Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 73 / Wednesday, April 16, 1997 / Notices 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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. PR97–8–000]

Central Oklahoma Oil and Gas

Corporation; Notice of Petition for Rate

Approval

April 10, 1997.

Take notice that on April 1, 1997,

Central Oklahoma Oil and Gas

Corporation (COOG), One Leadership

Square, 211 North Robinson, Suite 1510,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102, filed,

pursuant to section 311(a)(2) of the

Natural Gas Policy Act and section

284.123(b)(2) of the Commission’s

regulations, a petition for rate approval

requesting that the Commission approve

as ‘‘fair and equitable’’ market-based

rates for firm and interruptible storage

services COOG proposes to provide

from the Stuart Natural Gas Storage

Facility located in Hughes County,

Oklahoma. The rates for these storage

services will be determined by arms

length negotiations between COOG and

individual shippers. COOG proposes to

retain up to 2.5% of the injection/

withdrawal volumes as an allowance for

compressor fuel and losses for storage of

natural gas.

COOG’s petition states that, as owner

of the Stuart Natural Gas Storage

Facility, an existing storage facility

currently rendering intrastate storage

services, it is an intrastate pipeline

within the meaning of section 2(16) of

the NGPA. At current operating

pressures, the Stuart Natural Gas

Storage Facility has 8 Bcf of working gas

capacity and can achieve a maximum

daily withdrawal rate of 300,00 Mcf.

The facility also includes ten storage

wells, four compressor units and

approximately forty miles of pipeline

interconnecting the storage facility with

Enogex Inc., an intrastate pipeline

which furnishes interstate

transportation services under Section

311(a)(2) of the NGPA. COOG, although

currently provider of intrastate storage

services, is a new entrant into the

interstate storage market and has not

previously offered Section 311 services.

COOG proposes to charge market-based

rates, subject to refund, effective upon

the filing of this petition.

COOG avers that it has no market

power in any relevant product or

geographic market for storage services of

the sort it proposes to furnish. COOG

has submitted with its petition for rate

approval a study which, according to

COOG, supports this conclusion.

COOG has also submitted with its

petition a Statement of Interstate Storage

Service Terms and Conditions in

compliance with 18 CFR Part 284. This

Statement would govern COOG’s

provision of storage services under

Section 311.

Pursuant to Section 284.123(b)(2)(ii),

if the Commission does not act within

150 days of the filing date, COOG’s

proposed rates will be deemed to be fair

and equitable. The Commission may,

prior to the expiration of the 150 day

period, extend the time for action or

institute a proceeding to afford parties

an opportunity for written comments

and for oral presentation of views, data

and arguments.

Any person desiring to participate in

this proceeding must file a motion to

intervene in accordance with Sections

385.211 and 385.214 of the

Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedure. All motions must be filed

with the Secretary of the Commission

on or before April 25, 1997. The petition

for rate approval is on file with the

Commission and is available for public

inspection.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–9761 Filed 4–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M