[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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