[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18391-18392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9953]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement Notification for
Implementation of the Wetland Mitigation Bank at the Savannah River
Site (SRS)
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notification of floodplain and wetlands involvement.
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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to implement a wetland mitigation bank program at
SRS. A wetland mitigation bank is a regulatory accounting program which
provides advanced compensation for unavoidable wetland losses due to
development activities. The proposed action is needed to support future
projects at SRS which would require wetland impact mitigation or
compensation. The proposed action is embodied in an interagency
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DOE and several Federal and State
environmental regulatory agencies. In accordance with title 10 CFR Part
1022, DOE will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and will
perform this proposed action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize
potential harm to or within the affected floodplain or wetlands.
DATES: Comments on the proposed action due on or before April 30, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this assessment should be addressed to
Andrew R. Grainger, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance
Officer, Savannah River Operations Office, Building 773-42A, Room 212,
Aiken, South Carolina 29808. The fax/phone number is (800) 881-7292.
The e-mail address is nepa@srs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL FLOODPLAIN/WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office
of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U. S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.
A location map showing SRS and further information can be obtained
from the Savannah River Operations Office (see ADDRESSES above).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed DOE action entails the
implementation of a wetland mitigation bank program at SRS, located
near Aiken, South Carolina. A wetland mitigation bank is a regulatory
accounting program which provides advanced compensation for unavoidable
wetland losses due to development activities. The purpose of the
proposed action is to provide the DOE Savannah River Operations Office
(SR) with a compensatory alternative for unavoidable wetland losses
associated with future authorized construction and environmental
restoration projects in SRS wetlands. In addition, the proposed action
would enable DOE-SR to gain credit for wetland restoration work that
would not otherwise be accomplished through alternative programs or
means. Future projects such as the remediation of waste sites and the
repair and maintenance of roads and bridges on SRS probably will impact
some wetland areas. By establishing a wetland mitigation bank prior to
such impacts, DOE-SR can incorporate mitigation efforts required for
new projects in a more timely manner. For future remediation and
construction projects that require compensatory wetland mitigation, the
bank would save the time and money needed to locate a suitable wetland
for restoration and to obtain approval for its use.
This proposed action would encompass both the general mitigation
activities on SRS wetlands and the overall management of the resulting
site ``banking'' program. In all instances, wetland impact avoidance
and minimization would be employed prior to being able to use
compensatory mitigation. This wetland mitigation bank would be a
dedicated bank, to be used for SRS project needs only. The proposed
action would be implemented in conjunction with the landscape-scale
land use planning effort that is currently being developed at SRS. The
existence of degraded wetlands, channelized streams, and thermally-
impacted swamp forests in proximity to a large tract of high-quality
forested wetlands and old-age upland forest provide DOE-SR the
opportunity to develop a bank with a high probability of success. A key
advantage for establishing the bank at SRS is the presence of
experienced land management and research groups on site.
[[Page 18392]]
The scope of the proposed action is detailed in an interagency MOA
between DOE-SR; the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District;
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region IV); the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; the
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control; and the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The U.S. Department of
Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service will continue to coordinate
with SRS wetland impact and mitigation issues, but legally was
prohibited from becoming a signatory party to this MOA. The MOA
established the basic components and inner workings of the SRS wetland
mitigation bank. The MOA also established the mitigation banking review
team, an interagency group designated to review and consult with DOE-SR
regarding compensation proposals. This team consists of representatives
of the same agencies which signed the MOA and the National Marine
Fisheries Service.
The SRS wetland mitigation bank would involve the restoration and
enhancement of small isolated wetlands, as well as major wetland
systems scattered throughout the site's nonindustrialized area. The
primary goal of the bank would be the restoration and enhancement of
degraded Carolina bays and stream-side bottomland hardwood forest on
SRS. Mitigation opportunities within the industrialized area may also
be explored to provide mitigation sites where feasible.
During implementation of the proposed action, potential activities
that could take place in floodplain and wetland areas might include
grading, timber harvest (e.g., removal of overstory upland trees in
drained Carolina bays), placement of soils (e.g., plugging of drainage
ditches or restoration of hydric soils), planting of hydrophytic
vegetation, and monitoring and maintenance efforts. Some of these
activities would require temporary construction access during certain
restoration/enhancement projects. A number of mitigation activities
would be implemented to minimize potential impacts to the floodplain
and wetland areas. Operation of construction equipment in the wetland
and floodplain areas would be minimized. Depending upon the type of
mechanized construction equipment to be employed, the use of platform
support mats may be required to minimize the impacts to the wetland
soils in the project area. Silt fences and other erosion control
structures as needed would be installed to ensure there is no
deposition in the downslope wetland areas. Best management practices
would be employed during construction and maintenance activities
associated with this proposed action.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetland environmental review requirements (title 10 CFR Part 1022),
DOE-SR will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this
proposed DOE action. The assessment will be included in the
environmental assessment (EA) being prepared for the proposed action in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA. A floodplain statement of
findings will be included in any finding of no significant impact that
is issued following the completion of the EA or may be issued
separately.
Issued in Aiken, SC, on April 2, 1998.
Lowell E. Tripp,
Director, Engineering and Analysis Division, Savannah River Operations
Office.
[FR Doc. 98-9953 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
