[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54223-54224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22269]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for a 
Radiological Work and Storage Building at the Knolls Atomic Power 
Laboratory Kesselring Site

AGENCY: Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment.

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[[Page 54224]]

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and the Department of Energy (DOE) 
implementing procedures (10 CFR part 1021); the Naval Nuclear 
Propulsion Program (NNPP) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for a radiological work and storage 
building at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) Kesselring Site 
in West Milton, New York. A new facility is needed to streamline 
radioactive material handling and storage operations, permit demolition 
of aging facilities, and accommodate efficient maintenance of existing 
nuclear reactors.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to provide comments on 
environmental issues and concerns relative to this notice of intent 
(NOI) and the scope of the EA, on or before September 30, 2011, to 
ensure full consideration during the preparation of the EA.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to: David 
Delwiche, Naval Reactors Laboratory Field Office, P.O. Box 1069, 
Schenectady, NY 12301.
    Comments provided by e-mail should be submitted to 
[email protected]. Comments provided by phone should use 518-
395-6366.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
project, contact Mr. David Delwiche, as described above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP is responsible for all aspects of 
U.S. Navy nuclear power and propulsion. These responsibilities include 
design, maintenance, and safe operation of nuclear propulsion systems 
throughout their operational life cycles. A crucial component of this 
mission is to provide prospective Naval nuclear propulsion plant 
operators and officers with training and certification in the actual 
hands-on operation of a nuclear propulsion plant. Two land-based 
training platforms are located at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory 
Kesselring Site near West Milton, Saratoga County, New York.
    The developed portion of the Kesselring Site consists of 
approximately 65 acres of land on an approximately 3900-acre 
reservation. Facilities on the site include three pressurized water 
naval nuclear propulsion plants, one of which has been permanently shut 
down, defueled, and is in the process of being dismantled. The site 
also contains administrative offices, machine shops, waste storage 
facilities, oil storage facilities, training facilities, chemistry 
laboratories, cooling towers and a boiler house.
    The NNPP proposes to construct a new radiological work and storage 
building to (1) Streamline radioactive material handling and storage 
operations, (2) permit demolition of aging facilities, and (3) 
accommodate efficient maintenance of existing operating nuclear 
reactors. Construction of a new facility is needed to ensure that the 
Kesselring Site continues to meet its mission to provide the Navy 
highly qualified personnel to operate its nuclear powered fleet of 11 
aircraft carriers and 71 commissioned submarines in support of national 
defense.
    The NNPP proposes to construct a new facility within the existing 
developed area at the Kesselring Site. The proposed EA will address and 
evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with operations 
in the new facility and demolition of existing aged radiological 
facilities at the Kesselring Site to provide space for the construction 
of a new facility. The NNPP proposes to evaluate three alternatives in 
the EA. These alternatives include:
    Alternative 1--Build a new radiological work and storage building 
at the Kesselring Site.
    Alternative 2--Build a temporary facility at the Kesselring Site.
    No Action Alternative--Continue to use the existing facilities at 
the Kesselring Site.
    The NNPP proposes to address the issues listed below when 
considering the potential environmental impacts of the proposed 
alternatives in the EA. This list is presented to facilitate public 
comment during the scoping period and is not intended to be 
comprehensive, or to imply any predetermination of impacts. Issues that 
will be addressed include:
     Potential biological impacts;
     Potential socioeconomic impacts/environmental justice;
     Potential impacts on water resources, including potential 
impacts on wetland areas;
     Potential impacts on cultural resources;
     Potential impacts to land use;
     Potential human health effects;
     Potential transportation impacts;
     Potential impacts on air quality;
     Potential impacts from waste management;
     Potential cumulative impacts;
     Compliance with applicable Federal and State regulations.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2011.
John M. McKenzie,
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-22269 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
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