[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 9416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5123]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Floodplain Statement of Findings for Site Investigation 
Activities at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site Area of Responsibility

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for Site 
Investigation Activities at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site, Roane County, 
Tennessee, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, Compliance with 
Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements. DOE proposes to 
conduct site investigations and preliminary engineering activities 
within the boundaries of the Oak Ridge K-25 Site as required under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 
underground storage tank (UST) regulations or other regulations and 
directives. Some site investigation activities may occur within 100-
year or 500-year floodplain of streams at the plant. DOE has prepared a 
floodplain assessment describing the possible effects, alternatives, 
and measures designed to avoid or minimize potential harm to 
floodplains or their flood storage potential. DOE will allow 15 days of 
public review after publication of the Statement of Findings before 
implementation of the proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert C. Sleeman, Director, 
Environmental Restoration Division (EW-91), DOE Oak Ridge Operations 
Office, Post Office Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Telephone: (423) 
576-3534, Facsimile: (423) 576-6074.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 
REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA 
Policy and Assistance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Floodplain Involvement was 
published in the Federal Register on October 4, 1993, (58 FR 51624) and 
subsequently a floodplain assessment was prepared. The floodplain 
assessment covers a variety of intrusive and nonintrusive preliminary 
engineering and site investigation methods and techniques that may be 
used at one or more sites at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site. These activities 
include (as detailed in the October 4, 1993, notice), but are not 
limited to: ``(a) sampling of air, surface water, groundwater, 
sediments, surface and deeper soils; sampling of terrestrial and 
aquatic biota; and measurement of meteorological characteristics; (b) 
drilling of boreholes to obtain soil/geological samples (some of the 
boreholes would be completed as groundwater monitoring wells); digging 
soil test pits by hand or backhoe; (d) taking a variety of nonintrusive 
surveys (such as radiological surveys); (e) taking intrusive surveys 
(such as with soil penetrometers and similar devices); and (f) 
conducting underground tests (such as aquifer pump, tracer geophysical 
log, vertical seismic profile, and seismic tests).''
    Alternatives considered in the assessment were (1) no action, (2) 
prohibition of site investigation activities in floodplains, and (3) 
restricting site investigation activities to outside the floodplain 
when practicable alternatives exist, i.e., data quality would not be 
compromised. Only a few sampling locations, such as those needed for 
surface and sediment samples, and a minimal number of boreholes or 
wells and soil test pits are expected to be in floodplains. Most of the 
activities addressed by the floodplain assessment will result in no 
measurable impact on floodplain cross-sections or flood stage, and thus 
do not increase the risk of flooding. Those activities that are 
identified from site-specific data as possibly impacting negatively 
upon the floodplain (e.g., installation of flumes and construction of 
access roads) may require separate floodplain assessments and the 
implementation of mitigative measures, e.g., construction during low 
precipitation periods, prompt stabilization and restoration of affected 
areas, minimizing vegetation removal, and the use of mats and wide-
tracked vehicles. Alternatively, DOE may opt to omit the activity or 
relocate the activity to an alternate site. Site investigation 
activities addressed in the floodplain assessment conform to applicable 
floodplain protection standards.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, TN on February 11, 1997.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-5123 Filed 2-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P