[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43300-43302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16241]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos
Site Operations; Notice of Floodplain Involvement for the Construction
and Operation of a 12-inch Natural Gas Pipeline in Los Alamos Canyon at
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Los Alamos
Site Operations, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of floodplain involvement.
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SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of
Los Alamos Site Operations at the Department of Energy (DOE), plans to
grant an easement to the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to
construct, operate, and maintain a 15,000 foot, 12-inch diameter
natural gas transmission line on DOE-owned land at Los Alamos National
Laboratory (LANL). The new gas line would begin at an existing valve
station at the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon, cross under the streambed
to avoid encroaching on wetlands, and continue upstream for about two
miles. The gas line would then cross back under the stream to connect
with an existing gas line. The proposed easement would be 50 feet wide
and would parallel an existing electric power line. Portions of the gas
line will be constructed in the 100-year floodplain of Los Alamos
Canyon, as identified in the location map.
In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, NNSA has prepared a
floodplain/wetland assessment and will perform this proposed action in
a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the
affected floodplain.
DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than July 12,
2002.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Elizabeth Withers,
Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office
of Los Alamos Site Operations, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544,
or submit them to the Mail Room at the above address between the hours
of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Written comments may
also be sent electronically to: [email protected] or by facsimile to
(505) 667-9998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Milton West, Department of Energy,
National Nuclear Security Administration, Albuquerque Operations
Office, P.O. Box 5400, Building 388, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-
5400. Telephone (505) 845-4452, facsimile (505) 284-7191.
For further information on General DOE Floodplain Environmental
Review Requirements, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of
NEPA Policy and Compliance, EH-42, Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20585-0119. Telephone (202)
586-4600 or (800) 472-2756, facsimile (202) 586-7031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In August 2001, NNSA considered a proposal
for constructing a new 12-inch natural gas pipeline to provide
additional natural gas capacity to Los Alamos County and LANL. A 50-
foot right-of-way would be cleared along the length of the easement to
facilitate construction and operation of the gas line. The proposed
project would be located at the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon parallel to
an intermittent stream and along an existing electric power line.
Stream crossings would be accomplished by tunneling under the streambed
to avoid wetland areas. Portions of the gas line construction would
occur in the 100-year floodplain. The floodplain/wetlands assessment
will discuss engineering best management practices that will be
implemented to control erosion and sedimentation from the construction
activities. Construction of the gas pipeline would begin in the spring
of 2003 and be completed in approximately six months.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA
has prepared a floodplain/wetland assessment for this action, which is
available by contacting Elizabeth Withers at the previously identified
addresses, phone and facsimile numbers. The floodplain/wetland
assessment is available for review at the DOE Reading Room at the Los
Alamos Outreach Center, 1619 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544; and
the DOE Reading Room at the Zimmerman Library, University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. The NNSA will publish a floodplain
statement of findings for this project in the Federal Register no
sooner than July 12, 2002.
Issued in Los Alamos, NM, on June 20, 2002.
E. Dennis Martinez,
Acting Director, U. S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Office of Los Alamos Site Operations.
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[FR Doc. 02-16241 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
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