[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21131]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 26, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement at the Pantex
Plant, Amarillo, TX
ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetland involvement.
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SUMMARY: DOE proposes to conduct various activities within floodplains
and wetlands on or surrounding the Pantex Plant in Carson County, 17
miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas. The proposed activities would
include Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) site
characterization investigations such as environmental monitoring and
surveillance activities as well as wastewater and storm water
discharges. In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, DOE will prepare a
floodplain/wetland assessment and will perform these proposed actions
in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the
affected floodplain and wetlands.
DATES: Comments on the proposed action must be received by September
12, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this Notice should be addressed to:
Floodplain and Wetlands Comments, Tom Walton, Public Affairs Officer,
Public Affairs Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Amarillo Area Office,
P.O. Box 30020, Amarillo, Texas 79177, (806) 477-3120, (806) 477-3185
(Fax).
Information on this proposed action, including a map of proposed
activity locations, is also available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on general DOE floodplain
and wetland environmental review requirements is available from: Carol
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Oversight, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
4600 (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE proposes to conduct various activities
within floodplains and wetlands on and surrounding the Pantex Plant.
Site characterization activities would be conducted in support of the
Permit for Industrial Solid Waste Management Site issued by the Texas
Water Commission (now known as the Texas Natural Resources Conservation
Commission) as part of DOE's effort to determine the nature and extent
of any environmental contamination resulting from Pantex operations.
These activities would occur within Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU)
6 (Playa Basin 1), SWMU 7 (Playa Basin 2), SWMU 8 (Playa Basin 3), SWMU
9 (Playa Basin 4), and SWMU 10 (Pantex Lake). Additional
characterization may be required as a result of the site being listed
on the National Priorities List. Specific activities would include but
not be limited to the following:
1.1 Installation of monitoring wells. Monitoring wells would be
drilled into the perched groundwater zone if found to be present in the
proposed locations. If the perched groundwater is not present, wells
may be completed into the High Plains Aquifer (locally known as the
Ogallala Aquifer). Well drilling would involve limited driving of heavy
equipment into the proposed areas for the purpose of drilling and
boring. Twenty-four-hour pump tests would be conducted following
completion of any monitoring wells. Water produced from any pump tests
would be discharged to the playas if the analytical testing results
allow for such disposition.
1.2 Surface water samples, ditch sediment samples, and vadose zone
samples. Surface water sampling would consist of collecting a sample
bottle for surface water. Site access would be by wading. Sediment
sampling would consist of taking a sample of the sediment with a hand
auger or with a vibrating core sampling device. The sediment samples
would typically be two inches in diameter and one foot deep. Access
would be by walking or wading if water is present. Proposed boreholes
for vadose zone samples would include borings ranging in depths from 4
feet to 30 feet. Borehole drilling would involve driving a drilling rig
to the site, drilling the boreholes, and collecting the core samples as
the drilling progresses. The boreholes would be closed by backfilling
with the cuttings and/or five percent bentonite/cement.
1.3 Environmental monitoring and surveillance activities. DOE
would conduct activities including: collection of groundwater, surface
water, vegetation, soil, and sediment samples, installation and
maintenance of environmental monitoring equipment, and routine
monitoring and downloading of information from installed
instrumentation in various locations within the wetlands and
floodplains.
In addition, DOE would continue to discharge industrial and storm
water from existing outfalls to Playas 1, 2, and 4; discharge storm
water to Playa 3, and discharge treated domestic wastewater to Playa 1.
DOE proposes to assess any floodplains/wetlands impacts associated
with Texas Tech University's agricultural operations including grazing
in the wetlands and floodplains, and farming and related activities in
the floodplains.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE
will prepare a floodplain/wetland assessment for these proposed DOE
actions which may be incorporated into the appropriate National
Environmental Policy Act documentation. After DOE issues the
assessment, a floodplain statement of findings will be published in the
Federal Register.
Issued in Washington, D.C., on August 12, 1994.
Ned B. Larson,
Director, Office of Southwestern Area Programs, Environmental
Restoration.
[FR Doc. 94-21131 Filed 8-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
