[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25472-25474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10897]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
The Proposed Relocation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Technical 
Area 18 Missions

AGENCY: Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: On April 11, 2000, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson announced 
the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposal to relocate missions at 
Technical Area 18 (TA-18), a group of facilities at the Los Alamos 
National Laboratory (LANL), by the end of 2004. Secretary Richardson 
also announced that an environmental impact study on the proposed 
transfer of TA-18's missions to another location will begin 
immediately. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
of 1969, as amended (42 USC 4321 et seq., and the DOE Regulations 
Implementing NEPA (10 CFR Part 1021), the National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA), an agency within the Department of Energy, is 
announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Proposed Relocation of the TA-18 Missions.
    TA-18 supports important defense, nuclear safety, and other 
national security missions. Though TA-18 is judged to be secure by the 
Department's independent inspection office, its facilities are between 
30 and 50 years old and are increasingly expensive to maintain and 
operate. Relocating the TA-18 missions will enable the Department to 
conduct these missions in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. 
Currently, DOE expects that the TA-18 Relocation EIS will evaluate the 
environmental impacts associated with relocating the TA-18 missions to 
the following alternative locations: (1) A different site at LANL (the 
preferred alternative) at Los Alamos, New Mexico; (2) the Nevada Test 
Site (NTS) near Las Vegas, Nevada; (3) the Sandia National Laboratory 
(SNL) at Albuquerque, New Mexico; and (4) the Argonne National 
Laboratory--West (ANL-W) near Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is possible that 
this list of reasonable alternatives may change during the scoping 
process. The EIS will also evaluate the no-action alternative of 
maintaining the missions at the current TA-18 location.

DATES: Comments on the proposed scope of the TA-18 Relocation EIS are 
invited from the public. To ensure consideration in the preparation of 
the EIS, comments must be postmarked by June 1, 2000. Late comments 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Public scoping meetings 
to discuss issues and receive oral comments on the scope of the EIS 
will be held in the vicinity of sites that may be affected by the 
proposed action. The public scoping meetings will provide the public 
with an opportunity to present comments, ask questions, and discuss 
concerns with DOE/NNSA officials regarding the EIS. The location, date, 
and time for these public scoping meetings is as follows:
    Los Alamos National Laboratory--May 17, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., Betty Ehart 
Senior Center, 2132 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544.
    Sandia National Laboratory--May 18, 7 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Albuquerque 
Convention Center, 401 Second Street, N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87102.
    Nevada Test Site--May 23, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., U.S. DOE Nevada 
Operations Office Auditorium, 232 Energy Way, North Las Vegas, NV 
89030.
    Argonne National Laboratory--West--May 25, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., The 
Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83402.
    Any agency that desires to be designated as a cooperating agency 
should contact Mr. Jay Rose at the address listed below by May 31, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: General questions concerning the TA-18 Project can be asked 
by calling 1-800-832-0885, ext. 65484, or by writing to: Mr. Jay Rose, 
Document Manager, TA-18 Relocation EIS, U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA, 
1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585.
    Comments can be submitted to Mr. Rose at the address above; or 
faxed to: 1-202-586-0467; or e-mailed to [email protected]. Please 
mark

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envelopes, faxes, and E-mail: ``TA-18 Relocation EIS Comments.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the NNSA 
NEPA process, please contact: Mr. Henry Garson, NEPA Compliance Officer 
for Defense Programs, U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; or telephone 1-800-832-0885, ext. 
30470. 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, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585, telephone 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-
800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 11, 2000, Secretary of Energy Bill 
Richardson announced that the Department would begin preparation of an 
EIS on the proposed transfer of TA-18's capabilities and up to 
approximately 2 tons of special nuclear materials to another location. 
TA-18, known as the Pajarito Site, consists of a main building, three 
outlying remote-controlled critical assembly buildings known as 
``kivas'', several smaller laboratories, nuclear material storage 
vaults, and support buildings. The site is located on approximately 130 
acres along Pajarito Road. The Los Alamos Critical Experiments Facility 
(LACEF) and other experimental facilities are located at TA-18, which 
is situated in the base of a canyon whose walls rise approximately 200 
feet on three sides. The three kivas are Category 2 nuclear facilities 
(i.e., hazard analysis shows the potential for significant on-site 
consequences) and are within fenced areas to keep personnel at a safe 
distance during criticality experiments. Additionally, the entire TA-18 
is bounded by a security fence to aid in physically safeguarding 
special nuclear material. Site access is through a guarded portal.
    The principal TA-18 activities are the design, construction, 
research, development, and applications of experiments on nuclear 
criticality. Excluding security and support personnel, about 80 full-
time employees work at TA-18. They provide expertise and knowledge in 
advanced nuclear technologies that support three primary areas: (1) 
Critical experiments in support of Stockpile Stewardship and other 
programs; (2) emergency response in support of counter-terrorism 
activities; and (3) safeguards and arms control in support of domestic 
and international programs to control excess nuclear materials. TA-18 
is the nation's only facility capable of performing general-purpose 
nuclear materials handling for a variety of experiments, measurements 
and training. TA-18 also houses the Western Hemisphere's largest 
collection of machines for conducting nuclear safety evaluations and 
establishing limits for operations.
    Since 1948, thousands of criticality experiments and measurements 
have been performed at TA-18 on assemblies using uranium-233, uranium-
235, and plutonium-239 in various configurations, including nitrate, 
sulfate, and oxide compounds as well as solid, liquid, and gas forms. 
Critical assemblies at TA-18 are designed to operate at low-average 
power and temperatures well below phase change transition temperatures 
(which sets them apart from normal reactors) with low fission 
production and minimal inventory. Special nuclear materials are stored 
at kivas or in a vault. The on-site TA-18 nuclear materials inventory 
(about 2 metric tons of special nuclear materials) is relatively 
stable, and consists primarily of isotopes of plutonium and uranium. 
The bulk of the plutonium is metal, and is either clad or encapsulated; 
plutonium oxide is double-canned. The use of toxic and hazardous 
chemicals is limited. The criticality experiments generate very small 
amounts of fission products and there is little radioactive waste. 
Criticality experiments do not release significant emissions to the 
atmosphere at the site. A more detailed description of TA-18 activities 
and associated impacts can be found in the Site-Wide Environmental 
Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National 
Laboratory (January 1999).

Purpose, Need, and Proposed Action

    The Department proposes to provide a long-term capability to 
conduct criticality experiments and evaluations, develop emergency 
response procedures, and support non-proliferation safeguards and arms 
control. Since the 1980's, this capability has been based upon the 
operation of facilities at TA-18, some of which have been operational 
since 1946. Though TA-18 is judged secure by the Department of Energy's 
independent inspection office, its facilities are between 30 and 50 
years old and are increasingly expensive to maintain and operate. The 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has recommended, in 1993 and 
1997, that the Department continue to maintain the capability to 
support the only remaining criticality safety program in the nation. 
Consistent with this, the Department wishes to maintain the important 
capabilities currently provided by TA-18 in a manner that reduces the 
long-term costs for safeguards and security. Relocating the TA-18 
missions would reduce life-cycle costs and improve safeguards and 
security.

Alternatives

    Currently, the NNSA expects that the TA-18 Relocation EIS will 
evaluate the environmental impacts associated with TA-18 missions at 
the following DOE sites: (1) a different location at LANL (the 
preferred alternative); (2) NTS; (3) SNL; and (4) ANL-W. This 
preliminary list of sites is based on the initial efforts of a 
Department-wide Option Study Group chartered to develop reasonable 
alternatives for conducting TA-18 missions. Site screening criteria 
were developed by the Group that looked for sites with existing 
Category I (highest level) security infrastructure; nuclear 
environment, safety and health infrastructure; and compatibility 
between the site and TA-18 missions. These alternatives are described 
in greater detail below.
    LANL Alternative. This alternative would involve constructing a new 
facility near the TA-55 Plutonium Facility 4. Consolidating the TA-18 
missions near the existing TA-55 facilities could significantly reduce 
future costs associated with safeguards and security by consolidating 
safeguards and security requirements. Following construction, the 
existing Perimeter Intrusion Detection and Assessment System (PIDAS) 
fence would be expanded to encompass the new facility. Other possible 
LANL locations for a new facility may also be identified.
    NTS Alternative. This alternative would house the TA-18 missions at 
or near the existing Device Assembly Facility (DAF). The DAF, which 
became operational in 1998, has the capability to support a variety of 
nuclear explosive operations (including device assembly, disassembly, 
modification, staging, testing, repair, and surveillance). Currently, 
the DAF is used for assembly of sub-critical assemblies, as well as 
miscellaneous other national security missions. The DAF is 
approximately 100,000 square feet and has capacity available to accept 
the TA-18 missions with internal modifications and some minor external 
construction.
    SNL Alternative. This alternative would house the TA-18 missions 
within TA-V at SNL. Currently, SNL operates a variety of research-
oriented nuclear facilities in TA-V. Because existing space in TA-V 
could accommodate the TA-18 missions, no new buildings would be needed 
for this

[[Page 25474]]

alternative. Internal modifications to existing buildings would be 
required.
    ANL-W Alternative. This alternative would house the TA-18 missions 
in the existing Fuel Manufacturing Facility, and possibly the Transient 
Reactor Test Facility and other existing facilities. New construction 
to expand the existing Fuel Manufacturing Facility would be required to 
accommodate the TA-18 missions. Security upgrades may also be 
necessary.
    As required by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, 
the TA-18 Relocation EIS will also evaluate the no-action alternative 
of maintaining the missions at the current TA-18 location. This 
alternative would maintain the current missions at Technical Area 18 as 
described in the expanded use alternative of the Site-Wide 
Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los 
Alamos National Laboratory and Associated Record of Decision (64 FR 
50797, September 20, 1999). As stated in the Site-Wide Environmental 
Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National 
Laboratory, previously planned routine upgrades for infrastructure and 
security would be conduced in order to maintain the facility.
    It is possible that this list of reasonable alternatives may change 
during the scoping process. In addition, as the EIS is being prepared, 
the NNSA will be examining the TA-18 missions in order to optimize the 
number and kind of facilities, and the amount of special nuclear 
material that would be required to carry out the missions. Following 
completion of the EIS process, the Secretary of Energy intends to 
decide where and how to conduct the TA-18 missions, as well as the 
future use of the existing TA-18 facilities.

Identification of Environmental and Other Issues

    The NNSA has identified the following issues for analysis in the 
EIS. Additional issues may be identified as a result of the scoping 
process.
    1. Public and Worker Safety, Health Risk Assessment: Radiological 
and non-radiological impacts, including projected effects on workers 
and the public from construction, normal operations and accident 
conditions, and decommissioning and decontamination activities 
associated with relocating and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    2. Impacts from releases to air, water, and soil associated with 
relocating and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    3. Impacts to plants, animals, and habitats, including threatened 
or endangered species and their habitats, associated with relocating 
and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    4. The consumption of natural resources and energy associated with 
relocating and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    5. Socioeconomic impacts to affected communities from construction 
and operation associated with relocating and carrying out the TA-18 
missions.
    6. Environmental justice: Disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations 
associated with relocating and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    7. Impacts to cultural resources such as historic, archaeological, 
scientific, or culturally important sites associated with relocating 
and carrying out the TA-18 missions. Because some facilities at TA-18 
are over 50 years old, and potentially important in the context of the 
Cold War, these will be evaluated for their historical significance 
under all alternatives.
    8. Impacts associated with transportation and storage of nuclear 
materials.
    9. Status of compliance with all applicable Federal, state, and 
local statutes and regulations; required Federal, state, and tribe 
environmental consultations and notifications; and DOE Orders on waste 
management, waste minimization, and environmental protection.
    10. Cumulative impacts from the proposed action and other past, 
present, and reasonably foreseeable actions at the alternative sites.
    11. Potential irreversible and irretrievable commitments of 
resources associated with relocating and carrying out the TA-18 
missions.
    12. Pollution prevention and waste management practices, including 
characterization, storage, treatment and disposal of wastes associated 
with relocating and carrying out the TA-18 missions.
    NNSA anticipates that certain classified information will be 
consulted in the preparation of this EIS and used by decision-makers to 
decide where and how the capabilities at TA-18 will be carried out. The 
EIS may contain a classified appendix. To the extent allowable, the EIS 
will summarize this information in an unclassified manner.

EIS Schedule

    The importance of the TA-18 missions requires that the facilities 
remain operational until the final decision is made and implemented so 
there is minimal disruption to existing programs or commitments. To 
support a Record of Decision for this EIS by January 2001, the major 
milestones for the EIS are shown below.
Public Scoping Meetings: May 2000.
Publish Draft EIS: September 2000.
Draft EIS Public Hearings: October 2000.
Publish Final EIS: December 2000.
Record of Decision: January 2001.
    To facilitate this schedule, the TA-18 Relocation EIS will tier 
from existing EISs for the four alternative sites, as appropriate. For 
example, the Department has previously prepared Site-Wide EISs for LANL 
(Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of 
the Los Alamos National Laboratory, January 1999), SNL (Site-Wide 
Environmental Impact Statement for Sandia National Laboratories, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 1999), and NTS (Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Nevada Test Site and Off-Site Locations in the State 
of Nevada, August 1996) that are expected to provide much of the 
existing environmental information. Additionally, several NEPA 
documents for ANL-W facilities will be utilized, including the Electro-
metallurgical Treatment Research and Demonstration Project at ANL-W 
Environmental Assessment (May 1996) and the Treatment and Management of 
Sodium-Bonded Spent Nuclear Fuel EIS (Final EIS expected to be 
published in May 2000).

Public Scoping Process

    To assist in defining the appropriate scope of the EIS and to 
identify significant environmental issues to be addressed, NNSA 
representatives will conduct public scoping meetings at the locations, 
dates, and times described above under DATES. Each scoping meeting will 
begin with an overview of the TA-18 missions, the current EIS 
alternatives, and the proposed EIS scope. Following the initial 
presentation, NNSA representatives will answer questions and accept 
comments. Copies of handouts from the meetings will be available to 
those unable to attend, by contacting the NNSA as described above under 
ADDRESSES.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., this 26th day of April, 2000.
T. J. Glauthier,
Deputy Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 00-10897 Filed 5-1-00; 8:45 am]
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