[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46006-46009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23264]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement on Management of Certain Plutonium Residues and Scrub Alloy
Stored at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
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 on Management of Certain
Plutonium Residues and Scrub Alloy Stored at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site (DOE/EIS-0277F, August 1998). The Final
EIS analyzes reasonable alternatives for the management of certain
plutonium residues and all of the scrub alloy at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site (Rocky Flats) near Golden, Colorado.
Plutonium residues and scrub alloy are materials that were generated
while processing plutonium during the manufacture of components for
nuclear weapons. The Final EIS analyzes processing technologies for
various material categories of residues (e.g., ash, salts, fluorides)
and the scrub alloy. Processing of these materials is needed to address
health and safety issues associated with their continued storage and to
prepare them for disposal or other disposition. DOE has prepared this
Final EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), in accordance with the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA
(40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and the DOE NEPA implementing regulations (10
CFR Part 1021).
DOE analyzed four alternatives, in addition to the Preferred
Alternative, for each of the categories of Rocky Flats plutonium
residues and scrub alloy. The Final EIS identifies the rationale for
identifying the treatment technologies as preferred.
All of the alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS were either
analyzed in the Draft EIS or are composed of elements of alternatives
analyzed in the Draft EIS, with the exception of two new candidate
processing technologies similar to technologies analyzed in the Draft
EIS. Nevertheless, because certain
[[Page 46007]]
alternatives were not presented to the public in the form in which they
appear in this Final EIS, and in furtherance of public involvement in
the NEPA process, DOE has decided to issue phased Records of Decision
for this Final EIS. The first Record of Decision will cover only those
materials for which the preferred processing technology was analyzed in
the Draft EIS, and for which any variances to safeguards termination
limits discussed in the Draft EIS had already been granted. The first
Record of Decision will be issued no sooner than 30 days after issuance
of the Final EIS. The second Record of Decision will cover the
remaining materials within the scope of the EIS (e.g., as discussed in
Section 1.4.2 of the Final EIS). Prior to issuing the second Record of
Decision, DOE is providing a 45-day comment period that begins with
publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of
Availability regarding this Final EIS as discussed in the Dates section
below, and will resolve any comments received.
The Final EIS is available to the public in the public reading
rooms listed below in the ``Availability of Copies of the Final EIS''
section of this Notice. The Final EIS is also available by mail upon
request by contacting the Center for Environmental Management
Information as specified under ADDRESSES below.
DATES: The public is invited to comment on the processing technologies
for a subset of the plutonium residue material categories addressed by
the Final EIS, as specified in Section 1.4.2 of the Final EIS. The
public comment period begins with publication of the Environmental
Protection Agency's Notice of Availability regarding this Final EIS in
the Federal Register (August 28, 1998), and continues through October
12, 1998. All comments received by October 12, 1998, will be considered
when preparing the second Record of Decision or taking other actions in
response to the comments. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be considered to the degree practical.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Final EIS should be directed to:
Center for Environmental Management Information, P.O. Box 23769,
Washington, DC 20026-3769.
Copies may also be requested by calling 1-800-736-3282 (or 202-863-
5084 in Washington, DC).
Written comments on the Final EIS may be submitted to the following
address: Mr. Charles R. Head, Senior Technical Advisor, Office of
Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization (EM-60), Environmental
Management, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, DC 20585-0001.
Written comments may also be submitted electronically as follows:
Via E-Mail to [email protected], or Via facsimile to Mr. Charles R.
Head at (202) 586-5393.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the Final
EIS, please contact Mr. Charles R. Head at the address specified above.
For general information on the DOE NEPA process, please write or
call: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and
Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: 202-586-4600, or leave a
message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Final EIS, DOE analyzes processing
certain plutonium-bearing materials being stored at Rocky Flats near
Golden, Colorado. These materials are plutonium residues and scrub
alloy remaining from nuclear weapons manufacturing operations formerly
conducted by DOE at this site. In their present forms, these materials
cannot be disposed of or otherwise be prepared for final disposition
because they contain plutonium in concentrations exceeding DOE
safeguards termination requirements. The term ``safeguards'' refers to
those measures (e.g., recordkeeping, monitoring, and physical
protection) that DOE and other organizations holding nuclear materials
must take to ensure that the materials are not stolen or diverted for
illicit purposes.
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has raised health and
safety concerns regarding the current storage of plutonium residues and
scrub alloy at Rocky Flats. The proposed processing will address the
concerns raised by the Board and also will prepare the plutonium
residues and scrub alloy for disposal or other disposition.
Alternatives
DOE has identified and assessed the following alternatives for
processing these plutonium-bearing materials:
1. Alternative 1 (No Action--Stabilize and Store). This alternative
consists of stabilization or repackaging to prepare the material for
interim storage as described in the Rocky Flats Solid Residue
Environmental Assessment (Solid Residue Treatment, Repackaging, and
Storage Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact, DOE/
EA-1120, Rocky Flats Field Office, April 1996). Under this alternative,
further processing to prepare the material for disposal or other
disposition would not occur. Because scrub alloy was not addressed in
the Rocky Flats Solid Residue Environmental Assessment, the ``No
Action'' alternative for scrub alloy has been defined as continued
storage at Rocky Flats with repackaging, as necessary. Under this
alternative, approximately 40 percent of the Rocky Flats plutonium
residues and all of Rocky Flats scrub alloy would be left in forms that
would not meet the requirements for termination of safeguards, making
these materials ineligible for disposal. Thus, while implementation of
this alternative would address the immediate health and safety concerns
associated with near-term storage of the materials, the health and
safety risks associated with potential long-term storage of these
materials would remain.
2. Alternative 2 (Processing Without Plutonium Separation).
Processing to prepare the material for disposal as transuranic waste or
for other disposition (i.e., meet safeguards termination limits).
Processing technologies evaluated include immobilization and dilution,
with all processing taking place at Rocky Flats.
3. Alternative 3 (Processing With Plutonium Separation). This
alternative would include use of various plutonium separation
technologies, such as Purex, acid dissolution/plutonium oxide recovery,
salt distillation, water leach, and others. On-site processing is
evaluated at Rocky Flats for most of the residues and scrub alloy; off-
site processing is evaluated at the Savannah River Site for certain
types of residues and the scrub alloy and the Los Alamos National
Laboratory for certain salt residues only. The separated plutonium
would be placed into safe and secure storage at the processing site
pending disposition. The wastes left after separation of the plutonium
would be disposed of.
4. Alternative 4 (Combination of Processing Technologies). This
alternative would include processing technologies that stabilize and
blend down the residues, as necessary, so that the concentration of
plutonium in the residues would be less than 10 percent. These residues
would then be repackaged in preparation for disposal. Due to the
relatively higher concentration of plutonium in the scrub alloy, no
processing technology for scrub alloy was analyzed under this
alternative. All processing under this alternative would be done at
Rocky Flats.
[[Page 46008]]
Alternative 4 would also require that a variance to safeguards
termination limits be applied for any residues that would be sent to
the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) for disposal because the
residues would contain plutonium concentrations exceeding DOE
safeguards termination limits. The variance is based on the combination
of processing method, the waste management controls in place for normal
handling of transuranic waste, and the limited quantity of special
nuclear materials present at any particular place and time.
5. Preferred Alternative Identified in the Final EIS. DOE has
identified preferred processing technologies (collectively referred to
as the Preferred Alternative) for each of the categories of Rocky Flats
plutonium residues and scrub alloy. Under the Preferred Alternative,
all materials would be processed at Rocky Flats except for sand, slag,
and crucible; certain direct oxide reduction salts; fluoride residues;
and scrub alloy. The salts would be processed at Los Alamos National
Laboratory. The sand, slag and crucible; fluoride residues; and scrub
alloy would be processed at the Savannah River Site. The Final EIS
identifies the rationale for identifying the treatment technologies as
preferred.
Public Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Copies of the Draft EIS and/or the Summary were mailed to over
1,000 individuals and organizations. The public comment period was held
from November 25, 1997, to January 5, 1998. However, DOE continued to
consider and accept comments received after the closing date. Written
submissions were received from 39 individuals and organizations,
generating about 200 comments. DOE held three public hearings at the
potentially affected sites, attended by a total of approximately 50
people. These meetings generated about 40 questions and comments.
Chapter 9 of the Final EIS provides the Department's responses to the
comments received. Most commentors commented on the alternatives and
technical processes, the analyses presented in the EIS, and concerns
such as storage, ultimate disposition, proliferation risks,
transportation, environmental, safety and health risks, and costs.
Process and Schedule for Decisions
All of the alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS were either
analyzed in the Draft EIS or are composed of elements of alternatives
analyzed in the Draft EIS, with the exception of two new candidate
processing technologies similar to technologies analyzed in the Draft
EIS. Nevertheless, because certain alternatives were not presented to
the public in the form in which they appear in this Final EIS, and in
furtherance of public involvement in the NEPA process, DOE has decided
to issue phased Records of Decision for this Final EIS. The first
Record of Decision will cover only those materials for which the
preferred processing technology was analyzed in the Draft EIS, and for
which any variances to safeguards termination limits discussed in the
Draft EIS had already been granted (e.g., sand, slag, and crucible
residues, low plutonium concentration direct oxide reduction salt
residues, combustible residues, plutonium fluoride residues, Ful Flo
filter media residues, glass residues, graphite residues, and inorganic
residues, and the scrub alloy). The first Record of Decision will be
issued no sooner than 30 days after issuance of the Final EIS. The
second Record of Decision will cover the remaining materials within the
scope of the EIS (e.g., incinerator ash residues, graphite fines
residues, inorganic ash residues, molten salt extraction/
electrorefining salt residues, high plutonium concentration direct
oxide reduction salt residues, HEPA filter media residues, and sludge
residues). Prior to issuing the second Record of Decision, DOE is
providing a 45-day comment period and will resolve any comments
received.
Availability of Copies of the Final EIS
The Final EIS has been distributed to interested Federal, State,
and local agencies, and to individuals and organizations who have
expressed an interest. Copies of the Final EIS are available for review
in the following public reading rooms:
Simi Valley Public Library, 2629 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA
93063
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, East Gate Visitors Center,
Greenville Road, Livermore, CA 94550
CSU Northridge/Oviatt Library, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA
91330
U.S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay
Street, Room EIC, 8th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Platt Brand Public Library, 23600 Victory Boulevard, Woodland Hills,
CA 91367
U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, Public Reading Room,
14869 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Records Center, 999
18th Street, Floor 5, Denver, CO 80202
Rocky Flats Citizens Advisory Board, Public Reading Room, 9035
Wadsworth Avenue, Suite 2250, Westminster, CO 80021
Standley Lake Public Reading Room, 8485 Kipling Street, Arvada, CO
80005
Rocky Flats Public Reading Room, Front Range Community College
Library, 3645 W. 112th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80030
University of Colorado Libraries, Government Publications, Campus
Box 184, Boulder, CO 80309
Colorado Department of Public Health, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South,
Denver, CO 80222
Colorado School of Mines, Arthur Lakes Library, 1400 Illinois
Street, P.O. Box 4029, Golden, CO 80401
Colorado State University, Library Documents Department, Ft.
Collins, CO 80523
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, FOI Room,
1E-190, Forrestal Bldg., Washington, DC 20585
Pullen Public Library, 100 Decatur Street, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Chatham Effingham Library, 2002 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31499
Reese Library, Augusta College, 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904
Georgia Institute of Technology, Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30332
Argonne National Laboratory, Technical Library, P.O. Box 2528, Idaho
Falls, ID 83403
University of Illinois at Chicago, U.S. DOE Public Documents Room,
801 S. Morgan Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607
East St. Louis Public Library, Dr. Ram Chauhan, 405 North 9th
Street, East St. Louis, IL 62201
Lincoln Library, Reference Department, 326 South 7th Street,
Springfield, IL 62701
Salina Public Library, Marc Boucher, Reference Librarian, 301 West
Elm, Salina, KS 67401
Washburn Law Library, 1700 College, Topeka, KS 66621
Paducah Public Library, 555 Washington Street, Paducah, KY 42001
U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Information Center, 175
Freedom Boulevard, Kevil, KY 42053
Mid Continent Public Library, Blue Ridge Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge
Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64138
St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Scenic Regional Library, 308 Hawthorn Drive, Union, MO 63084
Los Alamos Community Reading Room, 1350 Central Avenue, Suite 101,
Los Alamos, NM 87544
U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office, National
Atomic Museum, 20358 Wyoming Boulevard SE, Kirtland Air Force Base,
P.O. Box 5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185
U.S. Department of Energy, FOIA Reading Room, 4700 Morris NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87111
U.S. Department of Energy, Technical Vocational Institute, Main
Campus Library, 525 Buena Vista SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
New Mexico State Library, 325 Don Gasper, Santa Fe, NM 87503
U.S. Department of Energy, Gregg Graniteville Library, 171
University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801
County Library, 404 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403
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South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, P.O. Box 11469
Orangeburg County Free Library, 510 Louis Street NE, P.O. Box 1367,
Orangeburg, SC 29116
Lawson McGhee Public Library, 500 West Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN
37902
Nashville Public Library, 225 Polk Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Oak Ridge Operations
Office, 55 Jefferson Circle, Room 1123, Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Copies of the Final EIS can also be obtained by contacting the
Center for Environmental Management Information at the address, or via
the telephone numbers, listed earlier in this Notice under Addresses.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on August 25, 1998.
David G. Huizenga,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Material and Facility
Stabilization, Office of Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 98-23264 Filed 8-26-98; 8:55 am]
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