44000 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 159 / Monday, August 18, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement

Notification for Department of Energy

(DOE) Permission for the Off-Loading

and Transportation of Commercial Low

Level Radioactive Waste Across the

Savannah River Site (SRS)

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notification of floodplain and

wetlands involvement.

SUMMARY: DOE proposes to allow ChemNuclear Systems, L. L. C. (CNS) to use

SRS for landing transport barges at the

existing SRS boat ramp and off-loading

trailered low-level radioactive waste

packages for movement across SRS to

the nearby CNS facility. Project

activities would include modification of

the aforementioned boat ramp on the

Savannah River as needed for offloading activities, and construction of a

bridge across Lower Three Runs. These

activities would necessitate temporary

construction access, excavation of soils

to accomplish the widening, and

placement of fill material adjacent to the

banks of Lower Three Runs to create

two bridge entrance ramps. In

accordance with title 10 CFR part 1022,

DOE will prepare a floodplain and

wetlands assessment and will perform

this proposed action in a manner so as

to avoid or minimize potential harm to

or within the affected floodplain or

wetlands.

DATES: Comments on the proposed

action due on or before September 2,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this

assessment should be addressed to

Andrew R. Grainger, SRS National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of

Energy, Savannah River Operations

Office, Building 773–42A, Room 212,

Aiken, South Carolina 29802. The fax/

phone number is (800) 881–7292. The email address is nepa@srs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL

FLOODPLAIN/WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL

REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Ms.

Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of

NEPA Oversight (EH–42), U.S.

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585. Telephone (202)

586–4600 or (800) 472–2756.

A location map showing the project

sites and further information can be

obtained from the Savannah River

Operations Office (see ADDRESSES

above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposed action entails DOE granting

permission to CNS to off-load and

transport two trailered low-level

radioactive waste packages across SRS

to the nearby CNS facility in Barnwell

County, South Carolina. The packages

consist of two oversize/overweight

steam generators from a Florida Power

and Light Company facility located in

St. Lucie, Florida. A transport barge

carrying a single steam generator at a

time would make a landing at the

existing SRS boat ramp. Transport dates

of the two shipments would be

scheduled at least one month apart. Due

to the size of the barge required to

transport the steam generators on the

Savannah River, the ramp would be

modified prior to landing. Each steam

generator would then be off-loaded and

shipped via SRS and state roads to the

CNS Barnwell facility. Additionally, in

order to establish the most direct route

between the SRS boat ramp and the

Barnwell facility for the shipment of

these steam generators, CNS desires to

construct two bridge support structures

and associated access roads, adjacent to

an existing permanent SRS bridge on

SRS Road B below the Par Pond dam.

The modifications to the SRS boat

ramp would involve widening the

facility for a distance of approximately

eight feet downstream and stabilizing

the upstream bank which forms the

opposite side of the ramp. The widening

would involve removal of a small

elevated, upland bank bordering the

entire downstream side of the boat

ramp. The bank is currently dominated

by a canopy of mature loblolly pine

(Pinus taeda), and a midstory and

understory of sweetgum (Liquidambar

styraciflua), willow oak (Quercus

phellos), water oak (Q. nigra), southern

red oak (Q. falcata), American holly

(Ilex opaca) and scattered herbaceous

vegetation. This modification would

make the available barge access at the

ramp approximately 60 feet wide.

Merchantable timber would be salvaged

and other vegetative cover removed. The

stabilization would entail activities (e.g.,

removal of the overhanging bank and

stabilization with riprap) to arrest

ongoing bank erosion present on the

upstream side of the ramp.

Approximately 3,700 cubic yards of soil

would be removed to accomplish the

widening and bank stabilization. The

entire area in question is located within

the 100-year floodplain. Permitting

under both Section 404 of the Clean

Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the

Rivers and Harbors Act would be

required to implement the proposed

action.

The bridge construction across Lower

Three Runs would be necessary to

enable use of the shorter transportation

route from the off-loading site to the

CNS Barnwell facility. The existing

bridges at that stream crossing do not

have sufficient load capacity to support

the subject trailered shipments. The

proposed crossing structure would

include construction of graveled access

roads and ramps on either side of the

stream corridor. These ramps would

consist of pre-stressed concrete piles,

concrete caps, concrete retaining walls,

and riprap. The bridge span would

consist of removable beams which

would only be placed to support

transport of shipments along this

proposed route. Placement of fill

materials within the existing SRS Road

B right-of-way would be necessary to

develop the access roads on either side

of the stream crossing. Small wetland,

drainage features exist within the

proposed new access road right-of-way

and ramp locations on both sides of

Lower Three Runs stream corridor. The

total wetland areas on the east and west

sides of the stream corridor are

approximately 0.5 and 0.8 acres,

respectively. These wetlands are

characterized by an emergent marsh

habitat dominated by cattail (Typha

latifolia), sedge (Cyperus spp.), bulrush

(Scirpus spp.), rush (Juncus spp.), and

pickerelweed (Pontederia spp.).

Hydrology is provided through

channeled storm water runoff from the

roadway right-of-way and the area

below the toe of the Par Pond dam. The

soils appear to be largely erosional

sediment. Most of the project area on

the east side of the stream and

approximately one-quarter of the area

on the west side are located within the

100-year floodplain. This proposed

action would be authorized by the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers under a CWA

Section 404 Nationwide permit.

A number of mitigation activities

would be implemented to minimize

potential impacts to the floodplain and

wetlands. Operation of construction

equipment in the wetland and

floodplain areas would be minimized.

Temporary access for construction

vehicles and equipment would entail

the placement of mats on the wetland

areas. Silt fences and other erosion

control structures as needed would be

installed to ensure there is no

deposition in the downslope wetland

areas. Wetland acreage that is impacted

as a result of the aforementioned fill

activities adjacent to Lower Three Runs

will require permitted mitigation.

Additionally, an erosion control plan

would be developed so that the

proposed action complies with

applicable State and local floodplain

protection standards and further to

ensure that no additional impacts to

wetlands will occur due to erosion and
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 159 / Monday, August 18, 1997 / Notices 44001

sedimentation. Best management

practices would be employed during

construction and maintenance activities

associated with this proposed action.

In accordance with DOE regulations

for compliance with floodplain and

wetland environmental review

requirements (title 10 CFR part 1022),

DOE will prepare a floodplain and

wetlands assessment for this proposed

DOE action. The assessment will be

included in the environmental

assessment (EA) being prepared for the

proposed action in accordance with the

requirements of NEPA. A floodplain

statement of findings will be included

in any finding of no significant impact

that is issued following the completion

of the EA or may be issued separately.

Issued in Aiken, SC, on August 4, 1997.

Lowell E. Tripp,

Director, Engineering and Analysis Division,

Savannah River Operations Office.

[FR Doc. 97–21793 Filed 8–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge

Reservation

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act

(Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) notice is

hereby given of the following Advisory

Committee meeting: Environmental

Management Site-Specific Advisory

Board (EM SSAB), Oak Ridge

Reservation.

DATES: Friday, August 28, 1997, 6:00

p.m.–9:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Comfort Inn, 433 South

Rutgers Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sandy Perkins, Site-Specific Advisory

Board Coordinator, Department of

Energy Oak Ridge Operations Office,

105 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830,

(423) 576–1590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of the Board

The purpose of the Board is to make

recommendations to DOE and its

regulators in the areas of environmental

restoration, waste management, and

related activities.

Tentative Agenda

This Board meeting has been specially

called and will focus on approval to

spend Board funds to have an

independent consultant review the

permitting and operations of the Toxic

Substances Control Act incinerator.

Public Participation

The meeting is open to the public and

comments will be taken during the

meeting. Written statements may be

filed with the Committee either before

or after the meeting. Individuals who

wish to make oral statements pertaining

to agenda items should contact Sandy

Perkins at the address or telephone

number listed above. Requests must be

received 5 days prior to the meeting and

reasonable provision will be made to

include the presentation in the agenda.

The Designated Federal Official is

empowered to conduct the meeting in a

fashion that will facilitate the orderly

conduct of business. Each individual

wishing to make public comment will

be provided a maximum of 5 minutes to

present their comments.

Minutes

The minutes of this meeting will be

available for public review and copying

at the Freedom of Information Public

Reading Room, 1E–190, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20585 between

9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday–Friday,

except Federal holidays. Minutes will

also be available at the Department of

Energy’s Information Resource Center at

105 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN between

8:30 am and 5:00 pm on Monday,

Wednesday, and Friday; 8:30 am and

7:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday; and

9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday, or by

writing to Sandy Perkins, Department of

Energy Oak Ridge Operations Office,

105 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, or

by calling her at (423) 576–1590.

Issued at Washington, DC on August 12,

1997.

Rachel M. Samuel,

Deputy Advisory Committee Management

Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–21794 Filed 8–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP97–165–006]

Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas

Company; Notice of Proposed

Changes in FERC Gas Tariff

August 12, 1997.

Take notice that on August 6, 1997,

Midcoast Interstate Transmission, Inc.

(formerly Alabama-Tennessee Natural

Gas Company, hereinafter MIT),

tendered for filing as part of its FERC

Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume No.

1, the following tariff sheet to be

effective June 1, 1997.

Second Substitute First Revised Sheet No.

154

MIT states that the tariff sheet is filed

in compliance with the July 29, 1997

letter order issued in the captioned

proceeding.

MIT states that copies of its filing

were served on all affected entities.

Any person desiring to protest this

filing should file a protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC

20426, in accordance with Section

385.211 of the Commission’s Rules of

Practice and Procedure. All such

protests should be filed in accordance

with Section 154.210 of the

Commission’s Regulations. Protests will

be considered by the Commission in

determining the appropriate action to be

taken, but will not serve to make

protestants parties to the proceeding.

Copies of this filing are on file and

available for public inspection in the

Public Reference Room.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–21767 Filed 8–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP94–158–008]

Columbia Gas Transmission; Notice of

Compliance Filing

August 12, 1997.

Take notice that on August 8, 1997,

Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation

(Columbia Transmission) tendered for

filing to become part of its FERC Gas

Tariff, Second Revised Volume No. 1,

the following tariff sheet bearing an

effective date of September 8, 1997.

Second Revised Sheet No. 96

Columbia Transmission states that it

is making the submission to comply

with the letter order issued by the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

on July 11, 1997, in Docket No. RP94–

158–007. Therein, Columbia

Transmission was requested to file to

remove certain tariff sheets which

detailed certain direct bill amounts

associated with its Account No. 191,

which are no longer necessary.

Columbia Transmission states further

that copies of this filing have been

mailed to all of its customers, affected