[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38638-38640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6055]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Notice of Availability of the Draft Site-Wide Environmental 
Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos National 
Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA).

[[Page 38639]]


ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.

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SUMMARY: NNSA announces the availability of the Draft Site-wide 
Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos 
National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (LANL Draft SWEIS) (DOE/
EIS-0380), and the dates and locations for the public hearings to 
receive comments on the Draft LANL SWEIS. The Draft LANL SWEIS was 
prepared in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508) and the DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR 
part 1021). The Draft LANL SWEIS analyzes the potential environmental 
impacts associated with continuing ongoing Los Alamos National 
Laboratory (LANL) operations and foreseeable new and modified 
operations and facilities. The Draft LANL SWEIS analyzes the No Action 
Alternative and two action alternatives: a Reduced Operations 
Alternative and an Expanded Operations Alternative. The No Action 
Alternative would continue currently assigned operations at LANL in 
support of DOE and NNSA missions. The Reduced Operation Alternative 
also includes most operations discussed under the No Action Alternative 
with reductions to certain LANL activities below the No Action 
Alternative level. The Expanded Operations Alternative includes 
operations discussed under the No Action Alternative plus new and 
expanded levels of operations in support of reasonably foreseeable 
future mission requirements.

DATES: The NNSA invites members of Congress, American Indian Tribal 
Governments, state and local governments, other Federal agencies, and 
the general public to provide comments on the Draft LANL SWEIS. The 
comment period extends from the publication of this Notice of 
Availability through September 5, 2006. Written comments must be 
received or postmarked by September 5, 2006. Comments postmarked after 
this date will be considered to the extent practicable. The NNSA will 
consider the comments in the preparation of the Final LANL SWEIS. 
Public hearings to present information and receive comments on the 
Draft LANL SWEIS will be held at three locations. This information will 
also be published in local New Mexico newspapers in advance of the 
hearings. Any necessary changes will be announced in the local media 
and on the web site noted in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Oral 
and written comments will be accepted at the public hearings. The 
locations, dates, and times for these public hearings are as follows:

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fuller Lodge, 
Pajarito Room, 2132 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Northern New 
Mexico Community College, Eagle Memorial Sportsplex, 921 Paseo de 
Onate, Espaola, NM.
Thursday, August 10, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Santa Fe 
Community College, Main Building, Jemez Rooms, 6401 Richards Avenue, 
Santa Fe, NM.
    The following Web site may be accessed for additional information: 
http://www.doeal.gov/laso/nepa/sweis.htm. For information or to record 
comments call 1-877-491-4957

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft LANL SWEIS are available for review at: 
The Los Alamos Outreach Center, 1619 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, New 
Mexico, 87544; the Office of the Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory 
Board, 1660 Old Pecos Trail, Suite B, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and the 
Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 
87131. The Draft SWEIS will also be available on the Department of 
Energy Los Alamos Site Office's LASO NEPA website at: http://www.doeal.gov/laso/nepa/sweis.htm. Additionally, a copy of the Draft 
LANL SWEIS or its Summary may be obtained upon request by writing to: 
U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, 
Los Alamos Site Office, Attn: Ms. Elizabeth Withers, Office of 
Environmental Stewardship, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 
87544; or by facsimile ((505) 667-5948); or by e-mail at: [email protected].
    Specific information regarding the public hearings can also be 
obtained by the means described above. Comments concerning the Draft 
LANL SWEIS can be submitted to the NNSA Los Alamos Site Office by the 
means described above or by leaving a message on the LASO EIS Hotline 
at (toll free) 1-877-491-4957. The Hotline will have instructions on 
how to record comments. Please mark all envelopes, faxes and e-mail: 
``Draft LANL SWEIS Comments''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA NEPA 
process, please contact: Ms. Alice Williams, NA-56, NEPA Compliance 
Officer for Defense Programs, U.S. Department of Energy, National 
Nuclear Security Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585, or telephone 202-586-6847, or Ms. Elizabeth 
Withers, NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos 
Site Office, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87004, or 
telephone 505-845-4984. For general information about the DOE NEPA 
process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA 
Policy and Compliance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or 
leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose and need for continued 
operation of LANL is to provide support for DOE and NNSA core missions 
as directed by Congress and the President. NNSA's need to continue 
operating LANL is focused on their obligation to ensure a safe and 
reliable nuclear weapons stockpile. LANL is also needed to support 
other Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. 
The Draft LANL SWEIS analyzes the environmental impacts of operations 
at LANL.
    LANL is located in north-central New Mexico and covers an area of 
about 40 square miles (104 square kilometers). LANL was established in 
1943 as ``Project Y'' of the Manhattan Project with a single-focused 
national defense mission--to build the world's first nuclear weapon. 
After World War II ended, Project Y was designated a permanent research 
and development laboratory and its mission support work was expended 
from defense and related research and development to incorporate a wide 
variety of new work assignments in support of other Federal Government 
and civilian programs. LANL is now a multi-disciplinary, multipurpose 
institution engaged in theoretical and experimental research and 
development.
    DOE issued a Final SWEIS and Record of Decision in 1999 for the 
continued operation of LANL. DOE regulations implementing NEPA require 
the evaluation of site-wide NEPA analyses every five years to determine 
their continued applicability; such a five-year evaluation was 
initiated for the 1999 SWEIS in 2004, and NNSA subsequently made a 
determination to prepare a new SWEIS for LANL operations. Decisions 
regarding LANL operations that will be based upon impact information 
contained within this SWEIS will replace previous decisions announced 
through the 1999 ROD for LANL operations.
    The alternatives evaluated in the Draft LANL SWEIS represent a 
range of operational levels ranging from the

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minimal reasonable activity levels (Reduced Operations Alternative), to 
the highest reasonable activity levels that could be supported by 
current facilities, plus the potential expansion and construction of 
new facilities for existing capabilities and for specifically 
identified future actions (Expanded Operations Alternative). The No 
Action Alternative would continue current mission support work at LANL 
and includes approved interim actions and facility construction, 
expansions or modifications, and decontamination and decommissioning 
for which NEPA impact analysis has already been completed. All 
alternatives assume LANL will continue to operate as a NNSA national 
security laboratory for the foreseeable future.
    Following the end of the public comment period described above, the 
NNSA will consider and respond to the comments received, and issue the 
Final LANL SWEIS. The NNSA will consider the environmental impact 
analysis presented in the Final LANL SWEIS, along with other 
information, in determining the Record of Decision for the continued 
operation of LANL.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 26th day of May 2006.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Acting Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-6055 Filed 7-6-06; 8:45 am]
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