[Federal Register: March 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 14227-14229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr03-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site Office;
Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Fire Road Project at Los
Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site
Office, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.
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SUMMARY: This Floodplain Statement of Findings is for the construction
of improvements to existing firebreaks and access roads into remote
forested areas at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for the purpose
of providing reliable access for fire fighting crews. The improvements
will focus on changes to drainage crossings and improved roadbeds
within floodplain areas. Improvements would be minor and would mostly
consist of installing culverts and stabilizing roadbeds. These roads
are limited use roads that are restricted to official access only. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Withers, U.S. Department of
Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Site
Office, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Telephone (505) 667-
8690, facsimile (505) 667-9998; or electronic address:
ewithers@doeal.gov. 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: After the May 2000 Cerro Grande Fire event,
NNSA developed a Wildfire Hazard Reduction Program for LANL. This
program includes the improvement of firebreaks (also known as ``fuel
brakes'') and fire roads for access to remote portions of LANL through
the upgrade and maintenance of the existing fire road network. There
are about 12 firebreaks and 40 fire roads at LANL that will be improved
as part of this project (see the attached figure). These improvements
will require the following: (1) Clearing each road of hazard trees
(mostly these are dead or dying trees) to keep the road open and
passable; (2) grading of the roads and realignment of sharp curves to
improve drainage; (3) cut and fill of road areas where needed to
accommodate heavy fire fighting equipment; and (4) installation of
culverts only in areas where the substrate is unstable, so as to
minimize the number of culverts requiring maintenance. Disturbed soil
will be revegetated after work is completed. Firebreak and road
improvements will commence in fiscal year 2003 and be completed over
the next 9 months.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), NNSA
prepared a floodplain/wetland assessment for this action. The NNSA
published a Notice of Floodplain Involvement (volume 68, number 39).
This notice announced that the floodplain/wetland assessment document
was available for a 15-day review period at two public DOE reading
rooms in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and that copies of the
document could be obtained by contacting Ms. Withers at the above
address. No comments were received from the Federal Register notice on
the proposed floodplain action.
Project Description: Implementing the proposed improvements to
firebreaks and fire roads would allow the passage of emergency fire
fighting vehicles into remote portions of LANL. Each road would be
graded and drainage crossings would be improved. All of the drainage
crossings on the roads in the project area receive intermittent flow
during seasonal storms and spring runoff.
Hazard trees that impede emergency vehicle passage would first be
removed. Drainages would be graded to existing channel depth or crossed
with a culvert. Most of the drainages are composed of hard substrate,
and would not need a culvert. Where the substrate is soft and unstable
and where the channel is much deeper than the roadbed, a culvert would
be installed. Because of the high maintenance costs associated with
culvert crossings, this method of drainage improvement would be limited
to the extent practicable.
All roads would be stabilized with drainage improvements. At
appropriate locations, water bars and off-drains would be constructed
in the improved road. Each of these drainage features would be
stabilized with rock or erosion matting to prevent erosion. They would
be built to temporarily impede flow without impounding water. This
would reduce erosion and sediment transport into the streams. Steep
slopes created by the road improvements would be rehabilitated using
revegetation, soil stabilization mats, hydro mulching, and other soil
stabilization methods, as appropriate. Fuel breaks would be treated the
same as fire roads.
Alternatives: Alternative methods were considered for constructing
improvements to the firebreaks and fire roads at LANL. A combination of
methods were selected that would minimize the environmental impacts and
be the least disruptive to existing environmental resources in the
area.
Floodplain Impacts: The proposed action would have the potential
for minimal impacts to the floodplain. Possible impacts of the proposed
project on the floodplains would include movement or ponding of water
within the project area and the subsequent displacement of sediment;
however, these improvements are anticipated to improve existing
conditions in the floodplain by correcting erosion problems with road
crossings. Should a rain event occur during this activity, there may be
some sediment movement down canyon because of the loosened condition of
the soil from the clearing and construction activities.
Floodplain Mitigation: Impacts to the floodplain would be minimized
by following Best Management Practices at the construction area (such
as the placement of silt fences, straw bales or wattles, or wooden or
rock structures to slow down water runoff and run-on at cleared sites).
Post-construction reseeding and re-vegetation along the sides of the
stream channel will minimize soil disturbance and reduce or prevent the
potential for soil erosion. Specific local mitigation actions for each
fire road are described in section 6.1 of the floodplain/wetland
assessment.
No debris will be left at the work site. No vehicle maintenance or
fueling would occur within 100 feet of the stream channel. Any sediment
movement from the site would be short term and temporary.
Issued in Los Alamos, NM on March 17, 2003.
Ralph E. Erickson,
Manager, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Los Alamos Site Office.
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[FR Doc. 03-6910 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
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