[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63845-63846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26741]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2012-0271]
Geologic Trench Excavation for Paleoliquefaction Study at Garner
and Stiles Sites
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental
impacts that may arise as a result of excavating trenches to observe
geologic features for a paleoliquefaction research project at two sites
located in northeastern Arkansas. The NRC has concluded that a Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate.
DATES: October 21, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0271 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0271. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS,
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it available in
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The EA
and the associated FONSI are publicly available in ADAMS under
Accession No. ML15287A224.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Weaver, Office of Nuclear
Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2383; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is performing a paleoliquefaction research project to
characterize past earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States.
Geologic observations of paleoliquefaction, defined as historic or pre-
historic liquefaction, in excavated trenches are planned at two sites
in northeastern Arkansas. Liquefaction features are geologic features
such as sand blows and sand dikes formed during earthquakes as a result
of ground shaking and water pressure developed in the ground during
shaking. The results from this research will be used to update models
implemented in probabilistic seismic hazard analyses to characterize
ground motion at new nuclear power plant sites in accordance with the
NRC's regulation in section 100.23(d)(1) of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (10 CFR). The results of this research may also
implemented to re-evaluate seismic hazards at existing nuclear power
plant sites.
The NRC has prepared an EA to evaluate the potential environmental
impacts that may arise as a result of this research project in
accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51, the NRC's
regulations that implement Section 102(2) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Based on the EA, and in accordance with
10 CFR 51.31(a), the NRC has concluded that a FONSI is appropriate. The
excavation of the trenches at the two sites in northeastern Arkansas
will commence following publication of this Notice.
II. EA Summary
The NRC has prepared the EA to evaluate the potential environmental
impacts of the excavation of the trenches at two sites in northeastern
Arkansas, described in the EA as the Garner and Stiles sites. In
accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the NRC staff requested informal
consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. No
concerns were identified for Federally-listed species or designated
critical habitat. This project is temporary, minimally invasive, and
will occur outside the critical nesting times for migratory birds.
The NRC determined that the proposed excavation of the trenches
will result in no adverse effects to any historic or cultural resources
that may be located at the Garner or Stiles sites. The NRC's evaluation
of archeologic artifacts discovered at the Garner site concludes that
the site is ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places
(NHRP). The Arkansas State Historic Preservation Officer stated in a
September 3, 2014, letter to the NRC that NHRP eligibility for the
Garner site is undetermined and noted that the proposed excavation of
the trenches is similar to NRHP significance testing. If significant
archeological material data is uncovered at the Garner site, the NRC
[[Page 63846]]
will complete the appropriate NRHP-eligibility testing. Portions of the
NRC contractor prepared site evaluation report, referenced in the EA,
have been redacted and are being withheld from public review for the
purpose of protecting potential archaeological and cultural resources
in accordance with Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966, as amended (54 U.S.C. 307103).
In its September 3, 2014 letter, the Arkansas State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) was supportive of the proposed excavation
of the trenches at both sites. The Arkansas SHPO concurred with the NRC
regarding no adverse effects at the Stiles site. The Quapaw Tribe has
concurred with the Arkansas SHPO findings.
The NRC has determined that there will be no significant impacts to
any other resource areas (e.g., surface water, groundwater, air
quality) as a result of the proposed excavation of the trenches.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of the EA and as further described in the FONSI, the
NRC has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts
from the proposed excavation of the trenches and has determined not to
prepare an environmental impact statement.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 14th day of October, 2015.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John P. Burke,
Chief, Structural, Geotechnical, and Seismic Engineering Branch,
Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-26741 Filed 10-20-15; 8:45 am]
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