[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3437]



[[Page 7669]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Engraving and Printing


Next Generation of Currency; Availability of an Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing this notice to 
inform the public of the availability of the Environmental Assessment 
for the Production of the Next Generation of Currency, Western Currency 
Facility, Fort Worth, Texas and Washington, DC Facility, and a draft 
Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Environmental Assessment 
(EA) has been prepared to address the environmental impacts of the Next 
Generation of Currency. This EA was prepared under the statutory 
authority of 40 CFR 1500 et seq., the Council of Environmental 
Quality's National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations.

DATES: Comments must be postmarked no later than March 19, 2004. 
Comments should be sent to the address given under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Department of the Treasury, 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Neal Mohlmann, 14th & C Streets, SW., 
DC 20228, (202) 874-2048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the EA or for further 
information, contact Mr. Neal Mohlmann, Chief, Office of Environment 
and Safety, telephone (202) 874-2048; fax (202) 874-9757. The EA is 
also available on the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Web site at 
http://www.moneyfactory.com/uploads/BEP-Environmental-Assessment.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has 
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) concerning the introduction 
of an offset printing process and temporary production increases to 
phase-in the Next Generation of Currency. On the basis of the EA, the 
Bureau has concluded that no significant adverse impacts are expected 
to occur from implementation of the proposed action in either the 
short-term, long-term, or cumulatively. Because the proposed action 
would not result in significant adverse environmental impacts, the 
Bureau concluded that the preparation of a finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI) was appropriate, and therefore, an environmental impact 
statement is not required. The basis for this conclusion is supported 
by the following findings. Both temporary and permanent increases in 
certain solid and hazardous waste streams due to increased production 
rates can be managed within existing Bureau facility capacities and 
capabilities. Long-term increases in air emission would occur at the 
Western Currency Facility; however, these emissions would be within 
permitted limits and would not result in the violation of any air 
standards or substantially degrade regional air quality. The net 
volatile organic compounds-related air emissions associated with the DC 
Facility, in consideration of the recent replacement of several I-8 
presses, would actually decrease.
    Title: Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant 
Impact Next Generation of Currency.

    Dated: February 12, 2004.
Neal Mohlmann,
Chief, Office of Environment and Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-3437 Filed 2-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4840-01-P