[Federal Register: June 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 119)]
[Notices]               
[Page 41970-41971]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn02-58]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Proposed 
Transfer of Parcel ED-1 to the Community Reuse Organization of East 
Tennessee

AGENCY: Oak Ridge Operations, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge Operations 
(ORO) is proposing to transfer title of Parcel ED-1 (also known as the 
Horizon Center) to the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee 
(CROET). Parcel ED-1 consists of approximately 957 acres located on the 
Oak Ridge Reservation, Roane County, Tennessee. A portion of Parcel ED-
1 is located within the 100-year floodplain of East Fork Poplar Creek 
(EFPC). The parcel also contains five wetlands that were identified 
during a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) survey in 1991-1992. The 
total acreage of the wetlands is about 3.5 acres and all five wetlands 
are within the 100-year floodplain of EFPC. In accordance with 10 CFR 
1022, Compliance with Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review 
Requirements, DOE will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and 
will perform this proposed action in a manner that will avoid or 
minimize potential harm to or within the affected floodplain and 
wetlands.

DATES: Comments on the wetlands assessment are due to the address below 
no later than July 5, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. David R. Allen, U.S. 
Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2001, MS-SE-30-1, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. 
Comments may also be faxed to (865) 576-0746.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSED ACTION, CONTACT: Mr. David R. 
Allen, NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge 
Operations Office, P.O. Box 2001, MS-SE-30-1, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, 
(865) 576-0411.

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: DOE proposes to transfer title of Parcel ED-
1 to CROET. CROET has leased Parcel ED-1 since 1998 for development of 
an industrial/business park. Under the proposed transfer, CROET would 
continue the development of the parcel as an industrial/business park 
for research and development, medical technology, manufacturing, 
distribution, and corporate headquarters office facilities. The 
developable portion of the parcel consists of seven major development 
areas, ranging in size from 11 to 148 acres. The remaining property, 
which contains the 100-year floodplain of EFPC and the five wetlands, 
is protected as a Natural Area. Conditions of the deed and transfer 
agreement will ensure continued protection of the Natural Area.
    The potentially affected 100-year floodplain property lies along 
EFPC and its tributaries within Parcel ED-1. The five wetlands 
identified in the COE survey of the EFPC floodplain in 1991-1992 total 
about 3.5 acres. Hydrology in these wetlands is associated with the 
backwater of Watts Bar Reservoir; however, some upstream input comes 
from springs and surface runoff. Vegetation ranges from open water to 
herbaceous, shrub, and forest and includes sedges, jewelweed, 
smartweed, buttonbush, silky dogwood, box elder, green ash, and 
sycamore. One wetland contains an active beaver colony with two beaver 
dams and a beaver lodge at the confluence of a tributary to EFPC. 
Beaver activity has apparently increased the size of this wetland from 
that which was delineated in the 1991-1992 surveys.
    Under the current lease CROET encroached upon the 100-year 
floodplain of EFPC during construction of culverts, bridges, and roads 
as part of its development of the parcel. These activities were 
conducted under the appropriate state and federal permits. Upon 
transfer of Parcel ED-1, additional minor encroachments of the 
floodplain may be necessary for further development of the parcel. The 
existing wetlands within Parcel ED-1 have not been disturbed by 
development activities and would continue to be protected. No 
additional wetlands have been identified within the parcel in areas 
proposed for development.
    The proposed action is transfer of the entire Parcel ED-1. However, 
as an option DOE could choose to only transfer the developable areas of 
Parcel ED-1. The remaining property would stay under DOE ownership and 
control. Another option is to transfer all of Parcel ED-1 except for 
the 100-year floodplain of EFPC, which would remain under DOE ownership 
and control in order to address possible requirements under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980 (CERCLA), which may be identified in the future. For purposes 
of comparison it was determined that if DOE chose not to transfer 
Parcel ED-1 (i.e., no action) the current lease with CROET would 
continue.


[[Page 41971]]


    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 30th, 2002.
David R. Allen,
NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-15561 Filed 6-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P