Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules 28317

required by EO 12866. Any written

comments from OMB and any EPA

response to OMB comments have been

placed in the public docket for this

Notice.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 89

Environmental protection,

Administrative practice and procedure,

Air pollution control, Confidential

business information, Imports,

Incorporation by reference, Labeling,

Nonroad source pollution, Reporting

and recordkeeping requirements.

Dated: May 11, 1998.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–13791 Filed 5–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[FRL–6101–2]

National Oil and Hazardous

Substances Contingency Plan;

National Priorities List

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency.

ACTION: Notice of intent to delete

Operable Units 100–IU–1 and 100-IU–3

of the Hanford 100 Area Superfund Site

from the National Priorities List.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) Region 10 announces its

intent to delete portions of the Hanford

100 Area NPL Superfund Site. The

portions proposed to be deleted are the

100–IU–1 and 100–IU–3 Operable Units

from the National Priories List. The

100–IU–1 and IU–3 Operable Units are

part of the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site

located at the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE) Hanford Site, located in

southeastern Washington State. EPA is

requesting comment on this action.

The NPL constitutes Appendix B to

the National Oil and Hazardous

Substances Pollution Contingency Plan

(NCP), 40 CFR Part 300, which EPA

promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of

the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act (CERCLA). This partial deletion of

the 100–IU–1 and 100–IU–3 Operable

Units is proposed in accordance with 40

CFR 300.425(e) and the Notice of Policy

Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed

on the National Priorities List. 60 FR

55466 (Nov. 1995).

This proposal for partial deletion

pertains to all known waste areas

located in the 100–IU–1 and 100–IU–3

Operable Units. The waste areas in 100-

IU–3 were associated with former

military sites used to defend the

Hanford Site during the Cold War. In

addition, a 2–4,D burial ground is

located in the 100–IU–3 Operable Unit.

The primary waste areas in the 100–IU–

1 Operable Unit were associated with

decontamination of rail cars at the

Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit, a

munitions cache, a pesticide container

area, and a 2–4,D container area.

DATES: EPA will accept comments

concerning its proposal for partial

deletion for thirty (30) days after

publication of this document in the

Federal Register and a newspaper of

record.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to:

Dennis Faulk, Superfund Site Manager,

USEPA, 712 Swift #5, Richland,

Washington 99352; (509) 376–8631.

Information Repositories: Information

and the deletion docket is available for

review at the information repository

listed below:

U.S. Department of Energy, Public

Reading Room, Washington State

University, Tri-Cities Consolidated

Information Center, Room 101L, 2770

University Drive, Richland,

Washington 99352.

In addition, the Notice of Intent to

Delete can be reviewed at the following

information repositories: Portland State

University, Branford Price Millar

Library, Science and Engineering Floor,

934 SW Harrison and Park, Portland,

Oregon; University of Washington,

Suzzallo Library, Government

Publications Room, Seattle, Washington;

Gonzaga University, Foley Center, East

502 Boone, Spokane, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dennis Faulk; (509)376–8631.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

III. Deletion Procedures

IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

I. Introduction

The United States Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10

announces its intent to delete the 100–

IU–1 and 100–IU–3 Operable Units from

the National Priories List. The 100–IU–

1 and IU–3 Operable Units are part of

the Hanford 100 Area NPL Site located

at The U.S. Department of Energy(DOE)

Hanford Site, located in southeastern

Washington State. EPA is requesting

comment on this action.

EPA proposes to delete the 100–IU–1

and 100–IU–3 Operable Units from the

100 Area NPL because all appropriate

CERCLA response activities have been

completed. The waste areas in the 100–

IU–1 and 100–IU–3 Operable Units were

cleaned up by the DOE between 1992

and 1994 using expedited response

actions (ERA). At the Hanford Site, the

term ERA is used to describe actions

taken under CERCLA removal authority

as described in 40 CFR 300.415. In

February 1996, a no further action

record of decision was signed

documenting that previous ERA’s had

removed all contaminants from the

waste areas in the 100–IU–1 and 100–

IU–3 Operable Units to below cleanup

levels for residential use established

under the Washington State Model

Toxics Control Act (MTCA). It should be

noted, cleanup activities are continuing

at other operable units of the Hanford

100 Area NPL Site.

The NPL is a list maintained by EPA

of sites that EPA has determined present

a significant risk to human health,

welfare, or the environment. Sites on

the NPL may be the subject of remedial

actions financed by the Hazardous

Substance Superfund (Fund). Pursuant

to 40 CFR 300.425(e) of the NCP, any

site or portion of a site deleted from the

NPL remains eligible for remedial

actions if conditions at the site warrant

such action.

EPA will accept comments

concerning its intent for partial deletion

for thirty (30) days after publication of

this notice in the Federal Register and

a newspaper of record.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

The NCP establishes the criteria that

EPA uses to delete sites from the NPL.

In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e),

sites may be deleted from the NPL

where no further response is

appropriate to protect human health or

the environment. In making such a

determination pursuant to § 300.425(e),

EPA will consider, in consultation with

the State, whether any of the following

criteria have been met:

Section 300.425(e)(1)(I). Responsible

parties or other persons have

implemented all appropriate response

actions required; or

Section 300.425(e)(1)(ii). All

appropriate response actions under

CERCLA have been implemented under

DOE’s removal authority, and no further

response action is deemed necessary; or

Section 300.425(e)(1)(iii). The

remedial investigation has shown that

the release poses no significant threat to

human health or the environment and,

therefore, taking of remedial measures is

not appropriate.

Deletion of a portion of a site from the

NPL does not preclude eligibility for

subsequent remedial actions at the area

deleted if future site conditions warrant
28318 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules

such actions. Section 300.425(e)(3) of

the NCP provides that remedial actions

may be taken at sites that have been

deleted from the NPL. A partial deletion

of a site from the NPL does not affect or

impede EPA’s ability to conduct

CERCLA response activities at areas not

deleted and remaining on the NPL. In

addition, deletion of a portion of a site

from the NPL does not affect the

liability of responsible parties or impede

agency efforts to recover costs

associated with response efforts.

III. Deletion Procedures

Deletion of a portion of a site from the

NPL does not itself create, alter, or

revoke any person’s rights or

obligations. The NPL is designed

primarily for information purposes and

to assist Agency management.

The following procedures were used

for the proposed deletion of the 100–IU–

1 and 100–IU–3 Operable Units:

(1) EPA Region 10 has recommended

the partial deletion and has prepared

the relevant documents.

(2) The State of Washington, through

the Washington Department of Ecology,

concurs with this proposed partial

deletion.

(3) Concurrent with this national

Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion, a

notice has been published in a

newspaper of record and has been

distributed to appropriate federal, State,

and local officials and other interested

parties. These notices announce a thirty

(30) day public comment period on the

deletion package, which commences on

the date of publication of this notice in

the Federal Register and newspaper of

record.

(4) EPA has made all relevant

documents available at the information

repositories listed previously.

This Federal Register document, and

a concurrent notice in a newspaper of

record, announce the initiation of a

thirty (30) day public comment period

and the availability of the Notice of

Intent of Partial Deletion. The public is

asked to comment on EPA’s proposal to

delete the operable units from the NPL.

All critical documents needed to

evaluate EPA’s decision are included in

the Deletion Docket and are available for

review at the information repository

previously listed.

Upon completion of the thirty (30)

day public comment period, EPA will

evaluate all comments received before

issuing the final decision on the partial

deletion. EPA will prepare a

Responsiveness Summary for comments

received during the public comment

period and will address concerns

presented in the comments. The

Responsiveness Summary will be made

available to the public at the

information repository previously listed.

Members of the public are encouraged

to contact EPA Region 10 to obtain a

copy of the Responsiveness Summary.

If, after review of all public comments,

EPA determines that the partial deletion

from the NPL is appropriate, EPA will

publish a final notice of partial deletion

in the Federal Register. Deletion of the

operable units does not actually occur

until the final Notice of Partial Deletion

is published in the Federal Register.

IV. Basis for Intended Partial Site

Deletion

The following provides EPA’s

rationale for deletion of the 100–IU–1

and 100–IU–3 Operable Units of the

Hanford 100 Area NPL Site and EPA’s

finding that the criteria in 40 CFR

300.425(e) are satisfied.

Background

The Hanford 100 Area Site was added

to the NPL in November 1989. EPA

Region 10 is proposing deletion of

portions of the Hanford 100 Area NPL

Site. Specifically the 100–IU–1 Operable

Unit and 100–IU–3 Operable Unit. The

100–IU–1 Operable Unit is a 13 square

mile area with boundaries of

Washington State Route 240 on the east,

Washington State Highway 24 on the

south, Hanford Site boundary on the

west, and the Columbia River on the

north. The 100–IU–3 Operable Unit is a

140 square mile area located at the

northern most extent of the Hanford 100

Area NPL Site, north of the Columbia

River.

100–IU–1 Operable Unit

Based on past disposal practices two

waste areas; the Army Munitions Burial

Site (munitions cache) and the

Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit were

included as subunits in the 100–IU–1

Operable Unit. In addition, during

investigations a pesticide container

disposal area and a 2–4,D container area

were also discovered and included as

part of the operable unit.

The Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit

operated from 1943 until 1956 and was

used to decontaminate railcars.

Radioactive decontamination was

required before railroad maintenance

personnel could work on the railcars

and locomotives.

An operable unit visual inspection

found one homestead area containing a

pile of empty pesticide containers.

Characterization activities identified

aldrin and dieldrin as contaminants of

concern in the soil. Aldrin and dieldrin

are carcinogenic and relatively

immobile in soils. The chemicals were

produced for about 10 years, from the

early 1950s to early 1960s.

A 2–4,D container area was

discovered in July 1994 during an

archaeological survey performed by

Pacific Northwest Laboratories. Two 5-

gallon containers were found on the

surface among some sage brush. In

addition, nine 5-gallon containers, with

just the pour spouts exposed, were

found buried among the sage brush.

Partial container markings indicated

that the containers may have contained

2–4,D.

The munitions cache received various

military explosives in the 1970s. The

explosives were remnants left from

various military exercises in the area.

The area consisted of a wooden box

placed in a hole in the ground about 0.6

m by 0.9 m by 0.6 m (2 ft by 3 ft by 2

ft) deep. On May 22, 1986, the box with

contents went to the Yakima Firing

Range for destruction.

Characterization activities confirmed

the presence of diesel fuel

contamination in the concrete and soil

at the Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit

and pesticide soil contamination at the

pesticide container area.

Characterization of the 2–4,D container

area did not find any contaminated soil

around or beneath the containers. Based

on results of sampling at the 2–4,D

container area, the empty containers

were designated nonregulated. At the

pesticide container area, sampling

indicated the primary hazardous

constituents of concern were aldrin and

dieldrin contaminated soils. The

munitions cache was sampled and no

contamination was present.

There is no known groundwater

contamination associated with the 100–

IU–1 Operable Unit. There are two

shallow depth groundwater monitoring

wells within the Operable Unit. One

well is located down gradient of the

Riverland Railroad Car Wash Pit and the

second well is located down gradient

and to the northwest. Sample analysis

data from as far back as 1971 do not

show groundwater contamination.

EPA and Ecology issued an action

memorandum to DOE in June, 1993

requiring the removal of all pesticide

contaminated soils, filling in the

munitions cache hole, performing an

explosive ordnance survey, and

cleaning up the diesel contaminated

concrete and soils at the Riverland

Railroad Car Wash Pit.

The munitions cache hole was filled

in on July 27, 1993. The Riverland

Ordnance Survey was part of the

Hanford Site-wide ordnance and

explosive waste (OEW) archive search

conducted by the U. S. Army Corps of

Engineers. This search indicated that
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules 28319

the potential for ordnance in 100–IU–1

was minimal and, therefore, no further

action was required regarding ordnance.

The pesticide container area cleanup

activities started on July 6, 1993. On-site

immunoassay field screening was used

to monitor cleanup activity success.

Drums containing crushed pesticide

containers and drums containing aldrin

and dieldrin contaminated soils were

sent to an appropriate disposal facility

located in the 200 Area of Hanford. The

pesticide area was backfilled on

September 1, 1993 after laboratory

sample results confirmed that the soil

contamination levels were below 2 parts

per million (pmm) which is the cleanup

level for aldrin and dieldrin as specified

by the MTCA.

The Riverland Railroad Wash Car Pit

cleanup activities started on July 12,

1993 when the soil covering the shop

concrete pad was removed. The entire

cleanup action was monitored with

immunoassay field screening kits that

detected diesel (TPH) concentrations at

or above 200 ppm. Demolition of the

concrete pad began on September 21,

1993 and diesel contaminated soil

removal started on September 27, 1993.

The contaminated material consisted of

soils beneath the concrete pad, clay

drain pipes and associated soils, and

drainage ditch soils. A total of 430 cubic

yards of material were removed and

hauled to a bioremediation facility

onsite. Bioremediation activities were

completed in 1996. Sample results

indicated that all soils were below the

MTCA cleanup level of 200 ppm for

TPH. All excavations were backfilled

with clean soil.

100–IU–3

In April of 1992, Ecology and the EPA

recommended that the 100–IU–3

Operable Unit be investigated and

remediated using a non-time critical

ERA. Results of field work which

commenced in the summer of 1992

indicated that full scale hazard

mitigation and the proper abandonment

of water wells needed to be performed.

Field work also indicated investigation

and remediation of the 100–IU–3

military landfills was warranted. The

H–O6–L landfill, considered to be the

largest and suspected to contain the

most hazardous waste, would be fully

characterized (i.e., anomalous areas

identified within the landfill boundaries

would be fully excavated to undisturbed

or natural horizons; excavated materials

would be field screened, sampled and

analyzed if necessary). Materials

identified as hazardous or regulated

would be stockpiled for treatment or offsite disposal.

Additional characterization and

remediation of the other landfills would

be dependent on the amounts and types

of wastes found at the H–O6–L landfill.

It was reasoned that because the

military areas were under the same

command, similar operating practices

would be in place for each. Therefore,

using an analogous approach,

environmental waste found at the H–

O6–L landfill would be expected to be

present at the other landfills. Similarly,

if no environmental waste was

discovered at the H–O6–L landfill, the

expectation was that the other landfills

would also be free of contamination.

The Action Memorandum also

required that DOE investigate the

possible presence of ordnance in the

100–IU–3 Operable Unit. Ordnance, if

found, was to be handled and disposed

of in accordance with current U.S. Army

regulations. An ordnance and explosive

waste (OEW) record search was initiated

in November of 1993. The search

consisted of a records review and site

visit, ordnance and explosive waste

contamination analysis, and an archives

search. The search concluded that there

is a very small potential for the presence

of OEW. Given the expanse of the 100–

IU–3 Operable Unit, the likelihood of

finding any ordnance through a field

search would be minimal, and the costs

would be great. Therefore, no further

action was recommended.

Decommissioning of water wells

began in June 1994 and was concluded

in October 1994. In all, 9 water supply

wells and one monitoring well were

decommissioned in accordance with

requirements set forth by the

Washington State Department of

Ecology. Localized contamination was

discovered in three 100–IU–3 Operable

Unit water supply wells. The

contamination appeared to have been a

result of vandals dumping oil and other

debris down the well casing. In each

case the contamination was contained

within the casing. The oil and

contaminated water were successfully

purged from each well and the casings

were steamed cleaned. Follow up water

sampling and testing was conducted to

confirm cleanup.

Full characterization and remediation

at the H–06–L landfill began on April

19, 1994. Activities conducted consisted

of geophysical investigations,

excavation and field screening of buried

wastes, sampling and analysis of

suspect wastes, and segregation of

confirmed hazardous or contaminated

materials. Geophysical investigations

employed electromagnetic profiling and

magnetic techniques to locate buried

metallic and non-metallic waste

materials. Areas exhibiting anomalous

geophysical response were marked in

the field for subsequent excavation.

Excavated wastes were field screened

using several criteria including visual

observation, direct-reading instruments,

and analyte-specific field analytical kits.

Suspect wastes were sampled for

characterization by an off-site laboratory

under a quick turn-around schedule.

Materials confirmed as hazardous were

segregated pending determination of

proper waste designation and

disposition. Excavations were backfilled

with clean material and graded to

original conditions.

Approximately 600 cubic yards of

DDT contaminated soil were discovered

at the H–O6–L landfill. This material

was disposed of at an off-site permitted

landfill. Also, 200 cubic yards of

petroleum contaminated soil was found

and disposed of at an approved off-site

facility. Six drums of soil contaminated

with metals and soil from beneath

several pesticide cans were disposed at

an off-site facility. No ordnance or

explosive waste was discovered.

The remaining 100–IU–3 military

landfills received limited

characterization and remediation that

required excavation at each identified

geophysical anomaly. Full excavations

would only be required when field

screening indicated the possible

presence of contaminants.

Characterization and remediation of

100–IU–3 landfills concluded on August

11, 1994.

In July of 1994, four exploratory holes

were drilled under the buried tanks at

the 2,4-D burial ground. The tanks were

first located using a magnetometer. The

holes were drilled at an incline in order

to obtain samples from directly beneath

the tanks. Eighteen samples were taken

and no samples detected 2,4-D. In 1997,

new information led to a reinvestigation of the 2,4-D burial ground.

Laboratory data showed elevated levels

of 2,4-D and dioxin. The site was

excavated and soils containing 2, 4-D

and dioxin were shipped off-site for

disposal. A portion of the soil was

contaminated with 2,4-D only and was

bioremediated onsite.

Community Involvement

Public participation activities for the

cleanup of the 100–IU–1 and 100–IU–3

Operable Units were conducted as

required under CERCLA Section 113(k),

42 U.S.C. 9613(k) and Section 117, 42

U.S.C. 9617. Public review included the

following activities:

Public comment on the removal

cleanup plan for 100–IU–1 from May 3

through June 9, 1993.

Public comment was accepted from

November 8, 1993 through January 8,
28320 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules

1994 for the 100–IU–3 removal cleanup

plan. A public meeting was held in

Mattawa, Washington on December 14,

1993 for the 100–IU–3 Operable Unit.

Public comment was held from June

25 through August 9, 1995 regarding the

proposed plan for 100–IU–1 and 100–

IU–3 Operable Units.

Current Status

In February 1996, a no further action

record of decision was signed

documenting that previous removal

actions done in 1993 and 1994 removed

all contaminants to below the

Washington Administrative Code

(WAC), WAC 173–340 Washington State

Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and

that these areas do not pose a threat to

human health or the environment.

The State of Washington, through the

Department of Ecology, concurs with

EPA’s final determination regarding this

proposed partial deletion.

Dated: May 15, 1998.

Charles E. Findley,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10,

Environmental Protection Agency.

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules 28321

Appendix—Map of USDOE Hanford 100 Area
28322 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 99 / Friday, May 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules

[FR Doc. 98–13602 Filed 5–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–C

FEDERAL EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT AGENCY

44 CFR Part 67

[Docket No. FEMA–7246]

Proposed Flood Elevation

Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: Technical information or

comments are requested on the

proposed base (1% annual chance) flood

elevations and proposed base flood

elevation modifications for the

communities listed below. The base

flood elevations and modified base

flood elevations are the basis for the

floodplain management measures that

the community is required either to

adopt or to show evidence of being

already in effect in order to qualify or

remain qualified for participation in the

National Flood InsuranceProgram

(NFIP).

DATES: The comment period is ninety

(90) days following the second

publication of this proposed rule in a

newspaper of local circulation in each

community.

ADDRESSES: The proposed base flood

elevations for each community are

available for inspection at the office of

the Chief Executive Officer of each

community. The respective addresses

are listed in the following table.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Matthew B. Miller, P.E., Chief, Hazards

Study Branch, Mitigation Directorate,

500 C Street SW., Washington, DC

20472, (202) 646–3461.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Federal Emergency Management Agency

proposes to make determinations of base

flood elevations and modified base

flood elevations for each community

listed below, in accordance with Section

110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act

of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR

67.4(a).

These proposed base flood and

modified base flood elevations, together

with the floodplain management criteria

required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the

minimum that are required. They

should not be construed to mean that

the community must change any

existing ordinances that are more

stringent in their floodplain

management requirements. The

community may at any time enact

stricter requirements of its own, or

pursuant to policies established by other

Federal, State, or regional entities.

These proposed elevations are used to

meet the floodplain management

requirements of the NFIP and are also

used to calculate the appropriate flood

insurance premium rates for new

buildings built after these elevations are

made final, and for the contents in these

buildings.

National Environmental Policy Act

This proposed rule is categorically

excluded from the requirements of 44

CFR Part 10, Environmental

Consideration. No environmental

impact assessment has been prepared.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Associate Director for Mitigation

certifies that this proposed rule is

exempt from the requirements of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act because

proposed or modified base flood

elevations are required by the Flood

Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42

U.S.C. 4104, and are required to

establish and maintain community

eligibility in the NFIP. No regulatory

flexibility analysis has been prepared.

Regulatory Classification

This proposed rule is not a significant

regulatory action under the criteria of

Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 of

September 30, 1993, Regulatory

Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735.

Executive Order 12612, Federalism

This proposed rule involves no

policies that have federalism

implications under Executive Order

12612,Federalism, dated October 26,

1987.