[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 30862] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-15453] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Chemical Agent Demilitarization Facility; Construction and Operation; Umatilla Depot Activity, OR AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD. ACTION: Notice of Availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This announces the Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the construction and operation of the proposed chemical agent demilitarization facility at the Umatilla Depot Activity, Oregon. The proposed facility will be used to demilitarize all stockpiled chemical agents and munitions currently stored at the Umatilla Depot Activity. The FEIS examines the potential impacts of on-site incineration, alternative sites within Umatilla Depot Activity and the ``no action'' alternative. The ``no action'' alternative is considered to be a deferral of demilitarization with continued storage of agents and munitions at the Umatilla Depot Activity. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its Record of Decision (53 FR 5816, February 26, 1988) for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (CSDP), the Department of the Army selected on-site disposal by incineration at all eight chemical munition storage sites within the continental United States as the method by which it will destroy its lethal chemical stockpile. On February 6, 1989, the Department of the Army published a Notice of Intent (54 FR 5646) which announced that, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and implementing regulations, it would prepare a draft site-specific EIS for the Umatilla chemical munitions disposal facility. In 1991, the Department of the Army prepared a Draft EIS to assess the site-specific health and environmental impacts of on-site incineration of chemical agents and munitions stored at the Umatilla Depot Activity. In late 1991, preparation of draft and final EIS's was halted pending the outcome of a National Research Council (NRC) study of alternative technologies for the destruction of chemical agents and munitions and the Army's review of that study. The alternative technology studies by both the NRC and the Army have been completed and preparation of EIS's has been restarted. A Notice of Availability was published on January 26, 1996 (61 FR 2508) which provided notice that the revised Draft EIS was available for public comment. Comments from the revised DEIS have been considered and responses are included in this Final EIS. After a 30-day waiting period, the Army will publish a Record of Decision. Copies of the Final EIS may be obtained by writing to the following address: Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN: SFAE-CD-ME, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5401. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Environmental Protection Agency will also publish a Notice of Availability for the Final EIS in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Above address, or Ms. Suzanne Fournier at (410) 671-1093. Raymond J. Fatz, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E). [FR Doc. 96-15453 Filed 6-17-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-08-M