[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18594-18595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9805]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Weldon 
Spring Site

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to conduct a 
removal action at the Weldon Spring Site to remove radiologically and 
chemically contaminated sediment from an intermittent stream located in 
St. Charles County, Missouri. The proposed action will protect human 
health and the environment. The stream channel contains a number of 
small wetlands and a portion of the stream is located within the 
Missouri River 100-year floodplain. In accordance with 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 and wetlands.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than May 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Steve McCracken, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project, 7295 
Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. Comments may be faxed to (314) 
447-0739.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION, CONTACT:
    Mr. Steve McCracken, U.S. Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site 
Remedial Action Project, 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304, 
(314) 441-8978.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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, (202) 586-4600 or 
(800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE is conducting response actions at 
its Weldon Spring Site under the direction of the DOE Office of 
Environmental Management. The Weldon Spring Site is located in St. 
Charles County, Missouri,

[[Page 18595]]

approximately 48 km (30 miles) west of St. Louis. As part of the 
overall cleanup of the Weldon Spring Site, the DOE is proposing to 
remove contaminated sediment from the Southeast Drainage to reduce the 
levels of environmental contamination and protect human health and the 
environment. The drainage is a natural 1.5 mi stream channel extending 
from the southeastern portion of the chemical plant area to the 
Missouri River, and is located within the State of Missouri Weldon 
Spring Conservation Area. Flows within the Southeast Drainage result 
from surface water runoff and groundwater discharge through four 
springs. Portions of the stream channel contain unvegetated riverine 
wetlands. The 100-year floodplain of the Missouri River extends into 
the lower portion of the Southeast Drainage approximately 1,200 feet.
    Sediments within the Southeast Drainage became radioactively 
contaminated as a result of past activities of the U.S. Department of 
Energy (and its predecessors). The contaminants include uranium, 
radium, and thorium. Sediments would be excavated from selected 
locations within the drainage utilizing conventional excavation 
technologies and existing right-of-way routes. Excavation would be 
accomplished by the use of tracked equipment, which would operate 
within the channel as frequently as possible to minimize impacts to the 
environment. Occasional crossing of the channel by excavation equipment 
may be necessary. This method would be used to minimize clearing and 
grubbing of vegetation, and other potential impacts to the drainage. 
The estimated sediment excavation depth would be 2 to 4 ft below the 
surface. The anticipated volume of sediment removed would be 
approximately 2,000 yd \3\. Excavated sediment would be stored 
temporarily at the chemical plant area before final disposal in the 
engineered disposal facility planned for the Weldon Spring site.
    Water quality within the channel would be protected during 
excavation to the extent practicable by several measures. 
Administrative controls would be used to stop work during major storm 
events. When excavations would remain exposed overnight, erosion 
controls would be installed to prevent the transport of silt downstream 
by stormwater flows. Additionally, silt dams will be constructed within 
the drainage in areas where the existing right-of-way route deviates 
significantly from the defined channel. Restoration of excavated areas 
within the drainage would include grading to avoid steep or vertical 
slopes, and to minimize ponding and backfilling. Areas of exposed soil 
outside the stream channel would be mulched and reseeded with an annual 
grass to minimize erosion and allow the natural seedbank to reestablish 
vegetative cover.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE 
will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed DOE 
action. After DOE issues the assessment, a floodplain Statement of 
Findings will be published in the Federal Register.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on April 7, 1997.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-9805 Filed 4-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P