94-17896. Floodplain Statement of Findings for Proposed K-901 Operable Unit, Remedial Investigation Activities at the K-25 Site, Oak Ridge, TN

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17896]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

Floodplain Statement of Findings for Proposed K-901 Operable 
Unit, Remedial Investigation Activities at the K-25 Site, Oak Ridge, TN

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 K-
901 Operating Unit (OU) remedial investigation activities at the Oak 
Ridge K-25 Site, prepared in accordance with 10 CFR 1022. DOE proposes 
to conduct remedial investigation activities in the 100-year floodplain 
of the Clinch River located in Roane County, Tennessee. DOE prepared a 
floodplain assessment describing the effects, alternatives, and 
measures designed to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the 
affected floodplain. 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 area, is available 
from: Mr. Robert C. Sleeman, Director, Environmental Restoration 
Division, U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee 37831-8541, [phone].
    Further information on general DOE floodplain 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, [phone] or leave 
a message at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings 
for the proposed remedial investigation activities on the K-901 OU at 
K-25, prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of 
Floodplain/Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register 
[58 Fed Reg 51624 (October 4, 1993)] and a floodplain assessment was 
completed; no wetlands are involved in the proposed action. DOE is 
proposing to conduct remedial investigation activities in characterize 
the site as to ground-water quality, movement, and interaction with 
surface water and the types and levels of contaminants present and 
being released from the OU. Surface water and sediment investigations 
would provide information to evaluate migration pathway and contaminant 
load transported by the pathway. Soil investigation activities would 
focus on delineating contamination within the OU and defining specific 
contaminant sources.
    The proposed action employs various sampling techniques including: 
(1) installation of ground-water monitoring wells; (2) drilling 
boreholes with a hollow-stem auger drilling rig; and (3) using hand 
augers and other manual sampling methods. Some of the sampling 
activities associated with K-901 OU would be located in the 100-year 
floodplain of the Clinch River. None of these activities would 
adversely impact the floodplain or measurably change flood levels. 
Rather, implementation of the proposed action would have an overall 
positive effect on the environment and human health by providing 
information to delineate contamination within the OU in order that 
remedial actions can be taken to reduce the amount of contaminants 
entering the environment.
    Drilling equipment access to some sampling sites may require some 
new gravel roads and the removal of some trees; however, use of 
existing roadways and clearings would be optimized to reduce tree and 
vegetation removal. While most roadways would be reclaimed and 
revegetated, some would be left in place to provide access to 
monitoring wells. In addition, approximately 5 to 10 temporary drilling 
pads (25 ft  x  25 ft  x  1 ft) would be required; the land under these 
pads would be reclaimed and revegetated at the conclusion of the 
action. Site access road construction and pad installation activities 
would not measurably reduce the flood storage capacity of the 
floodplain, interfere with stream flow, or produce hazardous flood 
velocities; therefore, no special mitigative measures would be 
required. Best management practices, such as the placement of seals on 
the monitoring wells to prevent infiltration of surface water and the 
mixing of ground water, would be implemented to ensure that only 
minimal amounts of disturbance to the floodplain would occur.
    Two alternatives to the proposed action were considered--no action 
and the relocation of sampling locations outside of the floodplain. 
Both alternatives would ensure no disturbance of the floodplain but 
would seriously impact efforts to characterize the site, result in an 
unacceptable remedial action plan, and would not be protective of human 
health or the environment because the nature and extent of 
contamination would not be fully known.
    The proposed action has been designed to avoid or minimize impacts 
to the 100-year floodplain and no adverse impacts to the floodplain are 
expected to occur. The proposed action does confirm to applicable State 
floodplain standards. DOE will endeavor to allow 15 days of public 
review after publication of the statement of findings prior to 
implementing the proposed action.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on July 12, 1994.
James W. Wagoner,
Acting Director, Office of Eastern Area Programs, Office of 
Environmental Restoration.
[FR Doc. 94-17896 Filed 7-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P-M