Finding of No Significant Impact; Modernization of Facilities and Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear Production Activities Conducted at the National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA-1592), 23244-23248 [E8-9322]
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toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202)
502–8659.
Specifically, Columbia Gulf proposes
to design and construct three 20-inch
side taps and various appurtenant
facilities on its existing Line Nos. 100,
200, and 300, including electronic flow
measurement and telemetry,
overpressure protection equipment, and
approximately 300 feet of
interconnecting pipeline of varying size.
Columbia Gulf estimates the cost of
construction to be $980,000, with all
costs associated with the facilities to be
reimbursed by KMLP. Columbia Gulf
states that the new point of
interconnection will provide Columbia
Gulf with the ability to receive up to
1,500 MMcf/d of revaporized LNG from
KMLP into Columbia Gulf’s natural gas
pipeline system. Columbia Gulf asserts
that the addition of this interconnect
will have no significant impact of
Columbia Gulf’s peak day or annual
deliveries.
Any questions regarding the
application should be directed to
Fredric J. George, Lead Counsel,
Columbia Gulf Transmission Company,
P. O. Box 1273, Charleston, West
Virginia 25325–1273 at (304) 357–2359
or fax (304) 357–3206.
Any person or the Commission’s Staff
may, within 60 days after the issuance
of the instant notice by the Commission,
file pursuant to Rule 214 of the
Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR
385.214) a motion to intervene or notice
of intervention and, pursuant to section
157.205 of the Commission’s
Regulations under the Natural Gas Act
(NGA) (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the
request. If no protest is filed within the
time allowed therefore, the proposed
activity shall be deemed to be
authorized effective the day after the
time allowed for protest. If a protest is
filed and not withdrawn within 30 days
after the time allowed for filing a
protest, the instant request shall be
treated as an application for
authorization pursuant to section 7 of
the NGA.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings of comments, protests,
and interventions via the internet in lieu
of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a) (1) (iii)
and the instructions on the
Commission’s Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov) under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–9304 Filed 4–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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electromechanical parts, and engineered
materials such as plastics, ceramics,
glass, polymers and foams). The NNSA’s
Kansas City Plant (KCP) performs these
activities for NNSA, Department of
Energy (DOE) programs, and other
federal agencies (‘‘work for others’’).
GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security
Administration
[PBS-N04]
Finding of No Significant Impact;
Modernization of Facilities and
Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear
Production Activities Conducted at the
National Nuclear Security
Administration’s Kansas City Plant
Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA–
1592)
General Services
Administration and National Nuclear
Security Administration, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Finding of No Significant
Impact.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The General Services
Administration (GSA) and the
Department of Energy/National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) issue
this Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) on their proposal to relocate
certain non-nuclear component
production and procurement activities
to a smaller, more efficient and flexible
facility. This FONSI is based on the
General Services Administration/
National Nuclear Security
Administration ‘‘Modernization of
Facilities and Infrastructure for the NonNuclear Production Activities
Conducted at the National Nuclear
Security Administration’s Kansas City
Plant Environmental Assessment’’ (EA),
DOE/EA–1592, April 21, 2008. The EA
was prepared pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 et seq.),
regulations implementing NEPA issued
by the Council on Environmental
Quality (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500—1508),
and the NEPA implementing procedures
of GSA (ADM 1095.1F) and the
Department of Energy (10 C.F.R. Part
1021).
The selected alternative is for GSA to
procure the construction of a new
facility at the intersection of Botts Road
and Missouri Highway 150 in Kansas
City, Missouri. GSA would lease the
facility on NNSA’s behalf, and NNSA
would move its operations from the
Bannister Federal Complex to the new
facility, and conduct production and
procurement operations for electrical
and mechanical non-nuclear
components there (the phrase ‘‘electrical
and mechanical’’ non-nuclear
components, as used in the EA and this
FONSI, also includes electronics,
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Further information, including an
electronic copy of the EA, FONSI,
Mitigation Action Plan, and other
supporting NEPA documents, will be
made available on the following Web
site: https://www.gsa.gov/
kansascityplant. The EA and FONSI
will also be made available at: https://
eh.doe.gov/nepa.
Requests for copies of the EA and
FONSI may be sent to: Carlos Salazar,
General Services Administration, 1500
East Bannister Road, Room 2191
(6PTA), Kansas City, MO 64131.
Requests for copies of the EA and
FONSI may also be made by calling
(816) 823–2305 or via e-mail to NNSA—
KC@gsa.gov.
The GSA
and NNSA issued a Notice of Intent
(NOI) on May 1, 2007 in the Federal
Register (Vol. 72, No 83, page 23822)
informing the public of the proposed
action and inviting public comments on
the scope of the EA. The NOI also stated
that a public scoping meeting would be
held in Kansas City, on May 23, 2007.
A total of 97 people signed in at the
public meeting. Fourteen written
comments were submitted and 24
speakers provided comments that were
transcribed for the record. Everyone
who requested to speak was provided
the opportunity to do so. Additional
public comments were received by mail
and email during the scoping period,
which ended on May 30, 2007.
Approximately 500 people provided
comments during the public scoping
process. All comments were considered
during the preparation of the draft EA.
A copy of the transcript from the
scoping meeting is available on the GSA
website by following the ‘‘NEPA
library’’ link (www.gsa.gov/
kansascityplant).
On December 10, 2007, the GSA and
NNSA issued a Notice of Availability
(NOA) of the draft EA in the Federal
Register (Vol. 72, No 236, page 69690)
informing the public that the draft EA
was available for review and comment.
The NOA stated that the deadline for
submission of public comments was
January 14, 2008. An electronic copy of
the draft EA and other supporting
documents were posted on the GSA
website. An electronic copy of the draft
EA was also posted on the DOE website.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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On January 14, 2008, the GSA and
NNSA notified the public through the
website that they were extending the
public comment period until January
30, 2008. On January 17, 2008, the
federal agencies issued a Notice of
Extension of Comment Period in the
Federal Register (Vol. 73, No 12, page
3256) informing the public of the
extension. More than 250 public
comments on the draft EA were
submitted to GSA and NNSA. After
considering all the comments received
as a result of the public review process,
including those received after the formal
comment period closed, GSA and NNSA
have made significant revisions to the
EA, including the analysis of additional
alternatives outside of the Kansas City
area (i.e. at NNSA’s Los Alamos
National Laboratory and Sandia
National Laboratories in New Mexico
and Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory in California).
Because the draft EA only analyzed
alternatives in the State of Missouri, in
December 2007, the GSA and NNSA
specifically requested the State of
Missouri to review and comment on the
draft EA (although other states had the
opportunity to comment through the
public comment process). On April 4,
2008, the GSA and NNSA provided a
pre-approval review copy of the EA,
containing the analysis of additional
alternatives outside of the Kansas City
area, to the States of Missouri, New
Mexico, and California, and requested
comments by April 18, 2008. Comments
were received by this date from
Missouri. These comments were
considered in preparing the final EA
and FONSI.
Based on the analysis in the EA and
after considering all the comments
received as a result of the review
process, the GSA and NNSA have
concluded that no information has been
made available that is inconsistent with
a finding of no significant impact.
PURPOSE AND NEED: The KCP
produces and procures electrical and
mechanical non-nuclear components for
nuclear weapons; these constitute
approximately 85 percent of all the
components in a nuclear weapon. As a
result of consolidation activities
undertaken over the last 15 years by the
Department of Energy, the remaining
operations at KCP are essential and do
not duplicate operations at other sites in
the nuclear weapons complex. KCP
occupies a large and aging industrial
complex in Kansas City located on a site
contiguous with GSA facilities. Despite
the reductions and consolidations that
followed a 1996 decision to downsize
KCP’s facilities and operations, the
current plant is still much larger than
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NNSA requires, primarily due to
continuing reductions in the nuclear
weapons stockpile and outsourcing of
some fabrication activities. The cost of
operating KCP is increasing because of
its age and size.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED
ACTION: NNSA and GSA propose to
relocate NNSA’s KCP operations to a
new facility that NNSA would operate
to produce and procure electrical and
mechanical non-nuclear components.
The proposed facility would be smaller
and designed for rapid reconfiguration
to improve efficiency and provide
flexibility in meeting changing
requirements and demands. It would be
at least 50% smaller than the current
facility, resulting in reduced
maintenance and energy costs while
improving the responsiveness and
facility utilization for the supply of
electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components. The proposed action
considered in the EA consists of the
construction and subsequent operation
of such a facility.
Selected Alternative (Alternative 5):
The selected alternative is for GSA to
procure the construction of a new
facility and for NNSA to relocate to and
operate the facility for production and
procurement of electrical and
mechanical non-nuclear components.
The new facility would be located on
approximately 185 acres at the
intersection of Missouri Highway 150
and Botts Road in Kansas City,
Missouri, about eight miles south of the
existing plant. The proposed facility
would cover up to 1.4 million rentable
square feet and provide up to 2,900
surface parking spaces (for a total of
about 45 acres). GSA has issued a
Solicitation for Offers to the real estate
development community; the successful
developer would partner with GSA and
NNSA to design and construct a facility
that meets NNSA’s needs. GSA would
lease the facility on NNSA’s behalf and
NNSA would move its operations from
the Bannister Federal Complex to the
new facility and conduct production
and procurement operations for
electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components there.
Alternatives: In addition to the
selected alternative (Alternative 5) and
the ‘‘No Action’’ Alternative
(Alternative 1), which evaluates
continuing operations in the existing
Kansas City Plant facilities, the EA
evaluates the following alternatives:
Alternative 2: Under this alternative,
the existing GSA office and warehouse
space (Buildings ι1 and ι2) located on
the western portion of the Bannister
Federal Complex would be renovated.
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NNSA’s operations would relocate to
the renovated facility.
Alternative 3: This alternative
consists of renovation of the existing
GSA office space (Building ι2) and
demolition of the existing GSA
warehouse (Building ι1) and the small
outbuildings located north of the
existing GSA warehouse. A new
manufacturing, laboratory, and
warehouse facility would be constructed
adjacent to the renovated office space.
Alternative 4: This alternative
consists of demolishing the existing
GSA office and warehouse spaces
(Buildings ι1 and ι2) and the small
outbuildings located north of the
existing GSA warehouse. Following
demolition, new office and
manufacturing facilities would be
constructed on GSA’s portion of the
Bannister Federal Complex.
Alternative 6: This alternative
evaluates moving KCP’s operations to
Sandia National Laboratories in
Albuquerque, NM (SNL/NM). For this
alternative, two options are evaluated:
(1) a new construction option, in which
a new facility covering approximately
1.4 million square feet would be
constructed and operated similar to the
selected alternative; and (2) a reuse/new
construction option consisting of
existing space in SNL/NM facilities and
a smaller new facility.
Alternative 7: This alternative
evaluates moving KCP’s operations to
Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory in Livermore, California.
Under this alternative, a new 1.4 million
square foot facility would be
constructed and operated similar to the
selected alternative.
Alternative 8: This alternative
evaluates moving KCP’s operations to
Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los
Alamos, New Mexico. For this
alternative, two options are evaluated:
(1) a new construction option, in which
a new 1.4 million square foot facility
would be constructed and operates
similar to the selected alternative; and
(2) a reuse/new construction option
consisting of existing facilities and a
smaller new facility.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSEQUENCES OF SELECTED
ALTERNATIVE: Based on the analysis
in the EA, the selected alternative
would not have a significant effect on
the human environment within the
meaning of NEPA. The term
‘‘significantly’’ and the significance
criteria are defined by the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations for implementing NEPA at
40 C.F.R. § 1508.27.
Beneficial and Adverse Impacts (40
C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(1)): The selected
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alternative would provide a smaller
facility designed for rapid
reconfiguration to improve efficiency
and provide flexibility in meeting
changing requirements and demands.
Maintenance and energy costs would be
reduced, while the responsiveness and
facility utilization for the supply of
electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components to NNSA would be
improved. The analysis indicates that
there will not be any significant adverse
impacts from implementing the selected
alternative (EA Section 5.3).
Public Health and Safety (40 C.F.R.
§ 1508.27(b)(2)):
Air Emissions (EA Section 5.3.6):
During site preparation, construction,
and road improvements the use of heavy
equipment would generate combustion
engine exhaust containing air pollutants
associated with diesel combustion
(nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon
monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx),
particulate matter less than 10 microns
(PM10), and volatile organic compounds
(VOCs)). Similar air emissions would be
generated from delivery vehicles
bringing supplies and equipment to the
construction site and from construction
workers commuting in their personal
vehicles. Emissions from site
preparation and construction would be
short-term, sporadic, and localized
(except for emissions associated with
the personal vehicles of construction
workers and vehicles transporting
construction materials and equipment).
The quantities of air pollutants
produced by vehicles and equipment
associated with construction would not
be a substantial contribution to the total
emissions from mobile sources already
operating in the area and would not
adversely affect local air quality.
Construction activities could increase
the potential for fugitive dust (i.e.
airborne particulate matter that escapes
from a construction site) from earthwork
and other construction vehicle
movement. Not all of the area available
for construction would be under
construction at any one time. Control
measures for lowering fugitive dust
emissions (i.e. water or chemical dust
suppressants) would be implemented to
prevent offsite emissions. Construction
activities would be in accordance with
permits from local, state and federal
jurisdictions and would not
significantly impact public health and
safety.
The total estimated annual air
emissions from operating a new NNSA
facility at the selected site are expected
to be 12.8 tons, consisting of
approximately 10.4 tons of NOx, SOx
and CO from the boilers and process
heaters, 2.0 tons of VOCs from
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electronic component solvent spray
cleaning operations, and 0.4 tons of
VOCs from painting operations. This is
approximately 28% less than the annual
air emissions from the current facility,
and would not significantly impact
public health and safety.
Noise: At 400 feet from the
construction site, construction noise
would range from 55–85 dBA. Given
that the distance from the site boundary
to the nearest business or residence is
greater than 400 feet, there would be no
significant noise impacts as a result of
construction activities, except for a
small increase in traffic noise levels
from construction employees and
material shipments, and short-term
increases in noise levels at or near the
site boundary from site preparation and
infrastructure construction activities
such as driveway construction and site
grading. Noise from operations is
expected to be similar to those from
existing operations and would be far
enough away from offsite areas that its
contribution to offsite noise levels
would be small. Noise from the selected
alternative would not significantly
impact public health and safety (EA
Section 5.3.8).
Solid Waste: Waste generation
resulting from the selected alternative is
not expected to significantly impact
public health and safety (EA Section
5.3.5).
Construction activities are expected to
generate approximately 6,890 cubic
yards of non-hazardous solid waste.
The hazardous waste disposal rate
from operations is anticipated to be
approximately 26,000 lbs/year, a 30%
reduction from current operations at the
Bannister Federal Complex due to
process improvements and outsourcing.
Non-hazardous waste is also expected to
experience a similar reduction (to
approximately 1.6 million lbs/year) due
to the smaller operations and reduced
facility refurbishments. Low-level
radioactive waste generation is
projected to be consistent with current
generation rates of approximately 40 lbs
per year.
All waste materials would be
transported off-site for disposal in
accordance with federal, state and local
requirements. The number of shipments
may be reduced compared to current
operations at the Bannister Federal
Complex due to the reduction in waste
generation.
Groundwater: The proposed facility
design does not include the use of
underground storage tanks, and all
proposed above-ground storage tanks
would be constructed with secondary
containment. Industrial facilities would
be constructed and managed to ensure
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materials (raw, intermediate and final
product, and wastes) and activities are
completely sheltered from stormwater.
Adverse impacts to groundwater from
proposed site operations are not
anticipated (EA Section 5.3.2).
Unique characteristics of the
geographical area (40 C.F.R.
§ 1508.27(b)(3)):
Prime Farmland: Though currently
used for agricultural purposes, the
location of the selected alternative is
identified as part of an ‘‘urbanized area’’
on Census Bureau maps and is not
considered prime farmland (EA Section
5.3.1).
Impact to Wetlands: Based upon a
preliminary jurisdictional waters
determination, non-jurisdictional
wetlands and potential jurisdictional
tributaries and wetlands exist onsite.
Mitigation of impacts to nonjurisdictional wetlands will take place
in accordance with Executive Order
11990, Protection of Wetlands, and to
jurisdictional waters in accordance with
the Clean Water Act Section 404
permitting process, which requires
avoidance of wetlands impacts,
minimization of potential impacts on
wetlands, and compensation for any
remaining unavoidable impacts. A
wetland assessment was completed in
accordance with the requirements of 10
C.F.R. Part 1022, Compliance with
Floodplain and Wetland Environmental
Review Requirements, based on a
conservative impact scenario.
NNSA found that no practicable
alternative to locating the action in the
wetland is available. Therefore, the
wetland assessment considered specific
constraints and provisions for
mitigation that will be placed on the
developer of the site through both the
Section 404 permit and the contract
with GSA. Although the actual impacts
cannot be precisely quantified until a
site plan is finalized, impacts to the site
are expected to be less than assessed in
this analysis of the conservative
scenario.
The contract issued by GSA will
require the developer to address the
management of any wetlands
(jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional)
on the site in accordance with Executive
Order 11990 and Section 404
permitting. The appropriate federal
agency will ensure that mitigation
commitments are maintained during
operation of the facility.
The GSA submitted a Section 404
permit application to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) on April 1,
2008, based on a conservative impact
scenario. Under this scenario, the
proposed action would impact,
permanently, 0.099 acres (3,655 linear
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feet (l.f.)) of intermittent tributaries,
0.097 acres (3,440 l.f.) of ephemeral
tributaries, and 1.24 acres of wetlands.
In the permit application, a conceptual
Mitigation Plan was proposed for the
permanently impacted intermittent and
ephemeral tributaries (7,095 l.f., 0.2
acres) and the 1.24 acres of permanently
impacted wetlands. The features of the
plan include:
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On-site Stream Mitigation: The credits
required to offset impacts would be generated
by on-site riparian buffer enhancement of 952
l.f. of intermittent tributary and 494 l.f. of
ephemeral tributary. The corridor would be
50–feet wide on each side of the tributaries.
Enhancement activities would include
nuisance species control, deed restrictions,
10 to 50 percent plantings, native grass
seeding, timber thinning, maintenance, and
monitoring. The remaining credits would, in
part, be done through relocation and
restoration of some tributaries and would
include in-stream features and minimum 50–
foot-wide riparian buffer.
Off-Site Stream Mitigation: Any remaining
stream credits would be mitigated for by
identifying an off-site mitigation project and/
or enrollment into a USACE-approved in-lieu
fee program.
Wetland Mitigation: Wetland impacts
would be mitigated on-site by 1.24 acres of
in-kind wetland creation or restoration. Onsite created wetlands would be deed
restricted.
Based on the small relative size of the
wetlands (less then 1.5 acres combined)
and the requirements imposed by the
Section 404 permitting process, the
impact to wetlands would not be
significant (EA Section 5.3.3).
Degree to which the effects on the
quality of the human environment are
likely to be highly controversial (40
C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(4)): The analysis in
the EA indicates that the selected
alternative will result in no significant
impacts in the quality of the human
environment. The vast majority of
public comment focused on nuclear
weapons policy and procedural issues.
Only a small number of comments were
received regarding the potential
environmental impacts of the preferred
alternative. These comments are
addressed in Appendix B, Issue
Analysis of Public Comments,
including: Issue ι6, Workforce
Reductions; Issue ι11, Stormwater
Quality; Issue ι12, Air Quality, Issue
ι13, Health and Safety; Issue ι15,
Transportation; Issue ι16, Hazard
Analysis; Issue ι18(d), Building 50
Characterization; Issue ι18(e), Potential
Groundwater Impacts with Onsite
Alternatives; and Issue ι18(g),
Environmental Justice.
Uncertain or unknown risks to the
human environment (40 C.F.R.
§ 1508.27(b)(5)): No chemicals have
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been identified that would be a risk to
members of the public from
construction activities associated with a
new non-nuclear facility. The KCP is
considered a low-hazard industrial
facility and operations at the KCP
involve hazards of the type and
magnitude routinely encountered in
industry and generally accepted by the
public. Intentional destructive acts at
the proposed new facility (e.g. terrorism,
internal sabotage) would have a low
potential to impact security, public
health and safety. There are no
uncertain or unknown risks associated
with implementing the selected
alternative (EA Section 5.3).
Precedent for future actions (40
C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(6)): The selected
alternative does not set a precedent for
future actions.
Cumulatively significant impacts (40
C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(7)): There would be
no significant cumulative impacts
associated with implementing the
selected alternative:
Growth in the area of the preferred
alternative site is expected to change the
character of the surrounding area from
generally open/agricultural with
sporadic industrial, to more industrial.
This growth has been anticipated and is
desired by local and state governments.
The selected alternative is consistent
with this transition in land use but the
proposal would not be a primary, or
significant, contributor to the overall
change in land use (EA Section 5.3.10).
Commercial development currently
ongoing and planned in the area of the
selected option will likely result in an
increase in daily traffic on Missouri
Highway 150 and adjacent roadways, to
which the selected alternative would
contribute. Due to the small
contribution of traffic flow to the area
attributed to the selected alternative, the
proposed action will not be a primary or
significant contributor to the overall
change in traffic patterns or road use.
Furthermore, the Missouri Department
of Transportation and the City of Kansas
City, Missouri, are currently working on
road improvement projects in the site
vicinity which will mitigate the
increased projected traffic load resulting
from development in the area (EA
Section 5.3.10).
Development in the area of the
selected alternative may result in an
increase of stormwater runoff into the
Little Blue River Watershed. For the
selected alternative, the City of Kansas
City is responsible for stormwater
management, planning, and permitting,
and all individual developers in the area
of the selected site are required by code
to mitigate impacts of stormwater runoff
and adhere to local building codes for
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23247
storm drainage systems and facilities.
The developer will also be required to
incorporate design features to maintain
or restore predevelopment hydrology
pursuant to Section 438 of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Cumulative stormwater impacts are not
considered to be a significant
environmental impact (EA Section
5.3.10).
Effect on historical or cultural
resources (40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(8)): A
Cultural Resource Assessment did not
identify specific areas of concern within
the selected site, and no previously
recorded archeological sites are located
within the project area. In the event that
items of archeological significance are
found during site excavation, the
developer would be directed to stop the
excavation in the vicinity of the find
and notify the GSA Contracting Officer
immediately so that the government can
coordinate with the appropriate State
Historic Preservation Office officer. The
developer would be required to comply
with applicable local, state, and federal
laws with regard to archeological
findings. No adverse impacts to
historical or cultural resources are
expected as a result of the selected
alternative (EA Section 5.3.7).
Effect on endangered or threatened
species or critical habitat (40 C.F.R.
§ 1508.27(b)(9)): The majority of the 185
acres located at the selected site are
currently developed for agricultural
usage (with scattered stands of trees and
vegetated areas). There are no records of
species or habitats of federal or state
conservation concern within one mile of
the site. No threatened or endangered
species are known to occupy the site.
The selected alternative would not have
an effect on threatened or endangered
species or critical habitat (EA Section
5.3.4).
Violation of Federal, State, or local
law (40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(10)): The
selected alternative would not violate
any federal, state of local laws imposed
for the protection of the environment.
DETERMINATION:
NNSA adopts the EA as a basis for its
decision-making.In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act;
GSA Order ADM 1095.1F,
implementing the regulations of the
Council on Environmental Quality (40
C.F.R. 1500–1508); and DOE’s NEPA
implementing regulations (10 C.F.R.
Part 1021); and based on the analysis in
Environmental Assessment DOE/EA—
1592, GSA and NNSA find that the
Modernization of Facilities and
Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear
Production Activities Conducted at the
National Nuclear Security
E:\FR\FM\29APN1.SGM
29APN1
23248
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 83 / Tuesday, April 29, 2008 / Notices
Administration’s Kansas City Plant
Project is not a major federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the
human environment within the meaning
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969. Therefore, the preparation
of an Environmental Impact Statement
is not required and GSA and NNSA are
issuing this FONSI for the Proposed
Action.
Key stipulations set forth in the
Environmental Assessment include the
following measures that will be
implemented to reduce any impacts the
selected alternative may have on the
quality of the human environment:
Adherence to commitments outlined in
the Mitigation Action Plan. The
Mitigation Action Plan contains
mitigation and monitoring commitments
for the project, including commitments
set (or that would be set) in any permits.
As details of specific mitigation actions
are developed, or as additional
mitigation measures necessary to
produce the results committed to by
GSA or NNSA are identified, the
Mitigation Action Plan will be updated.
General Services Adminstration:
APPROVED BY:
Dated: April 21, 2008.
Bradley M. Scott,
Regional Administrator, GSA Region 6.
and
Dated: April 21, 2008.
Steve C. Taylor,
Manager, NNSA, Kansas City Site Office.
[FR Doc. E8–9322 Filed 4–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–CG–S
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Parker-Davis Project-Rate Order No.
WAPA–138
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Formula
Rates for Firm Electric and
Transmission Service.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Western Area Power
Administration (Western) is proposing
modifications to the rate methodology
used to develop Parker-Davis Project (P–
DP) firm electric and transmission
service formula rates. The modifications
to the rate methodology will change the
allocation factors used to apportion
certain expenses between generation
and transmission revenue requirements.
The firm electric and transmission
service rates resulting from the rate
methodology modifications are equal to
current rates and will provide sufficient
revenue to pay all annual costs,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:01 Apr 28, 2008
Jkt 214001
including interest expense, and
repayment of required investment
within the allowable period. Western is
also proposing changes to the current
billing practices for P–DP long-term firm
transmission service. Under the
proposed billing changes, customers
will be required to pay for long-term
firm transmission service one month in
advance of service. Western will prepare
a brochure that provides detailed
information on the modifications and
proposed firm electric and transmission
service formula rates. Current formula
rates under Rate Schedules PD–F6, PD–
FT6, PD–FCT6, and PD–NFT6 expire
September 30, 2008. The proposed
formula rates under Rate Schedules PD–
F7, PD–FT7, PD–FCT7, and PD–NFT7
are scheduled to become effective on
October 1, 2008, and will remain in
effect through September 30, 2013.
Publication of this Federal Register
notice begins the formal process for the
proposed formula rates.
DATES: The consultation and comment
period will begin today and will end
May 29, 2008. Western will accept
written comments any time during the
consultation and comment period. The
proposed action constitutes a minor rate
adjustment as defined by 10 CFR part
903. As such, Western has determined
it is not necessary to hold a public
information or public comment forum.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:
J. Tyler Carlson, Regional Manager,
Desert Southwest Customer Service
Region, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 6457,
Phoenix, AZ 85005–6457, e-mail
carlson@wapa.gov. Written comments
may also be faxed to (602) 605–2490,
attention: Jack Murray. Western will
post information about the rate process
on its Web site at https://www.wapa.gov/
dsw/pwrmkt/RateAdjust/Main.htm.
Western will post official comments
received via letter, fax, and e-mail to its
Web site after the close of the comment
period. Western must receive written
comments by the end of the
consultation and comment period to
ensure they are considered in Western’s
decision process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Jack Murray, Rates Manager, Desert
Southwest Customer Service Region,
Western Area Power Administration,
P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005–
6457, telephone (602) 605–2442, e-mail
jmurray@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
current rate methodology, formula rates
for P–DP firm electric and transmission
service are recalculated annually and
designed to recover annual project costs,
including interest expense, and make
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
repayment of required investment
within the allowable period. Costs that
are readily identifiable as supporting
either generation or transmission
functions are directly allocated to
generation or transmission revenue
requirements. All other costs are
apportioned between generation and
transmission revenue requirements
based on cost allocation factors. Current
cost allocation factors include
Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition, Capitalized Movable
Equipment (CME), labor hours devoted
to billing, and historic project
investment. Western is proposing to
modify the current rate methodology by
eliminating the CME, labor hours
devoted to billing, and historic project
investment cost allocation factors.
Western also proposes implementing a
cost allocation factor that is the ratio of
the number of customers receiving firm
electric or transmission service to the
total number of customers. At this time,
the firm electric and transmission
service rates resulting from the
proposed modifications to the rate
methodology are equal to current rates
and will provide sufficient revenue to
recover generation and transmission
revenue requirements.
During informal discussions prior to
the commencement of this rate
adjustment process, Western received a
request from customers to modify the
billing practices for P–DP long-term firm
transmission service. In the request, the
customers noted that payments for firm
electric service are required one month
in advance of service and suggested that
all parties be subject to the same billing
terms and conditions. Current billing
practices for P–DP long-term firm
transmission service allow customers to
pay after the fact, usually one month
after service is provided. In response to
this request, Western is proposing
changes to billing practices so that
customers will be required to pay for P–
DP long-term firm transmission service
one month in advance of service. This
requirement is incorporated into Rate
Schedule PD–FT7.
Rate Schedules PD–F6, PD–FT6, PD–
FCT6, and PD–NFT6 were approved
under Rate Order No. WAPA–75 for the
period beginning November 1, 1997,
and ending September 30, 2002.1 These
rate schedules were extended through
September 30, 2004, by the approval of
Rate Order No. WAPA–98 on September
1 WAPA–75 was approved by the Deputy
Secretary of Energy on November 18, 1997 (62 FR
63150), and confirmed and approved by FERC on
a final basis on March 10, 1998, in Docket No.
EF98–5041–000 (82 FERC 62164).
E:\FR\FM\29APN1.SGM
29APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23244-23248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9322]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
[PBS-N04]
Finding of No Significant Impact; Modernization of Facilities and
Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear Production Activities Conducted at
the National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant
Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA-1592)
AGENCY: General Services Administration and National Nuclear Security
Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department
of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issue this
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on their proposal to relocate
certain non-nuclear component production and procurement activities to
a smaller, more efficient and flexible facility. This FONSI is based on
the General Services Administration/National Nuclear Security
Administration ``Modernization of Facilities and Infrastructure for the
Non-Nuclear Production Activities Conducted at the National Nuclear
Security Administration's Kansas City Plant Environmental Assessment''
(EA), DOE/EA-1592, April 21, 2008. The EA was prepared pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.
4321 et seq.), regulations implementing NEPA issued by the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500--1508), and the NEPA
implementing procedures of GSA (ADM 1095.1F) and the Department of
Energy (10 C.F.R. Part 1021).
The selected alternative is for GSA to procure the construction of
a new facility at the intersection of Botts Road and Missouri Highway
150 in Kansas City, Missouri. GSA would lease the facility on NNSA's
behalf, and NNSA would move its operations from the Bannister Federal
Complex to the new facility, and conduct production and procurement
operations for electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components there
(the phrase ``electrical and mechanical'' non-nuclear components, as
used in the EA and this FONSI, also includes electronics,
electromechanical parts, and engineered materials such as plastics,
ceramics, glass, polymers and foams). The NNSA's Kansas City Plant
(KCP) performs these activities for NNSA, Department of Energy (DOE)
programs, and other federal agencies (``work for others'').
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information, including an
electronic copy of the EA, FONSI, Mitigation Action Plan, and other
supporting NEPA documents, will be made available on the following Web
site: https://www.gsa.gov/kansascityplant. The EA and FONSI will also be
made available at: https://eh.doe.gov/nepa.
Requests for copies of the EA and FONSI may be sent to: Carlos
Salazar, General Services Administration, 1500 East Bannister Road,
Room 2191 (6PTA), Kansas City, MO 64131. Requests for copies of the EA
and FONSI may also be made by calling (816) 823-2305 or via e-mail to
NNSA_KC@gsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSA and NNSA issued a Notice of Intent
(NOI) on May 1, 2007 in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No 83, page
23822) informing the public of the proposed action and inviting public
comments on the scope of the EA. The NOI also stated that a public
scoping meeting would be held in Kansas City, on May 23, 2007. A total
of 97 people signed in at the public meeting. Fourteen written comments
were submitted and 24 speakers provided comments that were transcribed
for the record. Everyone who requested to speak was provided the
opportunity to do so. Additional public comments were received by mail
and email during the scoping period, which ended on May 30, 2007.
Approximately 500 people provided comments during the public scoping
process. All comments were considered during the preparation of the
draft EA. A copy of the transcript from the scoping meeting is
available on the GSA website by following the ``NEPA library'' link
(www.gsa.gov/kansascityplant).
On December 10, 2007, the GSA and NNSA issued a Notice of
Availability (NOA) of the draft EA in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No
236, page 69690) informing the public that the draft EA was available
for review and comment. The NOA stated that the deadline for submission
of public comments was January 14, 2008. An electronic copy of the
draft EA and other supporting documents were posted on the GSA website.
An electronic copy of the draft EA was also posted on the DOE website.
[[Page 23245]]
On January 14, 2008, the GSA and NNSA notified the public through
the website that they were extending the public comment period until
January 30, 2008. On January 17, 2008, the federal agencies issued a
Notice of Extension of Comment Period in the Federal Register (Vol. 73,
No 12, page 3256) informing the public of the extension. More than 250
public comments on the draft EA were submitted to GSA and NNSA. After
considering all the comments received as a result of the public review
process, including those received after the formal comment period
closed, GSA and NNSA have made significant revisions to the EA,
including the analysis of additional alternatives outside of the Kansas
City area (i.e. at NNSA's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia
National Laboratories in New Mexico and Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory in California).
Because the draft EA only analyzed alternatives in the State of
Missouri, in December 2007, the GSA and NNSA specifically requested the
State of Missouri to review and comment on the draft EA (although other
states had the opportunity to comment through the public comment
process). On April 4, 2008, the GSA and NNSA provided a pre-approval
review copy of the EA, containing the analysis of additional
alternatives outside of the Kansas City area, to the States of
Missouri, New Mexico, and California, and requested comments by April
18, 2008. Comments were received by this date from Missouri. These
comments were considered in preparing the final EA and FONSI.
Based on the analysis in the EA and after considering all the
comments received as a result of the review process, the GSA and NNSA
have concluded that no information has been made available that is
inconsistent with a finding of no significant impact.
PURPOSE AND NEED: The KCP produces and procures electrical and
mechanical non-nuclear components for nuclear weapons; these constitute
approximately 85 percent of all the components in a nuclear weapon. As
a result of consolidation activities undertaken over the last 15 years
by the Department of Energy, the remaining operations at KCP are
essential and do not duplicate operations at other sites in the nuclear
weapons complex. KCP occupies a large and aging industrial complex in
Kansas City located on a site contiguous with GSA facilities. Despite
the reductions and consolidations that followed a 1996 decision to
downsize KCP's facilities and operations, the current plant is still
much larger than NNSA requires, primarily due to continuing reductions
in the nuclear weapons stockpile and outsourcing of some fabrication
activities. The cost of operating KCP is increasing because of its age
and size.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION: NNSA and GSA propose to
relocate NNSA's KCP operations to a new facility that NNSA would
operate to produce and procure electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components. The proposed facility would be smaller and designed for
rapid reconfiguration to improve efficiency and provide flexibility in
meeting changing requirements and demands. It would be at least 50%
smaller than the current facility, resulting in reduced maintenance and
energy costs while improving the responsiveness and facility
utilization for the supply of electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components. The proposed action considered in the EA consists of the
construction and subsequent operation of such a facility.
Selected Alternative (Alternative 5): The selected alternative is
for GSA to procure the construction of a new facility and for NNSA to
relocate to and operate the facility for production and procurement of
electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components. The new facility
would be located on approximately 185 acres at the intersection of
Missouri Highway 150 and Botts Road in Kansas City, Missouri, about
eight miles south of the existing plant. The proposed facility would
cover up to 1.4 million rentable square feet and provide up to 2,900
surface parking spaces (for a total of about 45 acres). GSA has issued
a Solicitation for Offers to the real estate development community; the
successful developer would partner with GSA and NNSA to design and
construct a facility that meets NNSA's needs. GSA would lease the
facility on NNSA's behalf and NNSA would move its operations from the
Bannister Federal Complex to the new facility and conduct production
and procurement operations for electrical and mechanical non-nuclear
components there.
Alternatives: In addition to the selected alternative (Alternative
5) and the ``No Action'' Alternative (Alternative 1), which evaluates
continuing operations in the existing Kansas City Plant facilities, the
EA evaluates the following alternatives:
Alternative 2: Under this alternative, the existing GSA office and
warehouse space (Buildings 1 and 2) located on the
western portion of the Bannister Federal Complex would be renovated.
NNSA's operations would relocate to the renovated facility.
Alternative 3: This alternative consists of renovation of the
existing GSA office space (Building 2) and demolition of the
existing GSA warehouse (Building 1) and the small outbuildings
located north of the existing GSA warehouse. A new manufacturing,
laboratory, and warehouse facility would be constructed adjacent to the
renovated office space.
Alternative 4: This alternative consists of demolishing the
existing GSA office and warehouse spaces (Buildings 1 and
2) and the small outbuildings located north of the existing
GSA warehouse. Following demolition, new office and manufacturing
facilities would be constructed on GSA's portion of the Bannister
Federal Complex.
Alternative 6: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations
to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM (SNL/NM). For this
alternative, two options are evaluated: (1) a new construction option,
in which a new facility covering approximately 1.4 million square feet
would be constructed and operated similar to the selected alternative;
and (2) a reuse/new construction option consisting of existing space in
SNL/NM facilities and a smaller new facility.
Alternative 7: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations
to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California.
Under this alternative, a new 1.4 million square foot facility would be
constructed and operated similar to the selected alternative.
Alternative 8: This alternative evaluates moving KCP's operations
to Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. For this
alternative, two options are evaluated: (1) a new construction option,
in which a new 1.4 million square foot facility would be constructed
and operates similar to the selected alternative; and (2) a reuse/new
construction option consisting of existing facilities and a smaller new
facility.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF SELECTED ALTERNATIVE: Based on the
analysis in the EA, the selected alternative would not have a
significant effect on the human environment within the meaning of NEPA.
The term ``significantly'' and the significance criteria are defined by
the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing
NEPA at 40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27.
Beneficial and Adverse Impacts (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(1)): The
selected
[[Page 23246]]
alternative would provide a smaller facility designed for rapid
reconfiguration to improve efficiency and provide flexibility in
meeting changing requirements and demands. Maintenance and energy costs
would be reduced, while the responsiveness and facility utilization for
the supply of electrical and mechanical non-nuclear components to NNSA
would be improved. The analysis indicates that there will not be any
significant adverse impacts from implementing the selected alternative
(EA Section 5.3).
Public Health and Safety (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(2)):
Air Emissions (EA Section 5.3.6): During site preparation,
construction, and road improvements the use of heavy equipment would
generate combustion engine exhaust containing air pollutants associated
with diesel combustion (nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO),
sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10),
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)). Similar air emissions would be
generated from delivery vehicles bringing supplies and equipment to the
construction site and from construction workers commuting in their
personal vehicles. Emissions from site preparation and construction
would be short-term, sporadic, and localized (except for emissions
associated with the personal vehicles of construction workers and
vehicles transporting construction materials and equipment). The
quantities of air pollutants produced by vehicles and equipment
associated with construction would not be a substantial contribution to
the total emissions from mobile sources already operating in the area
and would not adversely affect local air quality.
Construction activities could increase the potential for fugitive
dust (i.e. airborne particulate matter that escapes from a construction
site) from earthwork and other construction vehicle movement. Not all
of the area available for construction would be under construction at
any one time. Control measures for lowering fugitive dust emissions
(i.e. water or chemical dust suppressants) would be implemented to
prevent offsite emissions. Construction activities would be in
accordance with permits from local, state and federal jurisdictions and
would not significantly impact public health and safety.
The total estimated annual air emissions from operating a new NNSA
facility at the selected site are expected to be 12.8 tons, consisting
of approximately 10.4 tons of NOx, SOx and CO from the boilers and
process heaters, 2.0 tons of VOCs from electronic component solvent
spray cleaning operations, and 0.4 tons of VOCs from painting
operations. This is approximately 28% less than the annual air
emissions from the current facility, and would not significantly impact
public health and safety.
Noise: At 400 feet from the construction site, construction noise
would range from 55-85 dBA. Given that the distance from the site
boundary to the nearest business or residence is greater than 400 feet,
there would be no significant noise impacts as a result of construction
activities, except for a small increase in traffic noise levels from
construction employees and material shipments, and short-term increases
in noise levels at or near the site boundary from site preparation and
infrastructure construction activities such as driveway construction
and site grading. Noise from operations is expected to be similar to
those from existing operations and would be far enough away from
offsite areas that its contribution to offsite noise levels would be
small. Noise from the selected alternative would not significantly
impact public health and safety (EA Section 5.3.8).
Solid Waste: Waste generation resulting from the selected
alternative is not expected to significantly impact public health and
safety (EA Section 5.3.5).
Construction activities are expected to generate approximately
6,890 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste.
The hazardous waste disposal rate from operations is anticipated to
be approximately 26,000 lbs/year, a 30% reduction from current
operations at the Bannister Federal Complex due to process improvements
and outsourcing. Non-hazardous waste is also expected to experience a
similar reduction (to approximately 1.6 million lbs/year) due to the
smaller operations and reduced facility refurbishments. Low-level
radioactive waste generation is projected to be consistent with current
generation rates of approximately 40 lbs per year.
All waste materials would be transported off-site for disposal in
accordance with federal, state and local requirements. The number of
shipments may be reduced compared to current operations at the
Bannister Federal Complex due to the reduction in waste generation.
Groundwater: The proposed facility design does not include the use
of underground storage tanks, and all proposed above-ground storage
tanks would be constructed with secondary containment. Industrial
facilities would be constructed and managed to ensure materials (raw,
intermediate and final product, and wastes) and activities are
completely sheltered from stormwater. Adverse impacts to groundwater
from proposed site operations are not anticipated (EA Section 5.3.2).
Unique characteristics of the geographical area (40 C.F.R. Sec.
1508.27(b)(3)):
Prime Farmland: Though currently used for agricultural purposes,
the location of the selected alternative is identified as part of an
``urbanized area'' on Census Bureau maps and is not considered prime
farmland (EA Section 5.3.1).
Impact to Wetlands: Based upon a preliminary jurisdictional waters
determination, non-jurisdictional wetlands and potential jurisdictional
tributaries and wetlands exist onsite. Mitigation of impacts to non-
jurisdictional wetlands will take place in accordance with Executive
Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands, and to jurisdictional waters in
accordance with the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting process,
which requires avoidance of wetlands impacts, minimization of potential
impacts on wetlands, and compensation for any remaining unavoidable
impacts. A wetland assessment was completed in accordance with the
requirements of 10 C.F.R. Part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain and
Wetland Environmental Review Requirements, based on a conservative
impact scenario.
NNSA found that no practicable alternative to locating the action
in the wetland is available. Therefore, the wetland assessment
considered specific constraints and provisions for mitigation that will
be placed on the developer of the site through both the Section 404
permit and the contract with GSA. Although the actual impacts cannot be
precisely quantified until a site plan is finalized, impacts to the
site are expected to be less than assessed in this analysis of the
conservative scenario.
The contract issued by GSA will require the developer to address
the management of any wetlands (jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional)
on the site in accordance with Executive Order 11990 and Section 404
permitting. The appropriate federal agency will ensure that mitigation
commitments are maintained during operation of the facility.
The GSA submitted a Section 404 permit application to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) on April 1, 2008, based on a conservative
impact scenario. Under this scenario, the proposed action would impact,
permanently, 0.099 acres (3,655 linear
[[Page 23247]]
feet (l.f.)) of intermittent tributaries, 0.097 acres (3,440 l.f.) of
ephemeral tributaries, and 1.24 acres of wetlands. In the permit
application, a conceptual Mitigation Plan was proposed for the
permanently impacted intermittent and ephemeral tributaries (7,095
l.f., 0.2 acres) and the 1.24 acres of permanently impacted wetlands.
The features of the plan include:
On-site Stream Mitigation: The credits required to offset
impacts would be generated by on-site riparian buffer enhancement of
952 l.f. of intermittent tributary and 494 l.f. of ephemeral
tributary. The corridor would be 50-feet wide on each side of the
tributaries. Enhancement activities would include nuisance species
control, deed restrictions, 10 to 50 percent plantings, native grass
seeding, timber thinning, maintenance, and monitoring. The remaining
credits would, in part, be done through relocation and restoration
of some tributaries and would include in-stream features and minimum
50-foot-wide riparian buffer.
Off-Site Stream Mitigation: Any remaining stream credits would
be mitigated for by identifying an off-site mitigation project and/
or enrollment into a USACE-approved in-lieu fee program.
Wetland Mitigation: Wetland impacts would be mitigated on-site
by 1.24 acres of in-kind wetland creation or restoration. On-site
created wetlands would be deed restricted.
Based on the small relative size of the wetlands (less then 1.5
acres combined) and the requirements imposed by the Section 404
permitting process, the impact to wetlands would not be significant (EA
Section 5.3.3).
Degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment
are likely to be highly controversial (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(4)):
The analysis in the EA indicates that the selected alternative will
result in no significant impacts in the quality of the human
environment. The vast majority of public comment focused on nuclear
weapons policy and procedural issues. Only a small number of comments
were received regarding the potential environmental impacts of the
preferred alternative. These comments are addressed in Appendix B,
Issue Analysis of Public Comments, including: Issue 6,
Workforce Reductions; Issue 11, Stormwater Quality; Issue
12, Air Quality, Issue 13, Health and Safety; Issue
15, Transportation; Issue 16, Hazard Analysis; Issue
18(d), Building 50 Characterization; Issue 18(e),
Potential Groundwater Impacts with Onsite Alternatives; and Issue
18(g), Environmental Justice.
Uncertain or unknown risks to the human environment (40 C.F.R.
Sec. 1508.27(b)(5)): No chemicals have been identified that would be a
risk to members of the public from construction activities associated
with a new non-nuclear facility. The KCP is considered a low-hazard
industrial facility and operations at the KCP involve hazards of the
type and magnitude routinely encountered in industry and generally
accepted by the public. Intentional destructive acts at the proposed
new facility (e.g. terrorism, internal sabotage) would have a low
potential to impact security, public health and safety. There are no
uncertain or unknown risks associated with implementing the selected
alternative (EA Section 5.3).
Precedent for future actions (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(6)): The
selected alternative does not set a precedent for future actions.
Cumulatively significant impacts (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(7)):
There would be no significant cumulative impacts associated with
implementing the selected alternative:
Growth in the area of the preferred alternative site is expected to
change the character of the surrounding area from generally open/
agricultural with sporadic industrial, to more industrial. This growth
has been anticipated and is desired by local and state governments. The
selected alternative is consistent with this transition in land use but
the proposal would not be a primary, or significant, contributor to the
overall change in land use (EA Section 5.3.10).
Commercial development currently ongoing and planned in the area of
the selected option will likely result in an increase in daily traffic
on Missouri Highway 150 and adjacent roadways, to which the selected
alternative would contribute. Due to the small contribution of traffic
flow to the area attributed to the selected alternative, the proposed
action will not be a primary or significant contributor to the overall
change in traffic patterns or road use. Furthermore, the Missouri
Department of Transportation and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, are
currently working on road improvement projects in the site vicinity
which will mitigate the increased projected traffic load resulting from
development in the area (EA Section 5.3.10).
Development in the area of the selected alternative may result in
an increase of stormwater runoff into the Little Blue River Watershed.
For the selected alternative, the City of Kansas City is responsible
for stormwater management, planning, and permitting, and all individual
developers in the area of the selected site are required by code to
mitigate impacts of stormwater runoff and adhere to local building
codes for storm drainage systems and facilities. The developer will
also be required to incorporate design features to maintain or restore
predevelopment hydrology pursuant to Section 438 of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007. Cumulative stormwater impacts
are not considered to be a significant environmental impact (EA Section
5.3.10).
Effect on historical or cultural resources (40 C.F.R. Sec.
1508.27(b)(8)): A Cultural Resource Assessment did not identify
specific areas of concern within the selected site, and no previously
recorded archeological sites are located within the project area. In
the event that items of archeological significance are found during
site excavation, the developer would be directed to stop the excavation
in the vicinity of the find and notify the GSA Contracting Officer
immediately so that the government can coordinate with the appropriate
State Historic Preservation Office officer. The developer would be
required to comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws with
regard to archeological findings. No adverse impacts to historical or
cultural resources are expected as a result of the selected alternative
(EA Section 5.3.7).
Effect on endangered or threatened species or critical habitat (40
C.F.R. Sec. 1508.27(b)(9)): The majority of the 185 acres located at
the selected site are currently developed for agricultural usage (with
scattered stands of trees and vegetated areas). There are no records of
species or habitats of federal or state conservation concern within one
mile of the site. No threatened or endangered species are known to
occupy the site. The selected alternative would not have an effect on
threatened or endangered species or critical habitat (EA Section
5.3.4).
Violation of Federal, State, or local law (40 C.F.R. Sec.
1508.27(b)(10)): The selected alternative would not violate any
federal, state of local laws imposed for the protection of the
environment.
DETERMINATION:
NNSA adopts the EA as a basis for its decision-making.In accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act; GSA Order ADM 1095.1F,
implementing the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality
(40 C.F.R. 1500-1508); and DOE's NEPA implementing regulations (10
C.F.R. Part 1021); and based on the analysis in Environmental
Assessment DOE/EA--1592, GSA and NNSA find that the Modernization of
Facilities and Infrastructure for the Non-Nuclear Production Activities
Conducted at the National Nuclear Security
[[Page 23248]]
Administration's Kansas City Plant Project is not a major federal
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment
within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not
required and GSA and NNSA are issuing this FONSI for the Proposed
Action.
Key stipulations set forth in the Environmental Assessment include
the following measures that will be implemented to reduce any impacts
the selected alternative may have on the quality of the human
environment: Adherence to commitments outlined in the Mitigation Action
Plan. The Mitigation Action Plan contains mitigation and monitoring
commitments for the project, including commitments set (or that would
be set) in any permits. As details of specific mitigation actions are
developed, or as additional mitigation measures necessary to produce
the results committed to by GSA or NNSA are identified, the Mitigation
Action Plan will be updated.
General Services Adminstration:
APPROVED BY:
Dated: April 21, 2008.
Bradley M. Scott,
Regional Administrator, GSA Region 6.
and
Dated: April 21, 2008.
Steve C. Taylor,
Manager, NNSA, Kansas City Site Office.
[FR Doc. E8-9322 Filed 4-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-CG-S