[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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