[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4342]


[Federal Register: February 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Availability of a Study on the Safety of Shipments of Plutonium 
by Sea

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy, in conjunction with other Federal 
agencies, has completed a study and submitted it to Congress on 
February 8, 1994, on the Safety of Shipments of Plutonium by Sea. The 
study was conducted under the authority vested in the President by the 
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 
section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, and section 2904 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486. By memorandum dated 
January 7, 1993, the President authorized the Secretary of Energy, in 
consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Commandant of the 
United States Coast Guard to proceed with the study.

ADDRESSES: The study is available at the Public Reading Room (Room 1E-
190), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. EST, excluding 
Federal holidays.
    Copies of the study have also been placed in the following reading 
rooms: U.S. Department of Energy, San Francisco Operations Office, 1333 
Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; U.S. Department of Energy, Rocky Flats 
Public Reading Room, Front Range Community College Library, 3645 West 
112th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80030; U.S. Department of Energy, Public 
Reading Room, Largo Public Library, 351 East Bay Drive, Largo, FL 
34640; U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Public 
Reading Room, 1776 Science Center Drive, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 
83402; U.S. Department of Energy, Chicago Operations Office, 9800 South 
Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439; U.S. Department of Energy, Public 
Reading Room, Red Bridge Branch, Mid-Continent Public Library, 11140 
Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64137; U.S. Department of Energy, 
Albuquerque Operations Office, Public Reading Room, National Atomic 
Museum, 20358 Wyoming Street, S.E., Kirtland Air Force Base, P.O. Box 
5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185; U.S. Department of Energy, Nevada 
Operations Office, 2753 South Highland Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109; U.S. 
Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Miamisburg Library, 35 South 
Fifth Street, Miamisburg, OH 45342; U.S. Department of Energy, Public 
Reading Room, University of South Carolina, Aiken Campus Writing 
Center, 171 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801; U.S. Department of 
Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Freedom of Information Officer, 
200 Administration Road, RM G-209, P.0. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; 
U.S. Department of Energy, Reading Room, Lynn Library--Learning Center, 
Amarillo College, 2201 South Washington Street, Amarillo, TX 79109; 
U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, 825 Jadwin 
Avenue, Room 157, P.O. Box 1970, Mail Stop A1-65, Richland, WA 99352.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel Lillian, Deputy Director, 
Office of Transportation, Emergency Management, and Analytical Services 
(EM-26), U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585, at 301-903-
7270.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject study represents a review and 
evaluation of readily available pertinent technical reports which were 
discussed among the participating agencies during the course of the 
preparation of the study from October to December 1992. After reviewing 
the hazards posed by plutonium, applicable transportation safety and 
physical protection regulations, pertinent research and experience, and 
contingency plans, the agencies participating in this study conclude 
that plutonium can be shipped safely by sea.
    Public Law 102-486 also requires the preparation and submittal to 
Congress of an Implementation Plan that describes the plan for 
implementing the recommendations contained in the study. The 
Implementation Plan must be submitted to Congress and made available 
for public viewing 90 days after issuance of the study. Subsequent to 
enactment of the legislation calling for this study and Implementation 
Plan, and subsequent to preparation of the study, several individual 
members of Congress have raised additional concerns relating to the 
shipment of radioactive materials by sea. These concerns include the 
safety of shipment of other material proposed to be shipped (e.g., 
glassified high-level nuclear waste and mixed oxide fuel), as well as 
the need to evaluate risk assessment elements. These elements are 
shipping routes, adequacy of the revised International Maritime 
Organization code for radioactive shipments, the consequences and 
probability of the ``maximum credible accident'' in shipping by sea, 
and the examination of threats of sabotage and terrorism. The 
participating Federal agencies will address these additional concerns 
in the Implementation Plan to the extent that they relate to the 
recommendations in the study. Where certain issues raised do not fall 
within the framework of the study and Implementation Plan, the agencies 
will ensure that they are addressed through direct communication with 
the members of Congress who raised them.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18, 1994.
Richard J. Guimond,
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 94-4342 Filed 2-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P