Wetland Assessment of the Effects of Construction and Operation of a Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the Portsmouth, Ohio, Site.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Wetlands;    Environmental impacts;    Depleted uranium;    Inventories;    Environmental protection;   

RP-ID  :  DE2006861612

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF(sub 6)) Management Program evaluated alternatives for managing its inventory of DUF(sub 6) and issued the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative Strategies for the Long-Term Management and Use of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF(sub 6) PEIS) in April 1999 (DOE 1999). The DUF(sub 6) inventory is stored in cylinders at three DOE sites: Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; and East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In the Record of Decision for the DUF(sub 6) PEIS, DOE stated its decision to promptly convert the DUF(sub 6) inventory to a more stable chemical form. Subsequently, the U.S. Congress passed, and the President signed, the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States (Public Law No. 107-206). This law stipulated in part that, within 30 days of enactment, DOE must award a contract for the design, construction, and operation of a DUF(sub 6) conversion plant at the Department's Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, sites, and for the shipment of DUF(sub 6) cylinders stored at ETTP to the Portsmouth site for conversion. This wetland assessment has been prepared by DOE, pursuant to Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands) and DOE regulations for implementing this Executive Order as set forth in Title 10, Part 1022, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 1022) to evaluate potential impacts to wetlands from the construction and operation of a conversion facility at the DOE Portsmouth site. Approximately 0.02 acre (0.009 ha) of a 0.08-acre (0.03-ha) palustrine emergent wetland would likely be eliminated by direct placement of fill material during facility construction at Location A. Portions of this wetland that are not filled may be indirectly affected by an altered hydrologic regime because of the proximity of construction, possibly resulting in a decreased frequency or duration of inundation or soil saturation, and potential loss of hydrology necessary to sustain wetland conditions.