[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14007-14008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5659]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


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 Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment.

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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 the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for construction and operation of a 
radiological work and storage building at the Knolls Atomic Power 
Laboratory (KAPL) Kesselring Site in West Milton, New York. A 
modernized facility is needed to streamline radioactive material 
handling and storage operations, permit demolition of aging facilities, 
and accommodate efficient maintenance of existing nuclear reactors. The 
Draft EA may be viewed at the Saratoga Springs Public Library in 
Saratoga Springs, NY,

[[Page 14008]]

the Schenectady County Public Library (Niskayuna Branch) in Niskayuna, 
NY, or online at http://www.NNPP-NEPA.us/environmental_assessments/kesselring_site/rwsb_ea.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to provide comments regarding the 
Draft EA, on or before April 9, 2012, to ensure full consideration 
during the decision making process.

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 email 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, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 2406, 
2511. 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 EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of 
constructing and operating a new radiological work and storage building 
at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Kesselring Site. A modernized 
radiological work and storage building would streamline radioactive 
material handling and storage operations, permit demolition of aging 
facilities, and accommodate efficient maintenance of existing operating 
nuclear reactors. No spent nuclear fuel would be handled or stored in 
any of the alternatives being considered. The potential environmental 
impacts associated with operations in the new facility or the 
alternatives is consistent with those already addressed in a previous 
Environmental Impact Statement associated with operations at the 
Kesselring Site, which concluded that impacts upon the environment 
would be small. Public comments to this draft EA must be received by 
April 9, 2012, to ensure their consideration in the preparation of the 
final EA and determination of whether a Finding of No Significant 
Impact or Environmental Impact Statement is appropriate.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2012.
Alan R. Denko,
Deputy Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-5659 Filed 3-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P