Release of Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan (FS/PP) for Cleanup of Radiological Contamination at the St. Louis Downtown Site (SLDS) for Public Review

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army

Corps of Engineers

Release of Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan (FS/PP) for Cleanup of

Radiological Contamination at the St. Louis Downtown Site (SLDS) for

Public Review

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),

in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

propose to cleanup contaminants resulting from past uranium processing

operations at the St. Louis Downtown Site (SLDS). SLDS is one of

several being addressed under the Superfund law (Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [CERCLA].

Alternatives, which identify the range of cleanup options, have been

developed and evaluated in the SLDS Feasibility Study (FS). USACE has

identified Alternative 4 as the preferred remediation alternative

[[Page 19477]]

described in this Proposed Plan based on the information available at

this time. The final decision on the remedy to be implemented will be

documented in a Record of Decision (ROD) only after consideration of

all comments received and any new information presented.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the SLDS FS/PP may

be directed to Mr. Chris Haskell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St.

Louis District, FUSRAP Project Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley,

Missouri 63134, by phone (314) 524-3334, or by e-mail at

``Chris.Haskell @MVS01.usace. army.mil''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, issued the

SLDS Feasibility Study/Proposed Plan (FS/PP) for public comment on

April 8, 1998. The site became contaminated as a result of activities

in support of the nation's early atomic energy program in the 1940s.

The sites are being addressed under the Formerly Utilized Sites

Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). Cleanup of these sites is now managed

by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The alternatives evaluated in the

Feasibility Study are summarized in the Proposed Plan. Inaccessible

soils are not included as part of the operable unit.

2. Project Alternatives

a. Alternative 1--No Action. Mandated by the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities (CERCLA),

periodic environmental monitoring would be conducted, but no remedial

action would be conducted.

b. Alternative 2--Institutional Controls and Site Maintenance.

Institutional controls and site maintenance would be implemented to

prevent unacceptable exposures to site contamination.

c. Alternative 3--Containment. Alternative 3 incorporates

containment, institutional controls, and environmental monitoring to

reduce further spread of contaminants and reduce the potential for

direct exposure. Under this alternative, accessible soils from SLDS and

vicinity properties would be excavated and consolidated and capped at a

downtown location such as the City Property or Plant 2 area.

d. Alternative 4--Partial Excavation and Disposal. This alternative

includes excavation of accessible soils in the upper 2 feet to the

composite criteria of 5 pCi/g in surface soil (top 6 inches) and 15

pCi/g in shallow subsurface soil (top 2 feet) (for Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-

230, and Thj-232) and 50 pCi/g for U-238. Site-specific dose and risk-

based target removal levels of 50 pCi/g Ra-226, 100 pCi/g Th-230 and

150 pCi/g U-238 would be used for excavation of soils below 2 feet for

most site areas.

e. Alternative 5--Complete Excavation and Disposal. This

alternative involves excavating soil contaminated above the composite

criteria regardless of depth.

f. Alternative 6--Selective Excavation and Disposal. This

alternative focuses on reducing the need for future studies, designs,

and remedial actions, in addition to protection of human health and the

environmental relative to Alternative 4. It is anticipated that

excavation to the composite criteria would proceed to a depth of 6 feet

of the St. Louis Terminal Railroad Association tracks and the former

locations of Buildings 116, 117, 704-707. Excavation for the composite

criteria would stop at 4 feet at all other areas at SLDS including the

vicinity properties and under the roads.

The Corps of Engineers has identified alternative 4 as preferred.

3. Scoping Process

Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals are

invited to participate in the scoping process to determine the range of

issues and alternatives to be addressed. The U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers will hold a public meeting to receive oral and written

comments at the Henry Clay Elementary School Gymnasium, 3820 North

141th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63107 on April 21, 1998 from 7:00

p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition, written comments will also be accepted

until May 8, 1998 by Dr. R. L. Mullins at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

St. Louis District, FUSRAP Project Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley,

Missouri 63134, (314) 524-4083.

4. Availability of FS/PP

Copies of the FS/PP are available for review from April 8, 1998

until May 8, 1998 during business hours at the following locations:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, FUSRAP Project

Office, 9170 Latty Avenue, Berkeley, Missouri 63134

St. Louis Public Library, Government Information Section, 1301 Olive

Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103

Henry Clay Elementary School, 3820 N. 14th Street, St. Louis, Missouri

63107

Prairie Commons Branch Library, 915 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042

Washington University Library of Biological Sciences, One Brookings

Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130

Julia Davis Branch Library, 4415 Natural Bridge, St. Louis Missouri

63115

St. Louis County Library, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri

63131

The FS/PP is also available for review on the world wide web at

http://144.3.144.51/engr/fusrap/index.htm.

Gregory D. Showalter,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-10359 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]

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