[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19476-19477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10359]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army
Corps of Engineers


Release of Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan (FS/PP) for Cleanup of 
Radiological Contamination at the St. Louis Downtown Site (SLDS) for 
Public Review

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
propose to cleanup contaminants resulting from past uranium processing 
operations at the St. Louis Downtown Site (SLDS). SLDS is one of 
several being addressed under the Superfund law (Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [CERCLA]. 
Alternatives, which identify the range of cleanup options, have been 
developed and evaluated in the SLDS Feasibility Study (FS). USACE has 
identified Alternative 4 as the preferred remediation alternative

[[Page 19477]]

described in this Proposed Plan based on the information available at 
this time. The final decision on the remedy to be implemented will be 
documented in a Record of Decision (ROD) only after consideration of 
all comments received and any new information presented.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the SLDS FS/PP may 
be directed to Mr. Chris Haskell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. 
Louis District, FUSRAP Project Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley, 
Missouri 63134, by phone (314) 524-3334, or by e-mail at 
``Chris.Haskell @MVS01.usace. army.mil''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, issued the 
SLDS Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan (FS/PP) for public comment on 
April 8, 1998. The site became contaminated as a result of activities 
in support of the nation's early atomic energy program in the 1940s. 
The sites are being addressed under the Formerly Utilized Sites 
Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). Cleanup of these sites is now managed 
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The alternatives evaluated in the 
Feasibility Study are summarized in the Proposed Plan. Inaccessible 
soils are not included as part of the operable unit.

2. Project Alternatives

    a. Alternative 1--No Action. Mandated by the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities (CERCLA), 
periodic environmental monitoring would be conducted, but no remedial 
action would be conducted.
    b. Alternative 2--Institutional Controls and Site Maintenance. 
Institutional controls and site maintenance would be implemented to 
prevent unacceptable exposures to site contamination.
    c. Alternative 3--Containment. Alternative 3 incorporates 
containment, institutional controls, and environmental monitoring to 
reduce further spread of contaminants and reduce the potential for 
direct exposure. Under this alternative, accessible soils from SLDS and 
vicinity properties would be excavated and consolidated and capped at a 
downtown location such as the City Property or Plant 2 area.
    d. Alternative 4--Partial Excavation and Disposal. This alternative 
includes excavation of accessible soils in the upper 2 feet to the 
composite criteria of 5 pCi/g in surface soil (top 6 inches) and 15 
pCi/g in shallow subsurface soil (top 2 feet) (for Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-
230, and Thj-232) and 50 pCi/g for U-238. Site-specific dose and risk-
based target removal levels of 50 pCi/g Ra-226, 100 pCi/g Th-230 and 
150 pCi/g U-238 would be used for excavation of soils below 2 feet for 
most site areas.
    e. Alternative 5--Complete Excavation and Disposal. This 
alternative involves excavating soil contaminated above the composite 
criteria regardless of depth.
    f. Alternative 6--Selective Excavation and Disposal. This 
alternative focuses on reducing the need for future studies, designs, 
and remedial actions, in addition to protection of human health and the 
environmental relative to Alternative 4. It is anticipated that 
excavation to the composite criteria would proceed to a depth of 6 feet 
of the St. Louis Terminal Railroad Association tracks and the former 
locations of Buildings 116, 117, 704-707. Excavation for the composite 
criteria would stop at 4 feet at all other areas at SLDS including the 
vicinity properties and under the roads.
    The Corps of Engineers has identified alternative 4 as preferred.

3. Scoping Process

    Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals are 
invited to participate in the scoping process to determine the range of 
issues and alternatives to be addressed. The U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers will hold a public meeting to receive oral and written 
comments at the Henry Clay Elementary School Gymnasium, 3820 North 
141th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63107 on April 21, 1998 from 7:00 
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition, written comments will also be accepted 
until May 8, 1998 by Dr. R. L. Mullins at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
St. Louis District, FUSRAP Project Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley, 
Missouri 63134, (314) 524-4083.

4. Availability of FS/PP

    Copies of the FS/PP are available for review from April 8, 1998 
until May 8, 1998 during business hours at the following locations:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, FUSRAP Project 
Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley, Missouri 63134
St. Louis Public Library, Government Information Section, 1301 Olive 
Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Henry Clay Elementary School, 3820 N. 14th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 
63107
Prairie Commons Branch Library, 915 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042
Washington University Library of Biological Sciences, One Brookings 
Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
Julia Davis Branch Library, 4415 Natural Bridge, St. Louis Missouri 
63115
St. Louis County Library, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 
63131

    The FS/PP is also available for review on the world wide web at 
http://144.3.144.51/engr/fusrap/index.htm.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-10359 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-55-M