[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3923-3925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2240]
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[[Page 3924]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Nevada Test Site and Off-Site Locations Within the State of Nevada
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of
the Draft Sitewide Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the
Nevada Test Site and Off-site Locations in the State of Nevada (DOE/
EIS-0243), for public review and comment. DOE also announces the dates,
times, and locations for public hearings on the Draft EIS. Alternative
uses for the land and facilities at the site are analyzed in the Draft
EIS.
DATES: DOE filed the Draft EIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency on January 26, 1996, with an expected Federal Register
publication date for the notice of availability of February 2, 1996.
Written or oral comments on the Draft EIS are invited from the general
public, other government agencies, and all other interested parties.
Comments received or postmarked by May 3, 1996, whether written or
oral, submitted directly to the Department, or presented during a
public hearing, will be given equal consideration in preparation of the
final EIS. Comments received or postmarked after that date, will be
considered to the extent practicable. DOE will use the comments
received to help prepare the final version of the EIS.
The dates and locations for the public meetings are listed below.
All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m: March 5, 1996, Dixie
Center Convention Facilities, 425 South 700 East, St. George, Utah;
March 13, 1996, Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 North Highway 160,
Pahrump, Nevada; March 19, 1996, University of Nevada, Student Union
Bldg., Reno, Nevada; March 26, 1996, Cashman Field Convention Center,
850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, Nevada.
ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of the Draft EIS and written comments on
the Draft Site-wide EIS should be directed to: Donald R. Elle,
Director, Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Department of Energy,
Nevada Operations Office, P.O. Box 14459, Las Vegas, NV 89114, phone
(702) 295-1433. Oral comments may be submitted at the public hearing or
by calling the Nevada Test Site EIS Hotline, 1-800-405-1140 or (702)
794-1550, and recording comments or suggestions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the
Department's NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom,
Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-
4600 or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This sitewide EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of
four possible resource management alternatives being considered for the
Nevada Test Site (NTS), the Tonopah Test Range, and the formerly
operated DOE sites in the state of Nevada: the Project Shoal Area, the
Central Nevada Test Area, and portions of the Nellis Air Force Range
Complex. Three additional sites in Nevada, Coyote Spring Valley, Dry
Lake Valley, and Eldorado Valley are evaluated for colocation of solar
energy production facilities. The four alternatives include No Action
(continue to operate at the level maintained for the past 5 years);
Discontinue Operations (discontinue operations and interagency programs
and close the site); Expanded Use (maximize use of NTS and its
resources to support defense and nondefense programs; and Alternate Use
of Withdrawn Lands (discontinue all defense-related activities at NTS;
continue waste management operations in support of NTS environmental
restoration efforts; expand nondefense research). Environmental impacts
were assessed for each alternative by analyzing, to the extent
possible, the discrete and cumulative environmental impacts associated
with defense, waste management, environmental restoration, nondefense
research and development, and work for others programs.
Related Documentation
The Department will prepare transcripts of the oral comments
received during the Draft EIS public hearings. The records of all
comments, both oral and written, received during the comment period
will be made available for public review in the reading rooms listed
below. Additional background documents and references identified as
pertinent during the EIS process will also be made available in the
reading rooms.
1. DOE Public Reading Room, 2621 Losee Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
2. Las Vegas Public Library, 833 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV
89101
3. Carson City Public Library, 900 N. Roop St., Carson City, NV 89701
4. Tonopah Public Library, 171 Central St. Tonopah, NV 89049
5. Doris Shirkey Library, 2101 E. Calvada Blvd., Pahrump, NV 89041
6. Caliente Branch Library, 100 Depot Avenue, Caliente, NV 89008
7. University of Nevada, Reno, Noble H. Getchell Library, Reno, NV
89557
8. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, James Dickenson Library, 4505 S.
Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154
9. Freedom of Information Reading Room, Forrestal Bldg, 1000
Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20585
10. Fallon Public Library, Churchill County Library, 553 S. Main,
Fallon, NV 89406-3387
11. Washington County Library, 50 S. Main, St. George, UT 84770
Cooperating Agencies
The preparation of this Site-wide EIS required the participation of
several Federal agencies and a local government, including the
Department of Defense (Air Force and Defense Nuclear Agency), the
Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management and Fish and
Wildlife Service), and Nye County, Nevada.
Public Hearings Registration and Format
Oral and written comments may be presented at the public hearings.
Persons desiring to speak at any of these hearings should register by
calling the Nevada Test Site EIS Hotline by 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard
Time, two working days in advance of the public hearing; or by writing
to the Director of the Environmental Protection Division at the above
address. Persons wishing to speak that have not registered in advance
may register at the entrance of the meeting room. Individuals speaking
on behalf of an organization should identify the organization
represented. In order to solicit individual viewpoints and facilitate
interactive communication between participants and representatives of
the Department, opportunities will be provided at the public hearings
for questions and informal discussions regarding the issues to be
addressed in this EIS.
Subsequent Document Preparation
After the completion of the public hearing process for the Draft
EIS, the Department will consider all comments prior to publication of
the Final EIS and the Record of Decision.
[[Page 3925]]
Issued in Washington, DC, this 29th day of January, 1996.
Gary T. Palmer,
Environmental Specialist, Office of Environmental Support, Defense
Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-2240 Filed 2-1-96; 8:45 am]
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