99-25429. Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for Transfer of the Department of Energy Grand Junction Office to Non-DOE Ownership

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52779-52780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25429]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for Transfer of the 
Department of Energy Grand Junction Office to Non-DOE Ownership

AGENCY: Grand Junction Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement for transfer of 
the Grand Junction Office to Non-DOE ownership.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to transfer the 56.4 
acres and approximately 35 structures that comprise the DOE Grand 
Junction Office (GJO) to non-DOE ownership. A portion of the facility 
is located in the 100-year floodplain of the Gunnison River and there 
are several jurisdictional wetlands located within the property 
boundary. The facility is located in Mesa County, Colorado. In 
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, DOE will prepare a floodplains and 
wetlands assessment and will perform this proposed action in a manner 
that will avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected 
floodplain and wetlands. The assessment will be conducted in 
conjunction with an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzes the 
potential environmental affects of the transfer of the property.

DATES: Written comments are due to the address below no later than 
October 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mary Ann Rondinella, 
U.S. Department of Energy--Grand Junction Office, 2597 B \3/4\ Road, 
Grand Junction, Colorado 81503; or transmitted electronically by E-mail 
via Internet to: [e-mail]; or by facsimile to (970)248-
6023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION CONTACT: Donna Bergman-
Tabbert, Manager, U.S Department of Energy-Grand Junction Office 2597 B 
\3/4\ Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81503, Telephone [phone] or 
1-800-399-5618, Email via Internet to [e-mail], 
Facsimile to 1-970-248-6023.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOOPLAIN/WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTAL 
REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, [phone] or 
[phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under E.O. 11988--Floodplain Management, 
E.O. 11990--Protection of Wetlands, and 10 CFR part 1022--Compliance 
with Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements, notice is 
given that the DOE intends to transfer the 56.4 acres that comprise the 
GJO to non-DOE ownership. The facility includes offices, warehouses, 
computer and telecommunications centers, classrooms, a cafeteria, an 
occupational health facility, hazardous and radioactive waste storage 
facilities, and an analytical laboratory. DOE's primary missions at 
Grand Junction are environmental restoration, environmental science, 
technology development, long-term stewardship of inactive waste sites, 
and management of leases on government lands for uranium exploration 
and mining. The missions of the office have grown smaller over the past 
several years. As a result, DOE has determined that it no longer needs 
to own the GJO facility to perform its assigned missions. Upon 
completion of cleanup of residual radioactive

[[Page 52780]]

materials at the GJO site in 2000, DOE plans to transfer the facility 
to non-DOE ownership.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), DOE 
will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed DOE 
action. The assessment will be included in the EA being prepared for 
the proposed transfer of the property in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. 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 Albuquerque, NM on September 21, 1999.
Constance L. Soden,
Director, Environmental, Safety, and Health Division, Department of 
Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office.
[FR Doc. 99-25429 Filed 9-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P