[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4024]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Floodplain Statement of Findings for Proposed Sampling at Solid
Waste Management Units 94 and 95 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion
Plant, Paducah, KY
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.
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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for the proposed
sampling at solid waste management units (SWMUs) 94 and 95. DOE
proposes to conduct a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility
Investigation (RFI) at SWMUs 94 and 95 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion
Plant (PGDP) that would involve the collection of surface water, ground
water, sediment, and soil samples at these SWMUs. Some sampling is
proposed to occur in the floodplains of two creeks near PGDP in
McCracken County, Kentucky. DOE prepared a floodplain assessment
describing the effects, alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or
minimize potential harm to or within the affected floodplains. DOE will
endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after publication of the
statement of findings before implementing the proposed action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on the proposed action
(including maps of potentially disturbed floodplain areas) is available
from:
Mr. Robert C. Sleeman, Director, Environmental Restoration Division,
Oak Ridge Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box
2001, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8541, (615) 576-0715, (615) 576-
6074 (Fax).
Further information on general DOE floodplain/wetlands
environmental review requirements is available from:
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Oversight, (EH-25),
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings
for the proposed RFI sampling at SWMUs 94 and 95 prepared in accordance
with 10 CFR part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain/Wetland Involvement for
Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Activities at PGDP was
published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1993, at 58 FR 51812,
and a floodplain assessment has been prepared; no wetland will be
involved in the proposed action. DOE is proposing to collect surface
water, ground water, sediment, and soil samples to define the nature
and extent of contamination in these media at two SWMUs on the site of
the former Kentucky Ordnance Works near PGDP in McCracken County,
Kentucky.
Ground-water wells and deep soil borings would be placed within the
100-year floodplain of an unnamed tributary to Big Bayou Creek at SWMU
94 and within the 100-year floodplain of Big Bayou Creek at SWMU 95 to
determine if the floodplains have been contaminated from past releases
from the two SWMUs. Sampling would allow DOE to define the nature and
extent of potential contamination in floodplain media. Two alternatives
were considered--the no action alternative and an alternative that
included performing the activities outside of the floodplain. Neither
of these alternatives would provide the necessary characterization
information and, therefore, are unacceptable alternatives. The proposed
action does conform to applicable State floodplain protection
standards.
Minor temporary impacts would occur from construction of temporary
access roads and drilling pads for heavy equipment used to install deep
soil borings and wells. Some trees would have to be cut at SWMU 95 to
clear new access routes. Existing roadways and clearings would be used
to the greatest extent possible to minimize new road construction. New
temporary roadways and drilling pads would require small amounts of
gravel and rock fill for drilling equipment.
All drilling pads and most access roadways would be reclaimed and
revegetated at the conclusion of the project. Some roadways would be
left in place for continued access to monitoring wells. The number of
trees to be cut would be kept to the minimum needed to clear access
routes. Standard engineering practices would control potential soil
erosion from the sites. Access road and drilling pad construction and
clearing vegetation for site access would not reduce the flood storage
capacity of the floodplain, interfere with stream flow, or produce
hazardous flood velocities. DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of
public review after publication of the statement of findings prior to
implementing the proposed action.
James J. Fiore,
Director, Office of Eastern Area Programs, Office of Environmental
Restoration.
[FR Doc. 94-4024 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P