[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63460-63463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25420]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of Final Complex Transformation 
Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a 
separately-organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 
announces the availability of the Complex Transformation Supplemental 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Complex Transformation 
SPEIS, DOE/EIS-0236-S4). The Complex Transformation SPEIS analyzes the 
potential environmental impacts of reasonable alternatives to continue 
transformation of the nuclear weapons complex to be smaller, and more 
responsive, efficient, and secure in order to meet national security 
requirements. It is a supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and 
Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SSM PEIS, DOE/
EIS-0236). NNSA prepared the SPEIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 
CFR Parts 1500-1508), and DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR Part 
1021).

DATES: NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision (RODs) 
based on the Complex Transformation SPEIS thirty or more days after the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes a notice of 
availability of the Final Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Requests for additional information on the Complex 
Transformation SPEIS, including requests for copies of the document, 
should be directed to: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, Complex Transformation 
SPEIS Document Manager, Office of Transformation, NA-141, Department of 
Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, toll 
free 1-800-832-0885 ext. 63519. A request for a copy of the document 
may also be sent by facsimile to 1-703-931-9222, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].The Complex Transformation SPEIS and 
additional information regarding complex transformation are available 
on the Internet at http://www.ComplexTransformationSPEIS.com and  
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov. The Complex Transformation SPEIS and 
referenced documents are available for review at the DOE Reading Rooms 
and public libraries listed at the end of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA's 
proposal, please contact: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, NA-141, Complex 
Transformation SPEIS Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585, or telephone at 1-800-832-0885 ext. 63519. 
For general information about the DOE NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol 
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20), 
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. 
Additional information regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many 
of DOE's NEPA documents are available on the Internet through the DOE 
NEPA Web site at http://www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National security policies require the U.S. 
DOE, through the NNSA, to maintain the United States' nuclear weapons 
stockpile,\1\ as well as core competencies in nuclear weapons. Since 
completion in 1996 of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
for Stockpile Stewardship and Management (SSM PEIS, DOE/EIS-0236) and 
associated ROD (61 FR 68014; December 26, 1996), DOE has implemented 
these policies through the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). The SSP 
emphasizes development and application of greatly improved scientific 
and technical capabilities to assess the safety, security, and 
reliability of existing nuclear warheads without the use of nuclear 
testing. Throughout the 1990s, DOE also took steps to consolidate the 
Complex from 12 sites to its current configuration of three national 
laboratories (plus an

[[Page 63461]]

associated flight test range), four industrial plants, and a nuclear 
test site.
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    \1\ The nuclear weapons stockpile consists of nuclear weapons 
that are both deployed to the military services (``operationally 
deployed'') and ``reserve weapons'' that could be used to augment 
the operationally deployed weapons or to provide replacements for 
warheads that experience safety or reliability problems.
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    The Complex Transformation SPEIS evaluates alternatives for 
continuing transformation of the nuclear weapons complex (Complex) into 
a smaller, more efficient enterprise that can respond to changing 
national security challenges. These changes would build upon decisions 
made in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War and the cessation 
of nuclear weapons testing.
    The SPEIS contains NNSA's responses to comments submitted during 
the public comment period, which opened on January 11, 2008, and closed 
on April 30, 2008, as well as changes that were made to the Draft SPEIS 
as a result of these comments.
    The specific alternatives for restructuring special nuclear 
materials (SNM) \2\ facilities are divided into two broad categories: 
Programmatic, which looks at ways to consolidate and modernize 
manufacturing and SNM activities; and project specific, which look at 
ways to consolidate and modernize specific research, development, and 
testing activities. For the programmatic alternatives, NNSA evaluated:
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    \2\ As defined in section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
special nuclear material is: (1) Plutonium, uranium enriched in the 
isotope 233 or in the isotope 235; or (2) any material artificially 
enriched by any of the foregoing and any other material which the 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines to be special nuclear 
material.
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     No Action Alternative: Under the No Action Alternative, 
NNSA would make no major changes to the SNM missions now assigned to 
NNSA sites and would continue to implement actions for which NNSA has 
previously announced its decision in a ROD. With respect to SNM 
consolidation, ongoing actions to transfer Category I/II \3\ SNM from 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are included within the 
No Action Alternative.
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    \3\ Special nuclear material is categorized into Security 
Categories I, II, III, and IV based on the type, attractiveness 
level, and quantity of material. Categories I and II require the 
highest level of security.
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     Programmatic Alternative 1: Distributed Centers of 
Excellence (DCE). The DCE alternative would locate the three major SNM 
functional capabilities (plutonium operations, uranium operations, and 
weapon assembly/disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM 
at two or three separate Complex sites. This alternative examines the 
potential creation of a Consolidated Plutonium Center (CPC) for 
research and development (R&D), storage, processing, and manufacture of 
plutonium parts (pits) for the nuclear weapons stockpile. A CPC could 
consist of new facilities, or modifications to existing facilities at 
one of the following sites: Los Alamos,\4\ Nevada Test Site (NTS), 
Pantex, Savannah River Site (SRS), or Y-12. This alternative assumes 
that highly-enriched uranium and uranium storage, and uranium 
operations, would continue at Y-12, either at a new Uranium Processing 
Facility (UPF) or at upgraded, existing facilities. It also assumes 
that the weapons Assembly/Disassembly/High Explosives (A/D/HE) mission 
would remain at Pantex.
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    \4\ In general, when referring to the Los Alamos National 
Laboratory, the SPEIS refers to this site as ``LANL.'' The term 
``Los Alamos'' is used to describe this site as an alternative 
location for a CPC or Consolidated Nuclear Production Center (CNPC).
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     Programmatic Alternative 2: Consolidated Centers of 
Excellence (CCE). Under this alternative, NNSA would consolidate the 
three major SNM functions (plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/
disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM at one or two 
sites. Two options are assessed: A single site option referred to as 
the consolidated nuclear production center (CNPC) option, and a two-
site option, referred to as the Consolidated Nuclear Center (CNC) 
option. Under the CNPC option, a new CNPC with facilities dedicated to 
modernizing plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/disassembly 
operations could be established at Los Alamos, NTS, Pantex, SRS, or Y-
12. The SPEIS analyzes the impacts of each of these facilities 
separately and in combination at all potential locations. Under the CNC 
option, the plutonium and uranium nuclear component manufacturing 
missions could be separate from the A/D/HE mission. The A/D/HE 
functions could remain at Pantex or move to the NTS, while the 
plutonium and uranium missions could be located at sites different than 
the A/D/HE function.
     Programmatic Alternative 3: Capability-Based Alternative. 
Under this alternative, NNSA would maintain a basic capability for 
manufacturing components for all stockpile weapons, as well as 
laboratory and experimental capabilities to support the stockpile, 
while reducing production facilities in-place to the extent that would 
allow NNSA to produce a nominal level of replacement components 
(approximately 50 components per year). Pit production capacity at LANL 
would not be expanded beyond the capability to produce 50 pits per 
year. Within this alternative, NNSA also considered a No Net 
Production/Capability-Based Alternative, in which NNSA would maintain 
capabilities to continue surveillance of the weapons stockpile, produce 
limited life components, and continue dismantlement. This alternative 
involves a minimum production (production of 10 sets of components or 
assembly of 10 weapons per year), within facilities with a larger 
manufacturing capability.
    For the project specific alternatives, NNSA evaluated:
     High Explosives (HE) Research and Development (R&D)
     Tritium R&D
     Flight Test Operations
     Hydrodynamic Testing
 Major Environmental Testing
 Weapons Support Functions at Sandia National Laboratories 
(SNL), California

    Alternatives for each of these project areas generally include: No 
action, consolidation, and downsizing in place. In the case of Flight 
Test Operations, NNSA also considered additional alternatives that 
would relocate Flight Test Operations to either White Sands Missile 
Range, or the Nevada Test Site.
    Preferred Alternatives: In accordance with CEQ regulations at 40 
CFR 1502.14(e), NNSA identified the following preferred alternatives in 
the SPEIS:

Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring SNM Facilities

     Plutonium manufacturing and R&D: Los Alamos would provide 
a consolidated plutonium research, development, and manufacturing 
capability within Technical Area-55 (TA-55), enabled by construction 
and operation of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement-
Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF). The CMRR-NF is needed to replace the 
existing Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) Facility (a 50-year 
old facility that has significant safety issues that cannot be 
addressed in the existing structure), to support movement of plutonium 
R&D and Category I/II quantities of SNM from LLNL, and consolidate 
weapons-related plutonium operations at Los Alamos. Until completion of 
a new Nuclear Posture Review in 2009 or later, the net production at 
Los Alamos would be limited to a maximum of 20 pits per year. Other 
national security actinide needs and missions would continue to be 
supported at TA-55 on a priority basis (e.g., emergency response, 
material disposition, nuclear energy).
     Uranium manufacturing and R&D: Y-12 would continue as the 
uranium

[[Page 63462]]

center producing components and canned subassemblies, and conducting 
surveillance and dismantlement. NNSA has completed construction of the 
HEUMF and will consolidate HEU storage in that facility.\5\ NNSA would 
build a Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y-12 in order to provide a 
smaller and modern highly-enriched uranium production capability to 
replace existing 50-year old facilities. The site-specific impacts and 
candidate locations for a UPF will be analyzed in a new SWEIS for Y-12 
that NNSA is currently preparing.
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    \5\ The environmental impacts at HEUMF and its alternatives are 
analyzed in the 2001 Y-12 SWEIS (DOE/EIS-0309).
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     Assembly/disassembly/high explosives production and 
manufacturing: Pantex would remain the Assembly/Disassembly/High 
Explosives production and manufacturing center. NNSA would consolidate 
non-destructive surveillance operations at Pantex.
     Consolidation of Category I/II SNM: NNSA would continue to 
transfer Category I/II SNM from LLNL under the No Action Alternative 
and phase out Category I/II operations at LLNL Superblock by the end of 
2012. NNSA would consolidate Category I/II SNM at Pantex within Zone 
12, and close Zone 4.

Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring R&D and Testing Facilities

    HE R&D: NNSA would reduce the footprint of its HE production and 
R&D related to nuclear weapons and reduce the number of firing sites. 
Use of energetic materials (greater than 1 kg) for environmental 
testing conducted at SNL, New Mexico (SNL/NM) would continue (e.g., 
acceleration or sled tracks, shock loading, or in explosive tubes) and 
is not included in HE R&D. NNSA would consolidate weapons HE R&D and 
testing within the following locations, without constraining transfer 
and operation of weapons programs firing sites to other NNSA, 
Department of Defense (DoD), and national security sponsors, as 
follows:
     Pantex would remain the HE production (formulation, 
processing, and testing) and machining center. All HE production and 
machining to develop nuclear explosive packages would continue at 
Pantex. HE experiments up to 22 kg HE would remain at Pantex;
     NTS would remain the testing center for large quantities 
of HE (greater than 10 kg);
     LLNL would be the HE R&D center for formulation, 
processing, and testing (processing capability to handle up to 15 kg 
and testing less than 10 kg) HE at the High Explosives Applications 
Facility (HEAF); formulation and processing of HE would be conducted 
either at a new HEAF Annex built adjacent to HEAF, or at existing Site 
300 facilities (but using less space than currently used for these 
activities);
     SNL/NM would remain the HE R&D center for non-nuclear 
explosive package components (less than 1 kg of HE) at the Explosive 
Components Facility (ECF); and
     LANL would produce war reserve main charge detonators, 
conduct HE R&D experimentation and support activities, and move towards 
contained HE R&D experimentation.
     Each site would maintain one weapons program open-burn and 
one open-detonation area for safety and treatment purposes.
    Tritium R&D: NNSA would consolidate tritium R&D at SRS. SRS would 
remain the site for tritium supply management and provide R&D support 
to production operations and gas transfer system development. Neutron 
generator target loading at SNL/NM and production of National Ignition 
Facility targets at LLNL, which involve small quantities of tritium, 
would continue and would not be included in this consolidation. NNSA 
would move bulk quantities of tritium from LANL to SRS by 2009; and 
remove tritium materials above the 30 gram level from the Weapons 
Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) at LANL by 2014.
    NNSA flight test operations: NNSA would reduce the footprint of 
Tonopah Test Range, upgrade equipment with mobile capability, and 
operate in campaign mode. NNSA expects it would not use Category I/II 
SNM in future flight tests.
    Major Hydrodynamic Testing: By the end of fiscal year 2008, NNSA 
would contain the hydrodynamic testing (consisting of Integrated 
Weapons Experiments and Focused Experiments) at LLNL at the Contained 
Firing Facility and at LANL at the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic 
Test (DARHT) facility. At LANL, firing site operations for weapon 
programs required by NNSA's hydrodynamic test program would be moved to 
contained firing. In addition:
     Hydrotesting at LLNL Site 300 would be consolidated to a 
smaller footprint by 2015.
     The goal is to minimize open-air testing at LANL. Open-air 
hydrotests at LANL's DARHT, excluding SNM, would only occur if needed 
to meet national security requirements.
     NNSA would allow open-air firing at LANL TA-36 until 
adequate radiographic capabilities and associated supporting 
infrastructure are available for open-air firing at NTS.
    Major Environmental Test Facilities: NNSA would consolidate major 
environmental testing at SNL/NM and, infrequently, conduct operations 
requiring Category I/II SNM in security campaign mode there. NNSA would 
close LANL's and LLNL's major environmental testing facilities by 2010 
(except those in LLNL Building 334 and the Building 834 Complex). NNSA 
would move environmental testing of nuclear explosive packages and 
other functions currently performed in LLNL Buildings 334 and 834 to 
Pantex by 2012.
    Sandia National Laboratories, California Weapons Support Functions: 
NNSA would continue operations under the No Action Alternative.
    As to any other programmatic and project-specific alternatives not 
mentioned above, NNSA's preferred alternative at this time is to 
continue with the No Action Alternatives.
    NNSA will consider the environmental impact analysis presented in 
the Complex Transformation SPEIS, along with other information, in 
making decisions regarding its continuing transformation of the 
Complex. NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision 30 or 
more days after EPA publishes a notice of availability of the Final 
Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal Register. It is anticipated 
that several Records of Decision may be issued based on the Complex 
Transformation SPEIS over the next several years. NNSA will publish all 
Records of Decision in the Federal Register. The Complex Transformation 
SPEIS and referenced documents are available for review at the 
following DOE Reading Rooms and public libraries:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, Discovery 
Center, Building 6525, Livermore, CA 94550, Phone: (925) 422-3272.
Livermore Public Library, 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore, CA 
94550-9315, Phone: (925) 937-5500.
Tracy Public Library, 20 East Eaton Avenue, Tracy, CA 95376, Phone: 
(209) 937-8221.
Southeastern Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Public 
Reading Room, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, GA 30635-6711, Phone: 
(706) 213-3800.
East-Central Georgia Regional Library, 902 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 
30901, Phone: (706) 821-2600.

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Central Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105, Phone: 
(816) 701-3400.
North-East Branch, 6000 Wilson Road, Kansas City, MO 64123, Phone: 
(816) 701-3485.
Kansas City Site Office, Mid-Continent Public Library, Blue Ridge 
Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64138, Phone: (816) 
761-3382.
NNSA Nevada Site Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading 
Room, 755 East Flamingo Road; Room 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119, Phone: 
(702) 784-5121.
Office of Repository Development, Bechtel SAIC Company LLC, Reading 
Room, Science Center, 4101 B Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107, Phone: 
(702) 295-1312.
Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101, 
Phone: (702) 507-3500.
Indian Springs Library, 715 Gretta Lane, Indian Springs, NV 89018, 
Phone: (702) 879-3845.
Beatty Community Library, 400 North 4th Street, Beatty, NV 89003, 
Phone: (775) 553-2257.
Tonopah Public Library, 167 South Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049, 
Phone: (775) 482-3374.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, PO Box 1663, Mail 
Stop M9991, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Phone: (505) 667-0216.
National Nuclear Security Administration Service Center, DOE Reading 
Room, Government Information Department, Zimmerman Library, University 
of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1466, Phone: (505) 277-7180.
Mesa Public Library, 2300 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544, Phone: 
(505) 662-8250.
Santa Fe Main Library, 145 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 
Phone: (505) 955-6780.
Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, NM 87801, Phone: 
(505) 835-1114.
Savannah River Operations Office, Gregg-Graniteville Library, 
University of South Carolina-Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 
29801, Phone: (803) 641-3320.
Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield Street South, Aiken, SC 
29801, Phone: (803) 642-2020.
Barnwell County Public Library, 617 Hagood Avenue, Barnwell, SC 29812, 
Phone: (803) 259-3612.
Oak Ridge Office, DOE Information Center, 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak 
Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 241-4780 or 1 (800) 328-6938, Option 6.
Oak Ridge Public Library, Civic Center, 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak 
Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 425-3455.
Kingston Public Library, 1004 Bradford Way, Kingston, TN 37763, Phone: 
(865) 376-9905.
Central Library, 413 E 4th Avenue; Amarillo, TX 79101, Phone: (806) 
378-3054.
North Branch, 1500 NE 24th Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79107, Phone: (806) 
381-7931.
DOE Reading Room, Lynn Library/Learning Center, Amarillo College, 
Washington Street Campus, 2201 South Washington Street, Amarillo, 
Texas, Phone: (806) 371-5400.
Carson County Library, 401 Main Street, Panhandle, Texas 79068, Phone: 
(806) 537-3742.
U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Act Reading Room, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., IE-190, Washington, DC 20585-0001, 
Phone: (202) 586-5955.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 21st day of October 2008.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-25420 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P