[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 66617] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-30879] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Weldon Spring Site AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE. ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to construct a groundwater interceptor trench near the Weldon Spring Site, located in St. Charles County, Missouri. The groundwater interceptor trench would collect contaminated groundwater for treatment at the Weldon Spring Quarry water treatment plant. The proposed trench is adjacent to two wetland areas and is located within the Missouri River 100-year floodplain. In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, DOE is preparing 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 and wetlands. DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than December 14, 1999. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Steve McCracken, U.S. Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project, 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. Comments may be faxed to (636) 447-0739. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION, CONTACT: Mr. Steve McCracken, U.S. Department of Energy, Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project, 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304, (636) 441-8978. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN/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, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE is conducting response actions at its Weldon Spring Site under the direction of the DOE Office of Environmental Management. The Weldon Spring Site is located in St. Charles County, Missouri, approximately 48 km (30 miles) west of St. Louis. Cleanup activities at the site include the remediation of the Weldon Spring Quarry. The quarry, approximately 3.9 km (2.5 miles) southwest of the site, was used for the disposal of chemically and radioactively contaminated materials between the 1940s and 1960s. Removal of bulk waste from the quarry was completed in October, 1995, however, elevated levels of uranium occur in groundwater in the vicinity of the quarry. The St. Charles County wellfield, a source of domestic water for the county, is located in the Missouri River floodplain southeast of the quarry. To limit potential exposure to the public, the Record of Decision for Remedial Action for the Quarry Residuals Operable Unit of the Weldon Spring Site outlined field studies for evaluating the effectiveness of technologies to remediate uranium-impacted groundwater in the vicinity of the Weldon Spring Quarry. This action is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of remediation through the extraction of contaminated groundwater from a groundwater interceptor trench. The DOE is proposing to construct a 550-foot trench approximately 90 m (300 feet) south of the quarry. The trench would be located between the Katy Trail and Femme Osage Slough, within the State of Missouri Weldon Spring Conservation Area, and approximately 1.4 km (0.88 mile) from the Missouri River. The groundwater interceptor trench would provide continuous groundwater access for an extraction system. Contaminated groundwater would be removed from the trench and directed to a treatment plant. The trench would be operated up to two years. The proposed trench would be located adjacent to Femme Osage Slough, a palustrine, permanently flooded wetland. The area between the proposed trench and the slough contains a small palustrine, seasonally flooded wetland area. The trench would lie entirely within the 100-year floodplain of the Missouri River. Erosion controls would be installed down gradient from the construction site to prevent the transport of silt downstream by stormwater flows. In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), the DOE is preparing a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed action. After DOE issues the assessment, a floodplain statement of findings will be published in the Federal Register. Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on November 15, 1999. James L. Elmore, Alternate Oak Ridge Operations, National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Officer. [FR Doc. 99-30879 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P