[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 105 (Thursday, June 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13420]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Environmental Management

 

Innovative Technologies to Accelerate Characterization, 
Treatment, Remediation, and Storage/Disposal of Mixed Radioactive/
Hazardous Waste at Federal Facilities

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental 
Management (EM) is soliciting information from private companies 
regarding their capabilities to demonstrate new and innovative 
technologies that may accelerate or enhance site activities in 
characterization, treatment, remediation, and storage/disposal of mixed 
radioactive/hazardous wastes at federal facilities in the Western 
United States. This is not a solicitation for government proposals or 
bids for procurement or financial assistance, but rather a request for 
information on new and innovative technologies which may address 
characterization, treatment, and storage/disposal of mixed or hazardous 
waste. Based on information received from this RFI, a formal RFP(s) may 
be issued focusing on specific needs and site characteristics.

DATES: Information should be submitted by August 31, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Information should be submitted to Dr. George Coyle, Office 
of Technology Development, EM-50, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., room 5B-014, Washington, DC 20585. FAX 202-
586-6773.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George Coyle, at the above 
address, or by phone at 202-586-6382.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The responses to the RFI will be reviewed by 
the Mixed Radioactive/Hazardous Waste Working Group of the Federal 
Advisory Committee to Develop On-Site Innovative Technologies (DOIT 
Committee). The DOIT Committee consists of the Secretaries of the U.S. 
Departments of Energy, Defense, and the Interior, the Administrator of 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and members of the Western 
Governor's Association (or their designees). The Federal Advisory 
Committee will recommend a program to review information concerning 
technologies regarding environmental restoration/ waste management at 
DOE sites in western states; recommending demonstration projects for 
implementation; and identifying regulatory, institutional, or other 
barriers to technology development. Pursuant to the Advisory 
Committee's Charter, the initial lead agency is the Department of 
Energy, for which the Office of Technology Development serves as the 
coordinating office.
    The Department of Energy has requested funding in its budget 
proposal for a project to conduct field demonstrations of innovative 
technology involving mixed waste (characterization, treatment, and 
storage/disposal) beginning in calendar year 1995. This program will 
implement the recommendations of the DOIT Committee. The goal will be 
to expedite cleanup of federal sites by demonstrating environmental 
technologies which will address regulatory barriers and public concerns 
throughout the technology demonstration project process.
    Factors that should be addressed in descriptions of cleanup 
technology are:

--Ability to alleviate risks to public health and safety and to the 
environment;
--Capacity for public acceptance, permit and regulatory issues;
--Extent of private sector and multi-agency involvement;
--Potential for technology transfer or commercialization;
--Likelihood of successful demonstration (technical risks, technology 
component and system);
--Capacity for volume reduction of hazardous and radioactive 
components;
--Viability of final waste forms and treated secondary waste forms 
which can gain public acceptance, be relatively stable, and meet 
regulatory criteria;
--Magnitude of recycling and material recovery potential; and
--Ease of implementation to full scale initiative.

    Additionally, the following factors are considered to be important 
by the Mixed Radioactive/Hazardous Waste Working Group of the Committee 
in its review of cleanup technologies:

--The extent to which the technologies will ultimately remediate mixed 
waste at sites in one or more of the following states and territories: 
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, 
Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Northern Marianna Islands, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, 
Washington, and Wyoming;
--The magnitude of the problem to which this technology can be applied 
(total volume, multiple sites, etc.); and
--The extent to which the stakeholders will want to support DOE's 
development of the technology.

    Interested parties should submit a short paper not to exceed five 
(5) pages that will describe the technology and explain why it will 
ultimately achieve the above mentioned objectives. If possible, papers 
should not include corporate and proprietary information. Respondents 
are advised to clearly identify any and all proprietary data submitted 
in response to this RFI, so that the Department is made aware of 
information which may need such protection. The duty to identify 
proprietary information is not the responsibility of the Department of 
Energy. In addition, the Department is under no obligation to pay for 
the expenses of submitting responses to the RFI. The dates on which the 
Working Group will discuss specific concept papers will be published in 
advance in the Federal Register. Those meetings will be open to the 
public.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 25, 1994.
Clyde Frank,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Technology Development.
[FR Doc. 94-13420 Filed 6-1-94; 8:45 am]
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