[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56663-56664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28153]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Nuclear Security Administration; Notice of Availability 
of the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Oak Ridge 
Y-12 Plant

AGENCY: Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a 
separately organized agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), 
announces the availability of the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant [Y-12 Final SWEIS] (DOE/EIS-
0309). The Y-12 Final SWEIS evaluates the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the continued operations of the Y-12 Plant, as 
well as with alternatives for modernizing Y-12 facilities to ensure its 
capability to meet future nuclear weapon stockpile needs in the post-
Cold War era. The alternatives include construction and operation of 
new facilities for two of Y-12's missions: Highly Enriched Uranium 
(HEU) Materials Storage mission and Special Materials mission. The 
preferred alternative is to construct and operate a new HEU Materials 
Storage Facility and a new Special Materials Complex. The preferred 
site for the HEU Materials Storage Facility is Site A (West Portal 
Parking Lot). The preferred site for the Spcial Materials Complex 
Facility is Site 1 (northwest of Building 9114 and on the north side of 
Bear Creek Road).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Y-12 Final SWEIS may be obtained by mail (U.S. 
Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Attn: Mr. Gary 
Hartman, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831), by fax (1-865-576-1237), 
by phone (1-865-576-0273), or electronically ([email protected]). The 
Y-12 Final SWEIS is also available for review at the U.S. Department of 
Energy Public Reading Room at 230 Warehouse Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the NNSA 
NEPA process, please contact: Mr. James Mangeno, NEPA Compliance 
Officer for NNSA, U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; or telephone 1-800-832-0885, ext. 
68395. For general information on the DOE NEPA process, please contact: 
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance 
(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: The NNSA is responsible for providing the 
Nation with nuclear weapons and ensuring that those nuclear weapons 
remain safe, secure, and reliable. As one of the major production 
facilities, the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has been DOE's primary site for 
enriched uranium processing and storage, and one of the manufacturing 
facilities for maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. In 
recent years, the emphasis of the U.S. weapons program has shifted from 
developing and producing new weapons to dismantlement and maintenance 
of a smaller stockpile.
    The Y-12 Final SWEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts 
from continued operation of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, and the 
construction and operation of new facilities for two of Y-12's 
missions: HEU Materials Storage mission and Special Materials mission. 
Alternatives considered for the HEU Materials Storage mission include 
constructing and operating a new HEU Materials Facility at one of two 
candidate sites, or expanding and operating Building 9215 (the 
preferred site is Site A). Three candidate sites are evaluated for a 
new Special Materials Complex for the Special Materials mission at Y-12 
(the preferred site is Site 1). More specifically, the Y-12 Final SWEIS 
analyzes potential impacts on land uses, transportation, 
socioeconomics, geology and soils, hydrology, biological resources, air 
quality/noise, site facilities and support activities, waste 
management, and cultural resources. In addition, environmental justice, 
radiological and chemical impacts during normal operations, and effects 
of accidents on workers and the public are included in the assessment. 
The preferred alternative is to construct and operate a new HEU 
Materials Storage Facility at Site A and a new Special Materials 
Complex at Site 1. A Record of Decision is expected to be issued no 
sooner than 30 days from the date of this announcement.


[[Page 56664]]


    Issued in Washington, DC this 5th day of November, 2001.
John Gordon,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of 
Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-28153 Filed 11-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P