by April 
18, 2008. Comments were received by this date from Missouri. These 
comments were considered in preparing the final EA and FONSI.
    Based on the analysis in the EA and after considering all the 
comments received as a result of the review process, the GSA and NNSA 
have concluded that no information has been made available that is 
inconsistent with a finding of no significant impact.
    PURPOSE AND NEED: The KCP produces and procures electrical and 
mechanical non-nuclear components for nuclear weapons; these constitute 
approximately 85 percent of all the components in a nuclear weapon. As 
a result of consolidation activities undertaken over the last 15 years 
by the Department of Energy, the remaining operations at KCP are 
essential and do not duplicate operations at other sites in the nuclear 
weapons complex. KCP occupies a large and aging industrial complex in 
Kansas City located on a site contiguous with GSA facilities. Despite 
the reductions and consolidations that followed a 1996 decision to 
downsize KCP's facilities and operations, the current plant is still 
much larger than NNSA requires, primarily due to continuing reductions 
in the nuclear weapons stockpile and outsourcing of some fabrication 
activities. The cost of operating KCP is increasing because of its age 
and size.
    DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION: NNSA and GSA propose to 
relocate NNSA's KCP operations to a new facility that NNSA would 
operate to produce and procure electrical and mechanical non-nuclear 
components. The proposed facility would be smaller and designed for 
rapid reconfiguration to improve efficiency and provide flexibility in 
meeting changing requirements and demands. It would be at least 50% 
smaller than the current facility, resulting in reduced maintenance and 
energy costs while improving the responsiveness and facility 
utilization for the supply of electrical and mechanical non-nuclear 
components. The proposed action considered in the EA consists of the 
construction and subsequent operation of such a facility.
    Selected Alternative (Alternative 5): The selected alternative is 
for GSA to procure the construction of a new facility and for NNSA to 
relocate to and operate the facility for production and procurement of 
electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components. The new facility 
would be located on approximately 185 acres at the intersection of 
Missouri Highway 150 and Botts Road in Kansas City, Missouri, about 
eight miles south of the existing plant. The proposed facility would 
cover up to 1.4 million rentable square feet and provide up to 2,900 
surface parking spaces (for a total of about 45 acres). GSA has issued 
a Solicitation for Offers to the real estate development community; the 
successful developer would partner with GSA and NNSA to design and 
construct a facility that meets NNSA's needs. GSA would lease the 
facility on NNSA's behalf and NNSA would move its operations from the 
Bannister Federal Complex to the new facility and conduct production 
and procurement operations for electrical and mechanical non-nuclear 
components there.
    Alternatives: In addition to the selected alternative (Alternative 
5) and the ``No Action'' Alternative (Alternative 1), which evaluates 
continuing operations in the existing Kansas City Plant facilities, the 
EA evaluates the following alternatives:
    Alternative 2: Under this alternative, the existing GSA office and 
warehouse space (Buildings 1 and 2) located on the 
western portion of the Bannister Federal Complex would be renovated. 
NNSA's operations would relocate to the renovated facility.
    Alternative 3: This alternative consists of renovation of the 
existing GSA office space (Building 2) and demolition of the 
existing GSA warehouse (Building 1) and the small outbuildings 
located north of the existing GSA warehouse. A new manufacturing, 
laboratory, and warehouse facility would be constructed adjacent to the 
renovated office space.
    Alternative 4: This alternative consists of demolishing the 
existing GSA office and warehouse spaces (Buildings 1 and 
2) and the small outbuildings located north of the existing 
GSA warehouse. Following demolition, new office and manufacturing 
facilities would be constructed on GSA's portion of the Bannister 
Federal Complex.
    Alternative 6: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations 
to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM (SNL/NM). For this 
alternative, two options are evaluated: (1) a new construction option, 
in which a new facility covering approximately 1.4 million square feet 
would be constructed and operated similar to the selected alternative; 
and (2) a reuse/new construction option consisting of existing space in 
SNL/NM facilities and a smaller new facility.
    Alternative 7: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations 
to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. 
Under this alternative, a new 1.4 million square foot facility would be 
constructed and operated similar to the selected alternative.
    Alternative 8: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations 
to Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. For this 
alternative, two options are evaluated: (1) a new construction option, 
in which a new 1.4 million square foot facility would be constructed 
and operates similar to the selected alternative; and (2) a reuse/new 
construction option consisting of existing facilities and a smaller new 
facility.
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF SELECTED ALTERNATIVE: Based on the 
analysis in the EA, the selected alternative would not have a 
significant effect on the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. 
The term ``significantly'' and the significance criteria are defined by 
the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing 
NEPA at 40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27.
    Beneficial and Adverse Impacts (40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(1)): The 
selected

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alternative would provide a smaller facility designed for rapid 
reconfiguration to improve efficiency and provide flexibility in 
meeting changing requirements and demands. Maintenance and energy costs 
would be reduced, while the responsiveness and facility utilization for 
the supply of electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components to NNSA 
would be improved. The analysis indicates that there will not be any 
significant adverse impacts from implementing the selected alternative 
(EA Section 5.3).
    Public Health and Safety (40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(2)):
    Air Emissions (EA Section 5.3.6): During site preparation, 
construction, and road improvements the use of heavy equipment would 
generate combustion engine exhaust containing air pollutants associated 
with diesel combustion (nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), 
sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), 
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)). Similar air emissions would be 
generated from delivery vehicles bringing supplies and equipment to the 
construction site and from construction workers commuting in their 
personal vehicles. Emissions from site preparation and construction 
would be short-term, sporadic, and localized (except for emissions 
associated with the personal vehicles of construction workers and 
vehicles transporting construction materials and equipment). The 
quantities of air pollutants produced by vehicles and equipment 
associated with construction would not be a substantial contribution to 
the total emissions from mobile sources already operating in the area 
and would not adversely affect local air quality.
    Construction activities could increase the potential for fugitive 
dust (i.e. airborne particulate matter that escapes from a construction 
site) from earthwork and other construction vehicle movement. Not all 
of the area available for construction would be under construction at 
any one time. Control measures for lowering fugitive dust emissions 
(i.e. water or chemical dust suppressants) would be implemented to 
prevent offsite emissions. Construction activities would be in 
accordance with permits from local, state and federal jurisdictions and 
would not significantly impact public health and safety.
    The total estimated annual air emissions from operating a new NNSA 
facility at the selected site are expected to be 12.8 tons, consisting 
of approximately 10.4 tons of NOx, SOx and CO from the boilers and 
process heaters, 2.0 tons of VOCs from electronic component solvent 
spray cleaning operations, and 0.4 tons of VOCs from painting 
operations. This is approximately 28% less than the annual air 
emissions from the current facility, and would not significantly impact 
public health and safety.
    Noise: At 400 feet from the construction site, construction noise 
would range from 55-85 dBA. Given that the distance from the site 
boundary to the nearest business or residence is greater than 400 feet, 
there would be no significant noise impacts as a result of construction 
activities, except for a small increase in traffic noise levels from 
construction employees and material shipments, and short-term increases 
in noise levels at or near the site boundary from site preparation and 
infrastructure construction activities such as driveway construction 
and site grading. Noise from operations is expected to be similar to 
those from existing operations and would be far enough away from 
offsite areas that its contribution to offsite noise levels would be 
small. Noise from the selected alternative would not significantly 
impact public health and safety (EA Section 5.3.8).
    Solid Waste: Waste generation resulting from the selected 
alternative is not expected to significantly impact public health and 
safety (EA Section 5.3.5).
    Construction activities are expected to generate approximately 
6,890 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste.
    The hazardous waste disposal rate from operations is anticipated to 
be approximately 26,000 lbs/year, a 30% reduction from current 
operations at the Bannister Federal Complex due to process improvements 
and outsourcing. Non-hazardous waste is also expected to experience a 
similar reduction (to approximately 1.6 million lbs/year) due to the 
smaller operations and reduced facility refurbishments. Low-level 
radioactive waste generation is projected to be consistent with current 
generation rates of approximately 40 lbs per year.
    All waste materials would be transported off-site for disposal in 
accordance with federal, state and local requirements. The number of 
shipments may be reduced compared to current operations at the 
Bannister Federal Complex due to the reduction in waste generation.
    Groundwater: The proposed facility design does not include the use 
of underground storage tanks, and all proposed above-ground storage 
tanks would be constructed with secondary containment. Industrial 
facilities would be constructed and managed to ensure materials (raw, 
intermediate and final product, and wastes) and activities are 
completely sheltered from stormwater. Adverse impacts to groundwater 
from proposed site operations are not anticipated (EA Section 5.3.2).
    Unique characteristics of the geographical area (40 C.F.R. Sec.  
1508.27(b)(3)):
    Prime Farmland: Though currently used for agricultural purposes, 
the location of the selected alternative is identified as part of an 
``urbanized area'' on Census Bureau maps and is not considered prime 
farmland (EA Section 5.3.1).
    Impact to Wetlands: Based upon a preliminary jurisdictional waters 
determination, non-jurisdictional wetlands and potential jurisdictional 
tributaries and wetlands exist onsite. Mitigation of impacts to non-
jurisdictional wetlands will take place in accordance with Executive 
Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands, and to jurisdictional waters in 
accordance with the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting process, 
which requires avoidance of wetlands impacts, minimization of potential 
impacts on wetlands, and compensation for any remaining unavoidable 
impacts. A wetland assessment was completed in accordance with the 
requirements of 10 C.F.R. Part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain and 
Wetland Environmental Review Requirements, based on a conservative 
impact scenario.
    NNSA found that no practicable alternative to locating the action 
in the wetland is available. Therefore, the wetland assessment 
considered specific constraints and provisions for mitigation that will 
be placed on the developer of the site through both the Section 404 
permit and the contract with GSA. Although the actual impacts cannot be 
precisely quantified until a site plan is finalized, impacts to the 
site are expected to be less than assessed in this analysis of the 
conservative scenario.
    The contract issued by GSA will require the developer to address 
the management of any wetlands (jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional) 
on the site in accordance with Executive Order 11990 and Section 404 
permitting. The appropriate federal agency will ensure that mitigation 
commitments are maintained during operation of the facility.
    The GSA submitted a Section 404 permit application to the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE) on April 1, 2008, based on a conservative 
impact scenario. Under this scenario, the proposed action would impact, 
permanently, 0.099 acres (3,655 linear

[[Page 23247]]

feet (l.f.)) of intermittent tributaries, 0.097 acres (3,440 l.f.) of 
ephemeral tributaries, and 1.24 acres of wetlands. In the permit 
application, a conceptual Mitigation Plan was proposed for the 
permanently impacted intermittent and ephemeral tributaries (7,095 
l.f., 0.2 acres) and the 1.24 acres of permanently impacted wetlands. 
The features of the plan include:

    On-site Stream Mitigation: The credits required to offset 
impacts would be generated by on-site riparian buffer enhancement of 
952 l.f. of intermittent tributary and 494 l.f. of ephemeral 
tributary. The corridor would be 50-feet wide on each side of the 
tributaries. Enhancement activities would include nuisance species 
control, deed restrictions, 10 to 50 percent plantings, native grass 
seeding, timber thinning, maintenance, and monitoring. The remaining 
credits would, in part, be done through relocation and restoration 
of some tributaries and would include in-stream features and minimum 
50-foot-wide riparian buffer.
    Off-Site Stream Mitigation: Any remaining stream credits would 
be mitigated for by identifying an off-site mitigation project and/
or enrollment into a USACE-approved in-lieu fee program.
    Wetland Mitigation: Wetland impacts would be mitigated on-site 
by 1.24 acres of in-kind wetland creation or restoration. On-site 
created wetlands would be deed restricted.

    Based on the small relative size of the wetlands (less then 1.5 
acres combined) and the requirements imposed by the Section 404 
permitting process, the impact to wetlands would not be significant (EA 
Section 5.3.3).
    Degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment 
are likely to be highly controversial (40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(4)): 
The analysis in the EA indicates that the selected alternative will 
result in no significant impacts in the quality of the human 
environment. The vast majority of public comment focused on nuclear 
weapons policy and procedural issues. Only a small number of comments 
were received regarding the potential environmental impacts of the 
preferred alternative. These comments are addressed in Appendix B, 
Issue Analysis of Public Comments, including: Issue 6, 
Workforce Reductions; Issue 11, Stormwater Quality; Issue 
12, Air Quality, Issue 13, Health and Safety; Issue 
15, Transportation; Issue 16, Hazard Analysis; Issue 
18(d), Building 50 Characterization; Issue 18(e), 
Potential Groundwater Impacts with Onsite Alternatives; and Issue 
18(g), Environmental Justice.
    Uncertain or unknown risks to the human environment (40 C.F.R. 
Sec.  1508.27(b)(5)): No chemicals have been identified that would be a 
risk to members of the public from construction activities associated 
with a new non-nuclear facility. The KCP is considered a low-hazard 
industrial facility and operations at the KCP involve hazards of the 
type and magnitude routinely encountered in industry and generally 
accepted by the public. Intentional destructive acts at the proposed 
new facility (e.g. terrorism, internal sabotage) would have a low 
potential to impact security, public health and safety. There are no 
uncertain or unknown risks associated with implementing the selected 
alternative (EA Section 5.3).
    Precedent for future actions (40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(6)): The 
selected alternative does not set a precedent for future actions.
    Cumulatively significant impacts (40 C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(7)): 
There would be no significant cumulative impacts associated with 
implementing the selected alternative:
    Growth in the area of the preferred alternative site is expected to 
change the character of the surrounding area from generally open/
agricultural with sporadic industrial, to more industrial. This growth 
has been anticipated and is desired by local and state governments. The 
selected alternative is consistent with this transition in land use but 
the proposal would not be a primary, or significant, contributor to the 
overall change in land use (EA Section 5.3.10).
    Commercial development currently ongoing and planned in the area of 
the selected option will likely result in an increase in daily traffic 
on Missouri Highway 150 and adjacent roadways, to which the selected 
alternative would contribute. Due to the small contribution of traffic 
flow to the area attributed to the selected alternative, the proposed 
action will not be a primary or significant contributor to the overall 
change in traffic patterns or road use. Furthermore, the Missouri 
Department of Transportation and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, are 
currently working on road improvement projects in the site vicinity 
which will mitigate the increased projected traffic load resulting from 
development in the area (EA Section 5.3.10).
    Development in the area of the selected alternative may result in 
an increase of stormwater runoff into the Little Blue River Watershed. 
For the selected alternative, the City of Kansas City is responsible 
for stormwater management, planning, and permitting, and all individual 
developers in the area of the selected site are required by code to 
mitigate impacts of stormwater runoff and adhere to local building 
codes for storm drainage systems and facilities. The developer will 
also be required to incorporate design features to maintain or restore 
predevelopment hydrology pursuant to Section 438 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007. Cumulative stormwater impacts 
are not considered to be a significant environmental impact (EA Section 
5.3.10).
    Effect on historical or cultural resources (40 C.F.R. Sec.  
1508.27(b)(8)): A Cultural Resource Assessment did not identify 
specific areas of concern within the selected site, and no previously 
recorded archeological sites are located within the project area. In 
the event that items of archeological significance are found during 
site excavation, the developer would be directed to stop the excavation 
in the vicinity of the find and notify the GSA Contracting Officer 
immediately so that the government can coordinate with the appropriate 
State Historic Preservation Office officer. The developer would be 
required to comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws with 
regard to archeological findings. No adverse impacts to historical or 
cultural resources are expected as a result of the selected alternative 
(EA Section 5.3.7).
    Effect on endangered or threatened species or critical habitat (40 
C.F.R. Sec.  1508.27(b)(9)): The majority of the 185 acres located at 
the selected site are currently developed for agricultural usage (with 
scattered stands of trees and vegetated areas). There are no records of 
species or habitats of federal or state conservation concern within one 
mile of the site. No threatened or endangered species are known to 
occupy the site. The selected alternative would not have an effect on 
threatened or endangered species or critical habitat (EA Section 
5.3.4).
    Violation of Federal, State, or local law (40 C.F.R. Sec.  
1508.27(b)(10)): The selected alternative would not violate any 
federal, state of local laws imposed for the protection of the 
environment.

DETERMINATION:

    NNSA adopts the EA as a basis for its decision-making.In accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act; GSA Order ADM 1095.1F, 
implementing the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
(40 C.F.R. 1500-1508); and DOE's NEPA implementing regulations (10 
C.F.R. Part 1021); and based on the analysis in Environmental 
Assessment DOE/EA--1592, GSA and NNSA find that the Modernization of 
Facilities and Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear Production Activities 
Conducted at the National Nuclear Security

[[Page 23248]]

Administration's Kansas City Plant Project is not a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment 
within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not 
required and GSA and NNSA are issuing this FONSI for the Proposed 
Action.
    Key stipulations set forth in the Environmental Assessment include 
the following measures that will be implemented to reduce any impacts 
the selected alternative may have on the quality of the human 
environment: Adherence to commitments outlined in the Mitigation Action 
Plan. The Mitigation Action Plan contains mitigation and monitoring 
commitments for the project, including commitments set (or that would 
be set) in any permits. As details of specific mitigation actions are 
developed, or as additional mitigation measures necessary to produce 
the results committed to by GSA or NNSA are identified, the Mitigation 
Action Plan will be updated.
    General Services Adminstration:
    APPROVED BY:

    Dated: April 21, 2008.
Bradley M. Scott,
Regional Administrator, GSA Region 6.
    and
    Dated: April 21, 2008.
Steve C. Taylor,
Manager, NNSA, Kansas City Site Office.
[FR Doc. E8-9322 Filed 4-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-CG-S