[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 213 (Wednesday, November 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 59551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29529]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed Production of 
Plutonium-238 for Use in Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems for Future 
Space Missions

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: DOE is extending the public scoping period on the 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Proposed Production of 
Plutonium-238 for Use in Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems for Future 
Space Missions from November 4, 1998, to January 4, 1999. DOE is also 
changing the toll-free telephone number from (800) 708-2680 to (877) 
562-4593 and establishing a fax number, (877) 562-4592, that the 
members of public can use to submit their comments. Since the 
publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI), DOE has established the 
dates and locations for the public scoping meetings and is publishing 
them in this notice.
    DOE will also announce the dates and locations of these meetings in 
the local media at least 15 days prior to the meetings.

DATES: Comments on the scope of the EIS should be postmarked by January 
4, 1999, to ensure consideration. Comments postmarked after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.
    DOE will conduct public scoping meetings to assist in defining the 
appropriate scope of the EIS and to identify significant environmental 
issues to be addressed. These meetings will be held at the following 
locations and times:
     November 12, 1998, Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsey Blvd., Idaho 
Falls, Idaho
     November 17, 1998, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 
Pollard Auditorium, 210 Badger Ave., Oak Ridge, Tennessee
     November 19, 1998, Best Western Tower Inn, 1515 George 
Washington Way, Richland, Washington
    The schedule for all three meetings will be the same. They will 
begin at 5:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. Written comments may be 
submitted at the meetings or by mail to Ms. Colette Brown at the 
address identified below. If the comments are mailed, they should be 
postmarked by January 4, 1999, to ensure consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this EIS, 
please contact Colette Brown, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and 
Technology (NE-50), U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, 
Germantown, MD 20874. Telephone: (301) 903-6924, Facsimile: (301) 903-
1510, Electronic Mail: [email protected]. For further 
information on DOE procedures for implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, 
Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20582-0119, 
Telephone: (202) 586-4600 or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 5, 1998, DOE published a notice 
in the Federal Register (63 FR 53398) announcing its intent to prepare 
an EIS on the proposed production of plutonium-238 for use in advanced 
radioisotope power systems for future space missions. In that notice, 
DOE indicated that the public scoping meetings would be announced at a 
later time. Because the scoping meetings could not be scheduled within 
the public comment period established by the original notice, the 
comment period has been extended to January 4, 1999. Comments should be 
postmarked by that date to ensure consideration.
    To provide an additional method for submitting comments on the 
scope of the EIS and to correct a mistake in the original notice, DOE 
is adding a fax number and changing the toll-free telephone number. The 
toll-free telephone number has been changed to (877) 562-4593. The new 
fax number to be used to submit comments on the scope of the EIS is 
(877) 562-4592.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 29th day of October 1998, for the 
U.S. Department of Energy.
William D. Magwood, IV,
Acting Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 98-29529 Filed 11-3-98; 8:45 am]
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