[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39227-39228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19204]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Disposal of the S3G
and D1G Prototype Reactor Plants; Notice of Availability and
Announcement of a Public Hearing
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Naval Reactors (Naval
Reactors) has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the
Disposal of the S3G and D1G Prototype Reactor Plants. The Draft
Environmental Impact Statement was prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; Council on
Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-
1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021). Naval
Reactors will conduct public hearings to receive comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement, which addresses the potential
environmental impacts related to the disposal of the S3G and D1G
Prototype reactor plants, located in West Milton, New York.
This Notice announces that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
will be available to the public at the Saratoga Springs Public Library
in Saratoga Springs, New York, the Schenectady County Public Library in
Schenectady, New York, or by mail upon request. Upon completion of
general distribution of the document, Naval Reactors will file the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement with the Environmental Protection
Agency, which will then publish a notice in the Federal Register to
start the formal comment period.
DATES: Naval Reactors invites interested agencies, organizations, and
the general public to provide oral or written comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement. All written comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement are due by September 8, 1997. Comments
postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent
practicable. Oral comments will be accepted at two public hearings to
be held at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm on August 13, 1997 at the Town of Milton
Community Center at the address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Mr. A. S. Baitinger, Chief, West
Milton Field Office, Office of Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of
Energy, P.O. Box 1069, Schenectady, New York 12301; telephone (518)
884-1234. Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement may also
be requested from Mr. Baitinger. The public hearings will be held at
1:00 pm and 7:00 pm on August 13, 1997 at the Town of Milton Community
Center, 310 North Line Road, Ballston Spa, New York.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plants are located on the
Kesselring Site in West Milton, New York, approximately 17 miles north
of Schenectady. The S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plants first started
operation in 1958 and 1962, respectively, and served for more than 30
years as facilities for testing reactor plant components and equipment
and for training Naval personnel. As a result of the end of the Cold
War and the downsizing of the Navy, the S3G and D1G Prototype reactor
plants were shut down in May 1991 and March 1996, respectively. Since
then, the S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plants have been defueled,
drained, and placed in a stable protective storage condition. The
Kesselring Site will not be released for other uses in the foreseeable
future since two active prototype reactor plants continue to operate to
perform training of U.S. Navy personnel and testing of Naval nuclear
propulsion plant equipment.
Alternatives Considered
1. Prompt Dismantlement
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement identifies this as the
preferred alternative. If selected, this alternative would be subject
to the availability of appropriated funds. This alternative would
involve the prompt dismantlement of the S3G and D1G Prototype reactor
plants. All S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plant systems, components and
structures would be removed from the Kesselring Site. To the extent
practicable, the resulting low-level radioactive metals would be
recycled at existing commercial facilities that recycle radioactive
metals. The remaining low-level radioactive waste would be disposed of
at the DOE Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Savannah River
Site currently receives low-level radioactive waste
[[Page 39228]]
from Naval Reactors sites in the eastern United States. Both the volume
and radioactive content of the S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plant low-
level waste fall within the projections of Naval Reactors Program waste
provided to the Savannah River Site, which in turn are included in the
Savannah River Site Waste Management Final Environmental Impact
Statement dated July 1995. Transportation of low-level radioactive
waste to the DOE Hanford Site in Washington State is also evaluated.
2. Deferred Dismantlement
This alternative would involve keeping the defueled S3G and D1G
Prototype reactor plants in protective storage for 30 years before
dismantlement. Deferring dismantlement for 30 years would allow nearly
all of the cobalt-60 radioactivity to decay away. Nearly all of the
gamma radiation within the reactor plant comes from cobalt-60. The very
small amount of longer-lived radioisotopes, such as nickel-59, would
remain and would have to be attended to during dismantlement.
3. No Action
This alternative would involve keeping the defueled S3G and D1G
Prototype reactor plants in a protective storage condition
indefinitely. Since there is some residual radioactivity with long
half-lives, such as nickel-59, in the defueled reactor plants, this
alternative would leave this radioactivity at the Kesselring Site
indefinitely.
4. Other Alternatives Considered
Other alternatives include permanent on-site disposal. Such on-site
disposal could involve building an entombment structure over the S3G
and D1G Prototype reactor plants or developing a below-ground disposal
area at the Kesselring Site. Another alternative would be to remove the
S3G and D1G Prototype reactor plants as two large reactor compartment
packages for off-site disposal. Each of these alternatives was
considered but eliminated from detailed analysis.
Public Hearing
The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement. The meeting will be chaired by a
presiding officer and will not be conducted as an evidentiary hearing;
speakers will not be cross-examined, although the presiding officer and
Naval Reactors representatives present may ask clarifying questions of
those who provide oral comments. To ensure that everyone has an
adequate opportunity to speak, five minutes will be allotted for each
speaker. Depending on the number of persons requesting to speak, the
presiding officer may allow more time for elected officials, or
speakers representing multiple parties, or organizations. Persons
wishing to speak on behalf of organizations should identify the
organization. Persons wishing to speak may either notify Mr. Baitinger
in writing at the address below or register at the meeting. As time
permits, individuals who have spoken subject to the five minute rule
will be afforded additional speaking time. Written comments will also
be accepted at the meeting.
Availability of Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement are being
distributed to interested Federal, State, and local agencies, and to
individuals who have expressed interest. Copies of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement and its supporting references are
available for review at the Saratoga Springs Public Library at 49 Henry
Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, and at the Schenectady County
Public Library at 99 Clinton St, Schenectady, NY 12301. Copies of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement may be requested from Mr.
Baitinger at the above address or telephone number.
Issued at Arlington, VA this 16th day of July 1997.
F.L. Bowman,
Admiral, U.S. Navy, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 97-19204 Filed 7-21-97; 8:45 am]
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