[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50064-50071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24086]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Accomplishing 
Expanded Civilian Nuclear Energy Research and Development and Isotope 
Production Missions in the United States, Including the Role of the 
Fast Flux Test Facility (DOE/EIS-0310)

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: DOE's civilian nuclear research and isotope production 
infrastructure has diminished significantly since the early 1990s. As a 
result, DOE is no longer able to accommodate new and expanding missions 
for nuclear research and development and isotope production. The 
Department does not have sufficient steady-state neutron resources to 
meet all of its projected irradiation needs for: (1) The production of 
isotopes for medical and industrial uses, (2) the production of 
plutonium-238 for use in advanced radioisotope power systems for future 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space missions, 
and 3) the Nation's nuclear research and development needs.
    Therefore, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Secretary of Energy recently announced DOE's intent to 
prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) on 
accomplishing these new missions through the proposed enhancement of 
the existing infrastructure, including the possible role of the Fast 
Flux Test Facility (FFTF), located at DOE's

[[Page 50065]]

Hanford Site near Richland, Washington.
    This PEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts of 
alternative ways to meet the projected irradiation needs for the next 
35 years by enhancing the existing infrastructure as follows: (1) 
Resuming FFTF operation, (2) constructing and operating a research 
reactor at a generic DOE site, and (3) constructing and operating one 
or more neutron accelerators at a generic DOE site. In addition, the 
PEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts of meeting the 
projected mission needs to the extent possible using existing reactor 
and neutron accelerator facilities.
    The FFTF, DOE's largest operable reactor, is currently maintained 
in a standby mode with no fuel in the reactor vessel. The PEIS will 
include sufficient project-specific analyses of the FFTF to enable DOE 
to support a restart decision. In addition, since DOE may decide not to 
restart FFTF to meet the projected irradiation needs evaluated in this 
PEIS, the environmental impacts of deactivating the FFTF reactor will 
also be analyzed.
    Consistent with the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA 
regulations, a No Action alternative, i.e., maintaining the status quo, 
will be evaluated in this PEIS. Under No Action, DOE would continue to 
rely on the existing infrastructure for production of isotopes and 
nuclear research and development within the current operating envelope. 
No domestic capability to produce plutonium-238 for future space 
missions would be established.
    DOE is now canceling the Plutonium-238 Production EIS, announced in 
the Federal Register on October 5, 1998 (63 FR 53398) and integrating 
the plutonium-238 production analyses into this PEIS. All oral and 
written comments received by DOE on the proposed scope of the 
Plutonium-238 Production EIS will be considered in preparing this PEIS.
    DOE invites individuals, organizations, and agencies to submit oral 
and/or written comments regarding the scope of this PEIS, including the 
environmental issues and alternatives that the PEIS should analyze.

DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this 
Notice in the Federal Register and will continue until October 31, 
1999. Comments submitted by mail, facsimile (FAX), electronic mail (e-
mail), or telephone will be considered in preparation of this PEIS. 
Comments received after this date will be considered to the extent 
practicable. DOE will conduct public scoping meetings to assist in 
defining the scope of this PEIS including the significant environmental 
issues to be addressed. DOE will hold scoping meetings in Seattle and 
Richland, Washington; Portland and Hood River, Oregon; Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and in the Washington D.C. area. The 
dates, times, and locations of these meetings are as follows:

 Oak Ridge, Tennessee, October 13, 1999, registration at 6 
p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the American Museum of Science & 
Energy, 300 South Tulane Avenue
 Idaho Falls, Idaho, October 15, 1999, registration beginning 
at 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay 
Boulevard
 Seattle, Washington, October 18, 1999, registration beginning 
at 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the Seattle Center, 305 Harrison 
Street
 Portland, Oregon, October 19, 1999, registration beginning at 
6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the Marriott Hotel-Downtown 
Portland, 1401 SW Front Avenue
 Hood River, Oregon, October 20, 1999, registration beginning 
at 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the Hood River Inn, 1108 E. 
Marina Way
 Richland, Washington, October 21, 1999, registration beginning 
at 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m., at the Best Western Tower Inn & 
Conference Center, 1515 George Washington Way
 Arlington, Virginia, October 26, 1999, registration beginning 
at 2 p.m., presentation at 2:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Crystal 
City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the PEIS, requests to speak 
at the public scoping meetings, requests for special arrangements to 
enable participation at the meetings (e.g., interpreter for the 
hearing-impaired), and questions concerning the project review, should 
be addressed to the DOE NEPA Document Manager: Ms. Colette E. Brown, 
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE-50), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874.
    Electronic mail (e-mail): [email protected]; 
toll-free facsimile (FAX): 1-877-562-4592; or leave a message, toll-
free, at telephone number 1-877-562-4593.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request information about this 
PEIS, or to be placed on the PEIS document distribution list, contact 
Colette E. Brown at the above mailing/e-mail addresses or toll-free 
telephone/FAX numbers. For general information on the DOE NEPA process, 
please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy 
and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue S.W., Washington, DC 20585-0119.
    Telephone: 202-586-4600 or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Agency Action

    DOE recognizes that increased nuclear research, technology 
development, and educational programs are essential to support national 
nuclear energy programs and international collaboration. DOE believes 
that the availability of nuclear research reactor and accelerator 
facilities is necessary to implement a successful nuclear energy 
program. Under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended, DOE is responsible for serving the national need for a 
reliable supply of isotope products and services for medicine, 
industry, research, and space exploration. An adequate nuclear research 
and isotope production facility infrastructure is needed to continue 
these national services into the future at projected increased demand 
levels.
    DOE's nuclear technology infrastructure is dwindling while the 
demand for steady-state neutron sources continues to increase to 
explore the use of nuclear science for analyzing and testing materials, 
nuclear fuels, electronic circuits, and other components; creating 
isotopes required by medical clinicians, researchers, government, and 
industry for a wide range of applications; and to produce plutonium-238 
required to power deep space probes. Current supplies of isotopes are 
limited and the demand is projected to increase dramatically, 
particularly as research points toward additional medical applications 
for many radioisotopes . Resuming operations at the FFTF, building a 
new research reactor, or building new accelerator facilities, in 
conjunction with the existing DOE neutron sources, would provide 
adequate neutron source capacity to serve the nation's foreseeable 
nuclear research and development and isotope production needs. 
Therefore, DOE is proceeding with a NEPA evaluation (i.e., a 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, [PEIS]) of potential 
enhancement to the nation's nuclear research and technology 
infrastructure to assure that the United States can support future 
nuclear research and isotope production activities.

[[Page 50066]]

    This PEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts 
resulting from accomplishing these new nuclear research and development 
and isotope production missions with (1) The existing operational DOE 
infrastructure; (2) the existing operational DOE infrastructure 
supplemented by the operation of the FFTF; (3) the existing operational 
DOE infrastructure supplemented by the construction and operation of a 
research reactor and supporting facilities at a generic DOE site; and 
(4) the existing operational DOE infrastructure supplemented by the 
construction and operation of one or more neutron-producing 
accelerators and supporting facilities at a generic DOE site. Impacts 
from the No Action alternative, as discussed below, will also be 
analyzed.

Background

    DOE's nuclear research and isotope production infrastructure has 
diminished significantly since the early 1990s. The Department does not 
have sufficient steady-state neutron sources to meet all of its 
projected irradiation needs for: (1) The production of isotopes for 
medical and industrial uses, (2) the production of plutonium-238 for 
use in advanced radioisotope power systems for future NASA space 
missions, and (3) the Nation's nuclear research and development needs. 
On August 18, 1999, the Secretary of Energy announced DOE's intent to 
prepare a PEIS on accomplishing these new and expanded missions through 
the proposed enhancements of the existing infrastructure, including the 
possible role of the FFTF.
    FFTF, the largest research reactor in the world, is a sodium-cooled 
research reactor located in the 400 Area of the Hanford Site, near the 
City of Richland, in southeastern Washington State. FFTF is currently 
defueled and usable fuel is stored on site in sodium fuel storage pools 
or in the secure vault at the Plutonium Finishing Plant at the Hanford 
Site. The reactor is in standby mode with the main cooling system 
operating at approximately 200 deg.C (400 deg.F), to keep the sodium 
coolant liquid and circulating. Essential systems, staffing, and 
support services are being maintained in a manner that will support 
either timely deactivation of the reactor or its restart. With minor 
modification, (e.g., the installation of a system to insert and remove 
irradiation targets while at power), the FFTF is capable of 
accomplishing new and expanded mission requirements discussed above.
    Alternatively, all or most of the new and expanded mission 
requirements can be achieved by the addition of a new research reactor 
or new neutron-producing accelerators to the existing infrastructure. 
The environmental impacts of the proposed new facilities (including 
support facilities) will be analyzed at a generic DOE site.
    The Department does not have sufficient steady-state neutron 
generation capacity to meet all of the projected needs without 
impacting current missions at existing operating facilities. However, 
some of the mission objectives can be achieved with surplus capacity 
available at these existing operating facilities. The plutonium-238 
mission objectives could be achieved at existing DOE research reactors 
or commercial light water reactor (CLWR) facilities. Surplus capacity 
exists at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National 
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and at the High Flux Isotope 
Reactor (HFIR) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Implementation of 
plutonium-238 production at ATR and HFIR would consume nearly all of 
the available surplus capacity. Surplus capacity in these facilities 
and existing neutron-producing accelerators could be used to support 
medical and industrial isotope production and nuclear research and 
development missions to the extent possible without impacting existing 
missions. CLWRs cannot support most isotope production and research and 
development mission objectives without significantly impacting their 
primary mission, the production of electrical power. CLWRs were 
therefore dropped from further consideration for these missions.
    This PEIS will analyze the environmental impacts of operating 
existing and new steady-state irradiation facilities, including both 
reactors and neutron accelerators, and existing and new support 
processing facilities to meet the mission objectives. In evaluating 
these alternatives the Department assumes:
    (1) None of these proposed missions is defense-related; and
    (2) The mission activities currently pursued at existing facilities 
(i.e., isotope production, nuclear research, etc.) are not changed in 
any of the alternatives.
    Following is a brief discussion of the proposed new and expanded 
mission areas:

(1) Medical and Industrial Isotope Production

    Medical isotopes are produced in the United States by the 
Department of Energy in nuclear accelerators and reactors, and by 
extracting them from existing radioactive materials. These isotopes can 
be used for diagnosis or therapy. Diagnostic isotopes are used for 
imaging internal organs. Unlike conventional radiology, imaging with 
radioisotopes reveals organ function and structure, providing more 
accurate diagnostics data and early detection of abnormalities. In 
ongoing clinical testing, therapeutic isotopes have proven effective in 
the treatment of cancer and other illnesses by cell-directed localized 
radiation therapy (i.e., deploying antibodies or carriers of 
radioisotopes to seek and destroy invasive cancer cells). This directed 
therapy can minimize adverse side effects (e.g., healthy tissue damage, 
nausea, hair loss) making it an effective and attractive alternative to 
traditional chemotherapy or radiation treatments. An Expert Panel 
convened by the Department last year reviewed several industry 
projections relating to the future demand growth of medical isotopes. 
The Expert Panel believes that the growth rate of medical isotope usage 
could be significant over the next 20 years.
    Industrial applications of radioisotopes fall into three broad 
categories, including nucleonic instrumentation, irradiation and 
radiation processing, and technologies that use radioactive tracers. 
Examples of nucleonic instrumentation include gauges for measuring 
physical parameters, such as: detection systems for pollutants, 
explosives, drugs, ores, petroleum, and natural gases; nondestructive 
testing by gamma radiography; and smoke detectors. Irradiation and 
radiation processing technologies include radiation sterilization of 
food and medical products, and the curing of plastics. Radioactive 
tracer applications include studies on chemical synthesis reactions; 
monitoring of mass transfer in industrial plants; analysis of transport 
and uptake of nutrients, fertilizers, herbicides, and waste materials 
in plants, soil, and groundwater; and laboratory-based studies on the 
properties of materials.
    In supporting these mission activities, the Department does not 
expect to engage the commercial market itself. Rather, consistent with 
current isotope activities, the Department will work with the private 
sector to support private sector production and sale of isotopes. The 
Department prefers to provide irradiation services for the private 
sector using an appropriate fee structure and allow the private sector 
to take responsibility for producing and processing targets.

[[Page 50067]]

(2) Plutonium-238 Production

    Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, DOE and its 
predecessor agencies have been developing radioisotope power systems 
and radioisotope heater units and supplying them to the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for more than 30 years. The 
radioisotope used in these systems is plutonium-238. These systems have 
repeatedly demonstrated their value as enabling technologies in various 
NASA missions. DOE has projected that over the next 20 to 35 years, 
NASA will continue to conduct missions that require or would be enabled 
or enhanced by radioisotope power systems fueled with plutonium-238.
    Under the National Space Policy issued by the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy in September 1996, and in accordance with its nuclear 
charter under the Atomic Energy Act, as amended, DOE has responsibility 
to assure that it maintains the capability to provide the nuclear 
infrastructure, including the plutonium-238, needed to support these 
missions. The Intersector Guidelines section of the National Space 
Policy state that ``The Department of Energy will maintain the 
necessary capability to support space missions which may require the 
use of space nuclear power systems.'' DOE has estimated that up to 5 
kilograms per year of plutonium-238 is required to support NASA 
requirements for future space missions.
    Historically, the reactors and chemical processing facilities at 
DOE's Savannah River Site (SRS) were used to produce plutonium-238 by 
the irradiation of targets containing neptunium-237. The irradiated 
targets were moved from the reactor site to a chemical processing 
facility where the targets were processed and the plutonium-238 was 
recovered as an oxide powder. The remaining neptunium-237 was recovered 
for recycling into additional targets. The plutonium-238 oxide powder 
was then shipped to facilities for producing pellets that were in turn 
shipped to another DOE site to make the radioisotope power systems. As 
a result of the downsizing of the DOE nuclear weapons complex at the 
end of the Cold War, the reactors used to produce plutonium-238 at SRS 
were shut down. The radiochemical processing facilities at SRS are also 
planned to be shut down in the near future after existing supplies of 
radioactive materials no longer needed to support DOE's missions have 
been processed into a form suitable for long-term storage or disposal.
    In 1992, DOE signed a contract to purchase plutonium-238 from 
Russia allowing the U.S. to purchase up to 40 kilograms of plutonium-
238. Under this contract, DOE has purchased 9 kilograms of plutonium-
238, and in 1997, extended the contract for another five years. This 
option, therefore, continues to be viable until at least 2002. However, 
the long-term viability of this option is unclear once the end of the 
current contract is reached. The political and economic climate in 
Russia creates uncertainties about the reliability of this source of 
plutonium-238 to satisfy future NASA space mission requirements. 
Moreover, limited information exists regarding the extent of the 
Russian supply, Russian plans on how they would satisfy future demand, 
and nuclear safety and nonproliferation implications of Russian 
production methods. Therefore, DOE proposes to reestablish a reliable 
domestic capability for producing and processing plutonium-238 to 
satisfy these foreseeable space mission requirements. Since the 
facilities previously used at SRS are no longer available for the 
production of plutonium-238, DOE needs to evaluate other existing DOE 
and commercial light water reactors and chemical processing facilities 
for target irradiation and separation of plutonium-238. The 
environmental impacts of purchasing plutonium-238 from Russia are 
evaluated and documented in the Environmental Assessment of the Import 
of Russian Plutonium-238 (DOE/EA-0841, June 1993), prepared by DOE's 
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
    On October 5, 1998, DOE published a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 53398) to prepare an EIS on the proposed production of 
plutonium-238 for use in advanced radioisotope power systems for future 
space missions. Since then, DOE has been preparing the draft EIS, 
giving consideration to the numerous comments submitted by the public 
during the scoping period last fall. During the public scoping of this 
EIS, DOE announced that FFTF would not be considered a reasonable 
alternative for that mission unless the facility was proposed to be 
restarted for other reasons. With the Secretary's recent announcement 
to prepare a PEIS which includes the possible restart of FFTF, the 
scope of the Plutonium-238 Production EIS has been consolidated into 
the scope of this PEIS. This PEIS will include the environmental 
impacts of re-establishing a domestic plutonium-238 production 
capability for future space missions. The Plutonium-238 Production EIS 
has been terminated as a separate NEPA review. However, all comments 
and input received from the public during the scoping period will be 
considered in the preparation of the draft PEIS to be prepared pursuant 
to this Notice.

(3) Support of Nuclear Research and Development

    Materials Testing: Researchers from many different countries have 
used DOE's high flux research reactor facilities for nuclear materials 
testing and fuels research. These facilities, with the capability to 
maintain a high density of neutrons in a given test volume for 
materials testing, shorten the time needed for such testing, tailor the 
flux to simulate different reactors and reactor conditions, and 
instrument the core for close monitoring of tests. There is particular 
interest in materials testing related to commercial nuclear power plant 
license renewal, cooperative international fusion energy, space power 
technology, and transmutation of wastes as a means to destroy long-
lived isotopes from commercial spent nuclear fuel. Activities 
considered within the scope of this PEIS will include those arising 
from international cooperation.
    Nonproliferation Programs: Since October 1976, when President 
Gerald Ford issued a Nuclear Policy Statement prohibiting the export of 
reprocessing and other nuclear technologies that could contribute to 
proliferation of fissile materials, all U.S. Administrations have 
adopted policies aimed at minimizing the prospects that civilian 
plutonium separation would be adopted in other countries. At the same 
time, the U.S. has refrained from the commercial development of 
reprocessing and plutonium separation technologies. The U.S. policy is 
to advance global non-proliferation technology, while at the same time 
supporting the development of advanced, ultra-high burnup nuclear 
fuels. DOE's high flux research reactor facilities are ideally suited 
for the study, research, testing, development, and demonstration of 
technologies necessary to safely convert plutonium-based materials for 
disposition and use as proliferation-resistant fuels.

Alternatives To Be Evaluated

    This PEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts of using 
irradiation and processing facilities to meet projected irradiation 
service mission needs for 35 years, i.e., (1) production of isotopes 
for medical and industrial uses, (2) production of up to five kilograms 
per year of plutonium-238 for use in advanced radioisotope

[[Page 50068]]

power systems for future NASA space missions, and (3) to support the 
Nation's nuclear research and development needs. This PEIS will not re-
examine current missions conducted at existing, operating facilities, 
but rather assumes that these current activities will continue while 
new or expanded missions are pursued.
    When applicable, the impacts of transporting radioactive feedstock 
material to the processing facility for storage, transporting 
radioactive material between the irradiation facility and the 
processing facility, and transporting the product to the user will be 
analyzed in this PEIS.

No Action

    Under this alternative, DOE would maintain the status quo. The 
Department would not restart the FFTF and would maintain it in a 
standby mode. Production of isotopes for medical and industrial uses 
and existing irradiation services missions currently conducted at 
operating facilities would continue within the existing mission 
envelope. No domestic capability to produce plutonium-238 would be 
established. DOE would rely on its remaining inventory of plutonium-238 
inventory to meet the power requirements of near-term space missions 
and would seek to negotiate for additional purchases from Russia to 
enable future space missions. The PEIS would evaluate two scenarios 
with respect to the neptunium-237 currently stored at the Savannah 
River Site: (a) The neptunium-237 aqueous nitrate solution stored at 
the Savannah River Site would be converted to a solid form suitable for 
disposal as evaluated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
Interim Management of Nuclear Materials, Savannah River Site (DOE/EIS-
0220, October 1995); or (b) the neptunium-237, converted to an oxide 
form, would be transferred from the Savannah River Site to a new 
storage site to maintain a future option to produce plutonium-238. The 
three alternative facilities for the storage of the neptunium-237 are 
the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center in Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee; the Fluorinel Dissolution Process Facility near Idaho Falls, 
Idaho; and the Fuels and Materials Examination Facility in Hanford, 
Washington. The impacts of transporting neptunium-237 to the candidate 
storage facilities from the Savannah River Site will be evaluated.

Alternative 1--Restart FFTF

    Under this alternative, the PEIS will analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of resuming operation of FFTF to accomplish the 
identified missions. The FFTF is designed to operate at a maximum power 
level of 400 megawatts, but can achieve all the projected new and 
expanded mission requirements anticipated under this PEIS while 
operating at the 100 megawatt power level. This PEIS will analyze the 
FFTF for operations at the 100 megawatt power level. The FFTF has an 
onsite supply of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel (i.e., plutonium-uranium) to 
support approximately 6 years of operation at the 100 megawatt level. 
When the onsite fuel is depleted the FFTF may continue to use MOX fuel 
or switch to a reactor core of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel. The 
Department believes that an additional 15-year supply of MOX fuel is 
available from Germany under very favorable terms (i.e., no charge for 
the fuel). This PEIS will evaluate 35 years of FFTF operation for two 
reactor core configurations: (1) MOX core for approximately 21 years 
followed by 14 years of operation with a HEU core, and (2) MOX core for 
approximately 6 years followed by 29 years of operation with a HEU 
core. The impacts of spent fuel produced by FFTF operation and for 
transporting German fuel to FFTF will be evaluated in the PEIS. The 
PEIS will include sufficient project-specific analyses of the FFTF to 
enable DOE to support a restart decision.
    This PEIS will also analyze the impacts of performing medical, 
industrial, and plutonium-238 isotope processing operations associated 
with the identified missions in hot cell facilities in the DOE complex. 
Processing operations include storage of target and process feedstock 
material, fabrication of targets for irradiation, processing irradiated 
targets to separate the product and recycling the unconverted feedstock 
material for the fabrication of new targets.
    The processing operations portion of this alternative includes 
three options. Because space is not available in currently operating 
facilities on the Hanford site to support all of the processing 
requirements for the identified missions, new or off-site facilities 
will be needed to support activities conducted using the FFTF. The 
first option incorporates the use of a large existing and never used 
hot cell facility located near the FFTF to support all process facility 
operations for the identified missions. The second and third options 
incorporate the use of off site processing facilities to support the 
plutonium-238 production mission in conjunction with the use of 
existing operational processing facilities at the Hanford Site to 
support the FFTF in the remaining missions.
    Option 1 will assess the impact of using the Fuels and Materials 
Examination Facility (FMEF) located near the FFTF in the 400 Area of 
the Hanford Site to support the FFTF missions.
    Option 2 will assess the impact of using the Radiochemical 
Engineering Development Center (REDC) located in the Oak Ridge National 
Laboratory at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in support of FFTF for the 
production of plutonium-238 and other existing facilities located in 
the 300 and 400 Areas of the Hanford Site to support the FFTF in the 
remaining mission areas (i.e., production of medical and industrial 
isotopes and nuclear research and development).
    Option 3 will assess the impact of using the Fluorinel Dissolution 
Process Facility (FDPF) located in the Idaho National Engineering and 
Environmental Laboratory near Idaho Falls, Idaho, in support of FFTF 
for the production of plutonium-238 and other existing facilities 
located in the 300 Area and 400 Area of the Hanford Site to support the 
FFTF in the remaining mission areas (i.e., production of medical and 
industrial isotopes and nuclear research and development).

Alternative 2--Use Only Existing Operational Facilities to the Extent 
Possible

    Under this alternative, the PEIS will analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of meeting the projected mission needs to the 
extent possible using only existing operational facilities (without 
FFTF). The Department's analyses indicate that the plutonium-238 
production objectives can be met using existing facilities. However, 
should plutonium-238 production be conducted at existing facilities, 
significant new medical and industrial isotope production and nuclear 
research and development mission objectives cannot be achieved without 
impacting current missions at these facilities. This PEIS will analyze 
the impact of the continuing, existing isotope production and nuclear 
research and development missions at current levels as part of the No 
Action alternative. The cumulative impacts from operating the affected 
facilities for all missions will be addressed under this alternative. 
This PEIS will evaluate the potential impacts of nine options for 
plutonium-238 production, that is, the combinations of three reactor 
sites (for the irradiation of targets) with three different processing 
facilities (for the storage of neptunium-237, fabrication of neptunium-
237

[[Page 50069]]

targets for irradiation, and the processing of irradiated targets to 
separate plutonium-238). The three reactor sites are the Advanced Test 
Reactor located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental 
Laboratory near Idaho Falls, Idaho; the High Flux Isotope Reactor 
located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and 
a commercial light water reactor located at an undefined generic site. 
The three processing facilities, previously discussed under Alternative 
1, are REDC, FDPF, and FMEF. The impacts of transporting neptunium-237 
to the storage facility from the Savannah River Site (SRS); 
unirradiated and irradiated targets between the irradiation facilities 
and processing facilities; and plutonium-238 from the processing 
facilities to the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New 
Mexico where it is processed for use in advanced radioisotope power 
systems, will be evaluated for each combination.

Alternative Sites for Plutonium-238 Production Target Irradiation

    Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Engineering 
and Environmental Laboratory: Under this alternative, DOE would 
irradiate targets (fabricated from neptunium-237 currently stored at 
SRS) in the ATR to produce up to 5 kilograms per year of plutonium-
238, the maximum annual production requirement for the plutonium-238 
production mission under current planning. ATR is an operating test 
reactor with a primary programmatic mission to support the Naval 
Reactor Fuels Program. A prerequisite of applying this alternative 
is that no impacts to the primary mission of the reactor would be 
allowed. In addition, nuclear research and isotope production 
missions at the ATR would also continue within the facility's 
current mission envelope.
    High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at the Oak Ridge National 
Laboratory: Under this alternative, DOE would irradiate neptunium-
237 targets in HFIR to produce up to 2 kilograms per year of 
plutonium-238. HFIR is an operating research reactor with its main 
programmatic mission to support DOE's Office of Science. A 
prerequisite of applying this alternative is that no impacts to the 
primary mission of the reactor would occur. Nuclear research and 
isotope production missions at the HFIR would also continue within 
the facility's current mission envelope. The use of HFIR for 
production of small quantities of plutonium-238 is compatible with 
the primary neutron scattering and radioisotope production mission 
of that reactor. Production of plutonium-238 at a rate higher than 
two kilograms per year would disrupt experimental programs currently 
being conducted at HFIR. Use of HFIR for the plutonium-238 
production would need to be supplemented by the ATR to meet the 5 
kilograms per year production objective.
    Commercial Light Water Reactor (CLWR) at a generic site 
location: Under this alternative, DOE would irradiate neptunium-237 
targets in an existing CLWR to produce up to five kilograms per year 
of plutonium-238. A CLWR is an operating reactor with a primary 
mission to deliver electric power to the local power grid. A 
prerequisite of applying this alternative is that no impacts to the 
primary mission of the reactor would be allowed.

    Under Alternative 2, the PEIS will also analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of meeting projected medical and industrial 
isotope production and nuclear research and development mission needs, 
to the extent possible (i.e., without impacting existing missions), 
using existing neutron spallation sources (i.e., neutron-producing 
accelerators), such as, for example, the Brookhaven LINAC Isotope 
Producer at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, or the 
Isotope Production Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los 
Alamos, New Mexico). The FFTF would be deactivated under Alternative 2.

Alternative 3--Construct New Accelerator(s)

    Under this alternative, the PEIS will analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of constructing and operating one or more (if 
necessary, depending on power level requirements) new neutron-producing 
accelerators and new process facility at a generic DOE site for all 
identified missions. The role of the process facility is the same as in 
Alternative 1. Under Alternative 3, the FFTF would be deactivated.

Alternative 4--Construct New Research Reactor

    Under this alternative, the PEIS will analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of constructing and operating a new research 
reactor and new process facility at a generic DOE site for all 
identified missions. The role of the process facility is the same as in 
Alternative 1. Under Alternative 4, the FFTF would be deactivated.

Environmental Impact Areas To Be Analyzed

    The following areas have been tentatively identified for analysis 
in the PEIS. This list is neither intended to be all inclusive nor is 
it a predetermination of potential environmental impacts. The list is 
presented to facilitate comments on the scope of this PEIS. Additions 
to or deletions from this list may occur as a result of the public 
scoping process:
     Health and Safety: Potential public and occupational 
consequences from construction, routine operation, transportation, and 
credible accident scenarios;
     Waste Management/Pollution Prevention: Types of wastes 
expected to be generated, handled, and stored; pollution prevention 
opportunities and the potential consequences to public safety and the 
environment;
     Hazardous Materials: Handling, storage, and use; both 
present and future;
     Background Radiation: Cosmic, rock, soil, water, and air 
and the potential addition of radiation;
     Water Resources: Surface and groundwater hydrology, water 
use and quality, and the potential for degradation;
     Air Quality: Meteorological conditions, ambient 
background, sources, and potential for degradation;
     Earth Resources: Physiography, topography, geology, and 
soil characteristics;
     Land Use: Plans, policies, and controls;
     Noise: Ambient, sources, and sensitive receptors;
     Ecological Resources: Wetlands, aquatic, terrestrial, 
economically and recreationally important species, and threatened and 
endangered species;
     Socioeconomic: Demography, economic base, labor pool, 
housing, transportation, utilities, public services/facilities, 
education, recreation, and cultural resources;
     Natural Disasters: Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and 
seismic events;
     Cumulative Effects: Including impacts from past, present, 
and reasonably foreseeable actions at and in the vicinity of the sites;
     Unavoidable Adverse Impacts;
     Natural and Depletable Resources: Requirements and 
conservation potential; and
     Environmental Justice: Any potential disproportionately 
high and adverse impacts to minority and low income populations.

Pending Decisions

    This PEIS is only one of many inputs required for a decision to be 
made relating to the infrastructure to support new nuclear research and 
development and isotope production missions. Other elements that will 
provide major inputs into the decision process include:
     DOE's Nuclear Science and Technology Long-Range Research 
and Development Plan;
     DOE's Nuclear Science and Technology Infrastructure Road 
Map;
     Nonproliferation Study, a review of potential impacts to 
the U.S. nonproliferation policy from the

[[Page 50070]]

alternatives under consideration in the PEIS;
     Cost Study, a review of costs for the alternatives under 
consideration in the PEIS; and
     Implementation schedule for the alternatives under 
consideration in the PEIS.
    The primary decision is related to the ability of DOE to support 
the future missions evaluated in the PEIS. DOE will make a decision 
whether its infrastructure should be enhanced to support these 
missions.
     If the decision is for enhancement, then subsequent 
decisions will be made relating to Alternatives 1, 3, and 4.
     If Alternative 1 (FFTF Restart) is selected for 
implementation, subsequent decisions will be made relating to the 
support facilities. The FMEF could support FFTF for all of the missions 
or existing operational onsite facilities in combination with either 
the REDC in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory or the FDPF at the Idaho 
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory could support FFTF 
for all the missions.
     If Alternative 3 (New Accelerator(s)) or Alternative 4 
(New Research Reactor) is selected, subsequent NEPA review would be 
required for site selection, construction, and operation of the 
facility(ies).
     If the decision is not to enhance or expand the 
infrastructure, then subsequent decisions will be made relating to No 
Action or Alternative 2 (Use Only Existing Facilities).
     If No Action Scenario 1 is selected, a subsequent 
decision would be required to determine if Russian plutonium-238 should 
be purchased to support future NASA space missions.
     If No Action Scenario 2 is selected, a subsequent 
decision would be required to determine if Russian plutonium-238 should 
be purchased to support future NASA space missions. In addition, the 
site for the storage of the neptunium-237 would be selected.
     If Alternative 2 is selected, a series of decisions are 
required: (1) The selection of neutron accelerator sites to support, to 
the extent possible, the medical and industrial isotope production and 
research and development missions; (2) the selection of the reactor 
option to support the plutonium-238 mission; and (3) the selection of 
the processing facility site to support the plutonium-238 mission.

DOE, in its Record of Decision (ROD), may elect to implement a 
combination of the pathways and/or individual elements within the 
outlined pathways.

Scoping Meetings

    The purpose of this Notice is to encourage public involvement in 
the PEIS process and to solicit public comments on the proposed scope 
and content of this PEIS. Through this notice, DOE formally invites 
Federal, state, tribal, and other government agencies, as well as the 
public to comment on the scope of this PEIS. DOE will hold scoping 
meetings in Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Hood River, Oregon, 
Richland, Washington, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and 
Washington DC. The dates, times, and locations of these meetings are 
identified under DATES above.
    In order to facilitate an understanding of the program's 
objectives, DOE personnel will also be available at the scoping 
meetings to explain the program to the public and answer any questions. 
DOE will designate a facilitator for the scoping meetings. At the 
opening of each meeting, the facilitator will establish the order of 
speakers and will announce any additional procedures necessary for 
conducting the meetings. To ensure that all persons wishing to make a 
presentation are given the opportunity, each speaker may be limited to 
five minutes except for public officials and representatives of groups, 
who will each be allotted ten minutes. DOE encourages those providing 
oral comments to also submit them in writing. Comment cards will also 
be available for those who prefer to submit their comments in written 
form. Speakers may be asked clarifying questions, but the scoping 
meetings will not be conducted as evidentiary hearings.
    Toll-free telephone and facsimile (FAX) numbers have been 
established to receive public comments. Interested parties may call 1-
877-562-4593 and leave a detailed message with their comments or FAX 
their comments to 1-877-562-4592. Comments will also be accepted by 
electronic mail. Interested parties may e-mail their comments to: 
[email protected]
    DOE will make transcripts of the scoping meetings and project-
related materials available for public review in the following reading 
rooms:

U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, 
Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-3142
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, DOE--Idaho 
Operations Office Public Reading Room, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho 
Falls, ID 83415, Telephone: (208) 526-1144
Portland State University, Branford Price Millar Library, Government 
Documents Section, 951 Southwest Hall, Portland, OR 97207, Telephone: 
(503) 725-3690
U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Oak Ridge 
Public Reading Room, 230 Warehouse Road, Building 1916-T-2, Suite 300, 
Oak Ridge, TN 37830, Telephone: (423) 241-4780
Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, Richland, WA 99352, 
Telephone: (509) 942-7457
U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, DOE Public 
Reading Room, 2770 University Drive CIC, Room 101L, Richland, WA 99352, 
Telephone: (509) 372-7443
University of Washington, Suzzallo Library, Government Publications 
Room, Seattle, WA 98195, Telephone: (206) 543-1937
Gonzaga University, Foley Center Library, East 502 Boone, Spokane, WA 
99258, Telephone: (509) 323-6532

NEPA Process

    The Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Accomplishing 
Expanded Civilian Nuclear Energy Research and Development and Isotope 
Production Missions in the United States, Including the Role of the 
Fast Flux Test Facility will be prepared in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental 
Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of 
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and DOE's NEPA Regulations (10 CFR part 
1021).
    A 45-day comment period on the draft PEIS is planned, and public 
hearings to receive comments will be held approximately 3 to 4 weeks 
after distribution of the draft PEIS. The draft PEIS is expected to be 
issued during the Spring 2000. Availability of the draft PEIS, the 
dates of the public comment period, and information about the public 
hearings will be announced in the Federal Register and in the local 
news media when the draft PEIS is distributed.
    The final PEIS, which will consider the public comments received on 
the draft PEIS, is expected to be published during the Fall 2000. No 
sooner than 30 days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
notice of availability of the final PEIS is published in the Federal 
Register, DOE will issue its Record of Decision and publish it in the 
Federal Register.


[[Page 50071]]


    Signed in Washington, D.C., this 10th day of September 1999.
David Michaels, PhD,
Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 99-24086 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P