[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63845-63846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26741]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2012-0271]


Geologic Trench Excavation for Paleoliquefaction Study at Garner 
and Stiles Sites

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts that may arise as a result of excavating trenches to observe 
geologic features for a paleoliquefaction research project at two sites 
located in northeastern Arkansas. The NRC has concluded that a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate.

DATES: October 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0271 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0271. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it available in 
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The EA 
and the associated FONSI are publicly available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML15287A224.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Weaver, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2383; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is performing a paleoliquefaction research project to 
characterize past earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States. 
Geologic observations of paleoliquefaction, defined as historic or pre-
historic liquefaction, in excavated trenches are planned at two sites 
in northeastern Arkansas. Liquefaction features are geologic features 
such as sand blows and sand dikes formed during earthquakes as a result 
of ground shaking and water pressure developed in the ground during 
shaking. The results from this research will be used to update models 
implemented in probabilistic seismic hazard analyses to characterize 
ground motion at new nuclear power plant sites in accordance with the 
NRC's regulation in section 100.23(d)(1) of title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR). The results of this research may also 
implemented to re-evaluate seismic hazards at existing nuclear power 
plant sites.
    The NRC has prepared an EA to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts that may arise as a result of this research project in 
accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51, the NRC's 
regulations that implement Section 102(2) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Based on the EA, and in accordance with 
10 CFR 51.31(a), the NRC has concluded that a FONSI is appropriate. The 
excavation of the trenches at the two sites in northeastern Arkansas 
will commence following publication of this Notice.

II. EA Summary

    The NRC has prepared the EA to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts of the excavation of the trenches at two sites in northeastern 
Arkansas, described in the EA as the Garner and Stiles sites. In 
accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the NRC staff requested informal 
consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. No 
concerns were identified for Federally-listed species or designated 
critical habitat. This project is temporary, minimally invasive, and 
will occur outside the critical nesting times for migratory birds.
    The NRC determined that the proposed excavation of the trenches 
will result in no adverse effects to any historic or cultural resources 
that may be located at the Garner or Stiles sites. The NRC's evaluation 
of archeologic artifacts discovered at the Garner site concludes that 
the site is ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places 
(NHRP). The Arkansas State Historic Preservation Officer stated in a 
September 3, 2014, letter to the NRC that NHRP eligibility for the 
Garner site is undetermined and noted that the proposed excavation of 
the trenches is similar to NRHP significance testing. If significant 
archeological material data is uncovered at the Garner site, the NRC

[[Page 63846]]

will complete the appropriate NRHP-eligibility testing. Portions of the 
NRC contractor prepared site evaluation report, referenced in the EA, 
have been redacted and are being withheld from public review for the 
purpose of protecting potential archaeological and cultural resources 
in accordance with Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act of 1966, as amended (54 U.S.C. 307103).
    In its September 3, 2014 letter, the Arkansas State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) was supportive of the proposed excavation 
of the trenches at both sites. The Arkansas SHPO concurred with the NRC 
regarding no adverse effects at the Stiles site. The Quapaw Tribe has 
concurred with the Arkansas SHPO findings.
    The NRC has determined that there will be no significant impacts to 
any other resource areas (e.g., surface water, groundwater, air 
quality) as a result of the proposed excavation of the trenches.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the EA and as further described in the FONSI, the 
NRC has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts 
from the proposed excavation of the trenches and has determined not to 
prepare an environmental impact statement.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 14th day of October, 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John P. Burke,
Chief, Structural, Geotechnical, and Seismic Engineering Branch, 
Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-26741 Filed 10-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P