[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63463-63464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25407]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Supplement to the Environmental Impact Statements for a Geologic
Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level
Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, NV
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is
announcing its intent to prepare a Supplement to the ``Final
Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the
Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at
Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada'' (DOE/EIS-0250F, February 2002)
(Yucca Mountain Final EIS), and the ``Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent
Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye
County, Nevada'' (DOE/EIS-0250F-S1, July 2008) (Repository SEIS). The
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff determined, pursuant to
Section 114(f)(4) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended
(NWPA), that it is practicable to adopt, with further supplementation,
DOE's environmental impact statements prepared in connection with the
proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada. The NRC
staff concluded that the Yucca Mountain Final EIS and Repository SEIS
did not address adequately all of the repository-related impacts on
groundwater, or from surface discharges of groundwater, and therefore
requested that DOE prepare a supplement to these environmental impact
statements. Based on a review of the NRC staff evaluation, the
Department has decided to prepare the requested supplement.
DATES: The Department invites comments during a 30-day period, which
starts with publication of this Notice of Intent and ends November 24,
2008. Comments received after this date will be considered to the
extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Requests for additional information on the supplement or on
the repository program in general, or to become a cooperating agency
should be directed to: Dr. Jane Summerson, EIS Document Manager,
Regulatory Authority Office, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste
Management, U.S. Department of Energy, 1551 Hillshire Drive, Las Vegas,
NV 89134, Telephone 1-800-967-3477. Written comments may be submitted
to Dr. Jane Summerson at this address, or by facsimile to 1-888-767-
0739, or via the Internet at http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/contact/comments.shtml.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the
DOE National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process contact: Ms. Carol
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20585, Telephone 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The NWPA directs the Secretary of Energy, if the Secretary decides
to recommend approval of the Yucca Mountain site for development of a
repository, to submit a final environmental impact statement with any
recommendation to the President. The Department prepared the Yucca
Mountain Final EIS to fulfill that requirement. The Yucca Mountain
Final EIS considered the potential environmental impacts of a
repository design for surface and subsurface facilities, and plans for
the construction, operation, monitoring, and eventual closure of the
repository.
[[Page 63464]]
On February 14, 2002, the Secretary, in accordance with the NWPA,
transmitted his recommendation (including the Yucca Mountain Final EIS)
to the President for approval of the Yucca Mountain site for
development of a geologic repository. The President considered the site
qualified for application to the NRC for a construction authorization
and recommended the site to the U.S. Congress. On July 23, 2002, the
President signed into law a joint congressional resolution designating
the Yucca Mountain site for development as a geologic repository for
the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
In 2006, DOE modified its approach to repository design and
operational plans. On October 13, 2006, DOE announced that it would
prepare a supplement to the Yucca Mountain Final EIS to evaluate
potential environmental impacts of the modified repository design and
operational plans.
On June 3, 2008, the Department submitted an application to the NRC
seeking authorization to construct a geologic repository at Yucca
Mountain in Nye County, Nevada. DOE's application was accompanied by
the Yucca Mountain Final EIS. On June 16, 2008, DOE submitted the
Repository SEIS to the NRC. On July 11, 2008, the Environmental
Protection Agency announced in the Federal Register the availability of
the Repository SEIS (73 FR 39958).
In accord with Section 114(f)(4) of the NWPA, the NRC shall adopt,
to the extent practicable, any environmental impact statement prepared
by DOE in connection with the proposed repository. The NRC staff
reviewed DOE's Yucca Mountain Final EIS and Repository SEIS, and found
that it is practicable to adopt, with further supplementation, these
environmental impact statements. The NRC staff concluded that these
environmental impact statements did not address adequately all of the
repository-related impacts on groundwater, or from surface discharges
of groundwater, and therefore requested that DOE prepare a supplement
to the Yucca Mountain Final EIS and the Repository SEIS. Based on a
review of the NRC staff evaluation, the Department has decided to
prepare the requested supplement.
The requested supplement will analyze further the repository-
related impacts on groundwater, and from surface discharges of
groundwater. More specifically, the supplement will describe the extent
of the volcanic-alluvial aquifer, particularly those parts that could
become contaminated, and how water (and potential contaminants) can
leave the flow system. In addition, the supplement will provide an
analysis of the cumulative amount of radiological and non-radiological
contaminants that can be reasonably expected to enter the aquifer from
the repository, and the amount that could reasonably remain over time.
This information will be used to estimate contamination in the
groundwater, given potential accumulation of radiological and non-
radiological contaminants.
The supplement also will provide a discussion of the impacts on
soils and surface materials from the processes involved in surface
discharges of contaminated groundwater. A description of locations of
potential natural discharge of contaminated groundwater for present and
expected future wetter periods will be included, as will a description
of the physical processes at surface discharge locations that can
affect accumulation, concentration, and potential remobilization of
groundwater-borne contaminants. This information will be used to
develop estimates of the amount of contaminants that could be deposited
at or near the surface, and potential environmental impacts.
Schedule
The Department intends to issue the Draft Supplement in the spring
of 2009, at which time its availability will be announced in the
Federal Register and in media in Nevada. A public comment period will
start upon publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register. DOE will hold a public hearing
during the comment period. The Department will consider and respond to
comments received on the draft supplement in preparing the final
supplement.
Public Reading Rooms
Documents referenced in this Notice of Intent and related
information are available at the following locations: Nye County
Department of Natural Resources and Federal Facilities, 1210 E. Basin
Road, Suite 6, Pahrump, NV 89060 (775) 727-7727; Pahrump
Community Library, 701 East Street, Pahrump, NV 89041 (775) 727-5930;
Beatty Library District, 400 N. 4th Street, Beatty, NV 89003 (775) 553-
2257; Amargosa Valley Library District, 829 East Farm Road, Amargosa,
NV 89020 (775) 372-5340; University of Nevada, Reno, The University of
Nevada Libraries, Business and Government Information Center, M/S 322,
1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, (775) 784-6500, Ext. 309;
Yucca Mountain Repository Assessment Office, 135 South Jackson Street,
Independence, CA 93526 (760) 878-0030; National Nuclear Agency
Administration Nevada Site Office, Public Reading Room, Frank H. Rogers
Building, 755 C East Flamingo Road, Suite 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 794-5117; and the U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters Office
Public Reading Room, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1E-190 (ME-74)
FORS, Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-3142.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2008.
Edward F. Sproat, III,
Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
[FR Doc. E8-25407 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P