[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 60973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26760]



[[Page 60973]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Logistics Agency


Thorium Nitrate Disposition

AGENCY: Defense National Stockpile Center, Defense Logistics Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability of environmental assessment and a draft 
finding of no significant impact for the disposition of the National 
Defense Stockpile's thorium nitrate.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Logistics Agency announces the availability of the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for the disposition of thorium nitrate (ThN) currently 
held in the National Defense Stockpile of strategic and critical 
materials.
    The Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC) manages the inventory 
of approximately 7 million pounds of ThN stored in drums at two DNSC 
depots--Curtis Bay, Maryland, and Hammond, Indiana. because of the 
presence of throium, ThN is a radioactive material.
    The ThN stockpile was acquired between 1957 and 1964 for the Atomic 
Energy Commission, a predecessor to the Department of Energy (DOE) and 
has been retained because of its potential as a nuclear fuel. However, 
a commercially viable, throium-based nuclear fuel cycle has failed to 
develop nor is one likely to be developed in the foreseeable future. 
For several years, DNSC offered ThN for purchase by commercial firms or 
for use by other Federal agencies in quantities as small as a single 
drum. However, no potential user has expressed interest in purchasing 
the ThN since 1990. Consequently, the ThN inventory is deemed excess to 
the requirements of the Department of Defense.
    Following evaluation of a reasonable range of storage and disposal 
alternatives conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on behalf of 
DNSC, DNSC proposes to transfer the ThN to DOE for disposal at DOE's 
Nevada Test Site. The ThN would be disposed of as a low-level 
radioactive waste in a manner that minimizes radiation exposure and 
potential for risk to workers, the public, and the environment. A 
Memorandum of Understanding is in place that would allow transfer of 
the DoD ThN stockpile to DOE.

DATES: Comments on the draft FONSI received by November 24, 2003, will 
be considered when preparing the final version of the FONSI.
    The EA and draft FONSI are available for review on the Defense 
Logistics Agency Web site (http://www.dla.mil). Comments should be sent 
to Mr. Michael Pecullan, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 3229, Fort 
Belvoir, VA 22060-6221. Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Pecullan at 
(703) 767-7716.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Pecullan, Phone (703) 767-
7620 or e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: October 17, 2003.
Cornel A. Holder,
Administrator, Defense National Stockpile Center.
[FR Doc. 03-26760 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3620-01-M