[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8338-8339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4135]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation
of the Los Alamos National Laboratory
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of
the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for
Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)(DOE/
EIS-0238). The LANL SWEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts
of continuing to operate LANL and incorporates public comments received
on the Draft SWEIS. DOE's Preferred Alternative for LANL, as identified
in the Final SWEIS, is the Expanded Operations Alternative, with
plutonium pit production at a level of 20 pits a year in the near term
(versus 50-80 pits per year as identified in the Expanded Alternative
in the Draft SWEIS). The Final SWEIS also evaluates a No Action
Alternative, a Reduced Operations Alternative, and a ``Greener''
Alternative.
[[Page 8339]]
ADDRESSES: Written requests for copies of the Final SWEIS or requests
for information should be directed to: Mr. Corey Cruz, U.S. Department
of Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office, P.O. Box 5400, Albuquerque,
New Mexico, 87185-5400 or by calling (505) 845-4282.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOE has prepared this SWEIS pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For information on
DOE's NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director,
Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20585, 202-586-
4600 or 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LANL, located in north-central New Mexico,
is one of DOE's National Laboratories undertaking a variety of
research, development, and applications work in support of DOE
missions. The SWEIS analyzes four alternatives for the continued
operation of LANL. The No Action Alternative would continue operation
of LANL in accordance with existing plans. This alternative provides a
baseline against which the impacts of the other alternatives can be
compared. The Reduced Operations Alternative would reduce facility
operations currently ongoing or planned to the minimum levels necessary
to maintain the near term capability to perform work assigned to LANL.
The Expanded Operations Alternative would expand operations at LANL, as
the need arises, to the highest reasonably foreseeable levels
appropriate to implement mission elements assigned to LANL. The
``Greener'' Alternative would utilize the capabilities and competencies
at LANL with an emphasis on basic science, waste minimization and
treatment, dismantlement, non-proliferation, and other areas of
national and international importance. Weapons applications of LANL
capabilities would be at the Reduced Operations levels. DOE developed
this alternative after soliciting input from members of the public in
the communities surrounding LANL.
All four alternatives describe the impacts of manufacturing
plutonium triggers (known as ``pits'') for the United States nuclear
weapon stockpile. The alternatives analyzed a range of production
rates, including a maximum of 50 pits per year, single shift, 80 pits
per year multiple shifts, in the Expanded Operations Alternative. The
Expanded Operations Alternative also analyzed the expansion of the low-
level nuclear waste disposal site located in Technical Area-54 at LANL.
In the Draft SWEIS, the DOE's Preferred Alternative was the
Expanded Operations Alternative. In the Final SWEIS, the Expanded
Operations Alternative remains the Preferred Alternative except that
pit manufacturing would be implemented at a level of 20 pits per year
in the near term (before 2007). DOE has determined that additional
study of methods for implementing the 50 to 80 pits per year production
capacity is warranted.
The Final SWEIS incorporates comments received during the public
comment period from May 15, 1998 through July 15, 1998. The SWEIS is
available for public inspection at the following locations:
University of New Mexico, Government Document Collection, Zimmerman
Library, Main Campus, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1466, (505) 277-
5441
U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Reading Room, Room
1E-190, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20585, 202-586-6020
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Community Relations Office, 1619
Central Avenue, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, (505) 665-4400, toll free
1-800-508-4400
Subsequent Document Preparation: DOE intends to issue a Record of
Decision no earlier than 30 days following publication in the Federal
Register of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of
Availability of the Final SWEIS. DOE will publish the Record of
Decision in the Federal Register.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 11, 1999.
John C. Ordaz,
Program Manager LANL SWEIS, Defense Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-4135 Filed 2-18-99; 8:45 am]
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