Floodplain Statement of Findings for Fire Protection Systems Upgrade at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Floodplain Statement of Findings for Fire Protection Systems

Upgrade at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

AGENCY: Office of Science, DOE.

ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings for upgrading the

fire suppression and life safety systems in selected facilities at the

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Roane and Anderson Counties,

Tennessee, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, Compliance with

Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements. Fire suppression

and life safety systems in many ORNL facilities are over 30 years old,

obsolete, and do not provide adequate fire protection for personnel,

equipment, and research activities. The installation of below ground

waterlines would include disturbances of the 100-year floodplain of

White Oak Creek (WOC). DOE has prepared a floodplain assessment

describing the possible effects, alternatives, and measures designed to

avoid or minimize potential harm to floodplains or their flood storage

potential. DOE will allow 15 days of public review after publication of

the Statement of Findings before implementation of the proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley D. Frey, U.S. Department of

Energy, Post Office Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6269, (423) 576-0136.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN 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, Telephone: (202) 586-

4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Floodplain Involvement was

published in the Federal Register on September 16, 1999 (64 FR 50277),

and subsequently a floodplain assessment was prepared. The floodplain

assessment covers the installation of approximately 7,200 ft of

underground water mains (16-in-diameter piping installed in a loop

configuration) in the 6000 Area of ORNL and would include (as detailed

in the September 16, 1999, notice), but is not limited to: (1)

Constructing coffer dams or similar structures in WOC and its

tributaries; (2) routing the stream water around the disturbed channel

areas by constructing a bypass using a culvert or similar device; (3)

removing stream bed rock in preparation for the under-creek,

reinforced-concrete pipe trench; (4) pouring the concrete; (5)

embedding the pipeline in the concrete structure; (6) covering the

structure to the level of the original stream bed; and (7) routing the

stream water back into the stream bed. Activities outside the creek/

stream channel but within the floodplain area would include (1)

excavating a trench approximately 5 ft wide and 4 ft deep, (2)

installing the pipeline, and (3) covering the pipe with excavated fill.

No aboveground structures (i.e., fire hydrants, valves, etc.) would be

located in the floodplain area.

Alternatives considered in the assessment were (1) no action, (2)

installing water mains above the floodplain, (3) installing water mains

below ground by tunneling beneath the floodplain and creeks, and (4)

installing water mains below ground to provide water in a dependable

looped system. The no-action alternative would result in noncompliance

with DOE Order 420.1 (Facility Safety) and the potential failure of

fire suppression systems in the 6000 Area of ORNL. Installing water

mains above the floodplain would require additional equipment and

material (e.g., force main, insulation, etc.), and the increased number

of 90-degree turns will increase the possibility of pipe stress-

failure. Tunneling beneath the floodplain, creeks, and wetlands was not

considered practicable because of the shallow elevation of bed rock and

the difficulties associated with tunneling when compared to the

preferred alternative. Therefore, after considering the various

alternatives and the area to install the water mains, no other

practicable routes were available that would avoid the floodplain area

of WOC. The activities addressed by the floodplain assessment will

result in no measurable impact on floodplain cross-section or flood

stage, and thus do not increase the risk of flooding.

Water quality within WOC and its tributaries will be protected

during excavation to the extent practicable by several measures.

Administrative controls will be used to stop work during major storm

events. When excavations would remain exposed overnight, erosion

controls will be installed to prevent the transport of silt downstream

by stormwater flows. Additionally, silt dams will be constructed in

areas where the existing drainage right-of-way route deviates

significantly from the defined drainage channel. Restoration of

excavated areas will include grading to avoid steep or vertical slopes,

and to minimize ponding and backfilling. Areas of exposed soil outside

the stream channels will be mulched and reseeded with an annual grass

to minimize erosion and allow the natural seedbank to reestablish

vegetative cover.

Equipment and personnel in the floodplain area will be limited in

accordance with an approved Best Management Practices (BMP) plan, and

excavated hydric soils will be placed next to the site and reused as

fill material. In addition, silt fences will be installed to minimize

runoff into the floodplain in accordance with the BMP.

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Underground piping installation activities addressed in the floodplain

assessment conform to applicable floodplain protection standards.

Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on October 20, 1997.

James L. Elmore,

Alternate National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-28319 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]

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