[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10897-10898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5751]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Waste Disposition Activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

AGENCY: Department of Energy

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Waste Disposition 
Activities at the Paducah Site (DOE/EA-1339) for public review and 
comment. The Draft EA has been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as 
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations implementing NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; and DOE 
NEPA Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR part 1021.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts 
associated with continued waste management operations at the Paducah 
Site, as well as transportation of the waste to treatment and disposal 
facilities at various locations throughout the United States. The type 
of wastes analyzed include polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste, low-
level (radioactive) waste (LLW), mixed low-level waste (MLLW), and 
transuranic (TRU) waste. The Draft EA also evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the no action alternative.
    The public is invited to comment on the Draft EA during the 45-day 
public comment period which starts on the date of this notice. All 
comments received will be considered in preparation of the final EA. 
Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EA may be submitted by mail: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Attn: Mr. David 
Allen, PO Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, by fax (1-865-576-0746), 
electronically ([email protected]), or by phone (1-800-382-6938).
    Copies of the Draft EA may also be obtained by contacting Mr. Gary 
Bodenstein, U.S. Department of Energy, Paducah Site Office, PO Box 
1410, Paducah, KY 42001, by fax (1-270-441-6801), or electronically 
([email protected]). The Draft EA is available for review at the 
U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Information Center, Barkley 
Centre, 115 Memorial Drive, in Paducah Kentucky. The Draft EA is also 
available for review at the U.S. Department of Energy Public

[[Page 10898]]

Reading Room at 230 Warehouse Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
    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.

DATES: The review period for the Draft EA ends April 25, 2002. Comments 
postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable. One public meeting to discuss issues and receive oral 
comments on the Draft EA will be held on April 9, 2002, at the DOE 
Environmental Information Center, Barkley Centre, 115 Memorial Drive, 
in Paducah, Kentucky. The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. CST. The 
public meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to present 
comments, ask questions, and discuss concerns with DOE officials 
regarding the Draft EA. Specific information regarding the public 
meeting can be obtained by calling 1-270-441-5204, writing to the 
address above, or electronically.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft EA evaluates DOE's proposed 
disposition activities for legacy and future-generated PCB wastes, LLW, 
MLLW, and TRU waste from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant at the 
Paducah Site in Paducah, Kentucky. The proposed action includes: Waste 
storage at the Paducah site; on-site treatment of a small portion of 
the waste volume covered in the Draft EA, off-site treatment at 
treatment locations throughout the United States; waste transport to 
treatment and disposal locations by truck, rail, or inter-modal 
shipment; and waste disposal at various locations throughout the United 
States. Off-site treatment and disposal locations for waste disposition 
include facilities in Nevada, Utah, Texas, Washington, Idaho, New 
Mexico, and Tennessee. Supporting activities are also evaluated in the 
Draft EA. Examples of these activities include, characterization 
activities of waste currently in storage, on-site waste movement, 
sorting, packaging, inspecting, labeling. The Draft EA also evaluates 
the no action alternative. Under this alternative, DOE would not 
perform disposition activities except for those needed for standard 
waste management and maintenance. No disposal of the existing and 
projected quantities of waste would occur. DOE would continue to store 
such waste. Ongoing non-CERCLA waste management operations would 
continue.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on February 28, 2002.
David R. Allen,
Oak Ridge Operations NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-5751 Filed 3-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P