[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 203 (Friday, October 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54425-54426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26761]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Nevada Test Site and Off-Site Locations in 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Nevada 
Test Site (NTS) and Off-Site Locations in the State of Nevada (DOE/EIS-
0243).

DATES: DOE intends to issue a Record of Decision on the NTS no sooner 
than 30 days from the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Notice of Availability appears in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of the NTS Final EIS or its Summary 
should be directed to: Bob Golden, NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, P.O. Box 98518, Las 
Vegas, NV 89193-8518, phone (702) 295-4652 or by calling the Nevada 
Test Site EIS Hotline, 1-800-405-1140. Copies of the Final EIS will 
also be available in Reading Rooms listed in the supplementary 
information section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 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: This sitewide EIS evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of four possible use 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 
collocation of solar energy production facilities. The four 
alternatives include: No Action (Alternative 1)--continue to operate at 
the level maintained for the past 5 years; Discontinue Operations 
(Alternative 2)--discontinue operations and interagency programs and 
close the site; Expanded Use (Alternative 3)--maximize use of NTS and 
its resources to support defense and nondefense programs; and Alternate 
Use of Withdrawn Lands (Alternative 4)--discontinue all defense-related 
activities at NTS; continue waste management operations in support of 
NTS environmental restoration efforts; expand nondefense research.
    The Department's preferred alternative includes the activities 
described in the Expanded Use alternative (Alternative 3) plus the 
educational activities described in Alternative 4. For purposes of 
providing a bounding analysis in the EIS,

[[Page 54426]]

Alternative 3 evaluates the impacts resulting from the maximum 
potential activities identified for the Nevada Test Site. However, the 
Department has identified in other EISs that the Nevada Test Site is 
not the preferred site for the proposed National Ignition Facility, the 
interim storage of plutonium pits, or weapons assembly/disassembly 
operations. Accordingly, the preferred alternative in this EIS does not 
include these activities, even though their impacts are included in 
Alternative 3. The preferred alternative is the most comprehensive 
alternative in supporting statutory mission responsibilities while 
providing for a diversification of use to include nondefense, 
interagency, public and private uses of the resources and capabilities 
available.
    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.
    The preparation of this EIS required the participation of several 
federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (Air Force and 
Defense Nuclear Agency), and the Department of the Interior (Bureau of 
Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service), along with Nye County, 
Nevada.
    Copies of the Final EIS will be available in Reading Rooms at the 
following locations:

1. DOE Public Reading Facility, 2621 Losee Road, Bldg B-3, North Las 
Vegas, NV 89030
2. Carson City Public Library, 900 N. Roop Street, Carson City, NV 
89701
3. Doris Shirkey Library, 2101 E. Calvada Blvd., Pahrump, NV 89041
4. University of Nevada, Reno, Noble H. Getchell Library, Reno, NV 
89557
5. Freedom of Information Reading Room, Forrestal Bldg, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585
6. Las Vegas Public Library, 833 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 
89101
7. Tonopah Public Library, 171 Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049
8. Caliente Branch Library, 100 Depot Avenue, Caliente, NV 89008
9. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, James Dickenson Library, 4505 S. 
Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154
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
12. Goldfield Library, P.O. Box 430, Goldfield, NV 89013
13. Silver Peak Library, P.O. Box 128, Silver Peak, NV 89047
14. Community College of Southern Nevada, Henderson Campus, Library 
Reading Room, 700 College Drive, Henderson, NV 89015
15. Amargosa Valley Community Library, HRC 69, Amargosa Valley, NV 
89020-9701
16. White Pine Library, 950 Campton, Ely, NV 89301
17. Dyer Public Library, P.O. Box 105, Dyer, NV 89010
18. Community College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus, 3200 E. 
Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV 89117
19. Community College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus, 
Library Reading Room, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 10th day of October, 1996.
James C. Landers,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-26761 Filed 10-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P