[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 19917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11033]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Wetlands Involvement for Refurbishment of Uranium 
Hexafluoride Cylinder Storage Yards C-745-K, L, M, N, and P and 
Construction of a New Uranium Hexafluoride Cylinder Storage Yard (C-
745-T) at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Near Paducah, KY

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to renovate existing storage yards and construct 
a new storage yard to accommodate restacking of approximately 19,000 
steel cylinders containing uranium hexafluoride at the Paducah Gaseous 
Diffusion Plant (PGDP) in McCracken County, Kentucky. Construction of 
the new storage yard would result in the loss (filling) of less than 
one acre of wetlands. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022, DOE will 
prepare a wetlands assessment and will perform the proposed action in a 
manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the 
affected wetlands.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than May 20, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Mr. Jimmie C. Hodges, 
Paducah Site Manager, U. S. Department of Energy, 5600 Hobbs Road, 
Paducah, KY 42001. Phone (502) 441-6800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information on the proposed 
action and wetlands assessment can be obtained from Mr. Jimmie C. 
Hodges, Paducah Site Manager (see ADDRESSES above). Information on 
general DOE wetlands environmental review requirements is available 
from: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Assistance (EH-25), U. S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Phone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-
2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PGDP is an operational uranium enrichment 
facility owned by DOE and operated by the United States Enrichment 
Corporation. A consequence of the uranium enrichment process is the 
accumulation of depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF<INF>6). Depleted 
UF<INF>6, a solid at ambient temperatures, is stored in large steel 
cylinders weighing up to 14 tons each. DOE is responsible for 
approximately 32,200 cylinders of UF<INF>6 stored at PGDP. Storage 
conditions are suboptimal and have resulted in accelerated corrosion of 
cylinders and have increased the potential for a release of hazardous 
substances. Consequently, DOE has proposed refurbishment of certain 
existing yards and construction of a new storage yard (C-745-T).
    The C-745-T yard would consist of a concrete pad occupying 
approximately 43,200 m<SUP>2 (450,000 ft<SUP>2). The initial 
construction activities in the storage yard would consist of clearing 
and grubbing the area and stripping the topsoil. After this excavation, 
a storm water drainage system would be installed. The excavated area 
would be filled with soil and gravel to achieve the desired design 
elevation. A concrete pad would be constructed on top of the fill.
    The proposed site for the C-745-T cylinder storage yard is 
immediately south of existing cylinder yards at the southern end of the 
plant. Of available sites, DOE considers the proposed site to best meet 
siting criteria. A different site was initially proposed but was 
discovered to encompass approximately 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres) of 
wetlands. In order to minimize impacts to wetlands in accordance with 
Executive Order 11990, ``Protection of Wetlands,'' and 10 CFR Part 
1022, DOE's ``Compliance With Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review 
Requirements,'' DOE selected the current proposed site.
    Six small, isolated wetlands are present at the proposed C-745-T 
yard site. These wetlands are classified as palustrine emergent, 
palustrine scrub/shrub, and palustrine forested, according to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service wetland classification system. Palustrine 
wetlands in the vicinity of PGDP are those less than 8 hectares (20 
acres) in surface area with a water depth less than 2 m (6.6 ft) during 
low water. Emergent vegetation is erect, rooted, non-woody; scrub/shrub 
vegetation is woody not exceeding 6 m (20 ft) in height; and forested 
vegetation is woody, exceeding 6 m (20 ft) in height.
    The total area of wetlands directly impacted by the proposed action 
would be 0.32 hectare (0.8 acre). Under the worst case scenario, an 
additional 0.12 hectare (0.3 acre) of wetlands could be impacted by (1) 
construction equipment accessing the area or materials and equipment 
staged in wetland areas, if proper precautions (best management 
practices) are not followed, or (2) diversion of flow away from a man-
made drainage ditch which contains wetlands.
    In accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022, DOE will prepare a wetlands 
assessment for the proposed action. The wetlands assessment will be 
included in the environmental assessment (EA) being prepared for the 
proposed action in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on April 1, 1996.
James L. Elmore,
Alternate NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-11033 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]
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