[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 62569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26319]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Extension of the Public Comment Period for the U.S. Department of 
Energy Interpretation of High-Level Radioactive Waste

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is extending the public 
comment period for the request for public comments on its proposed 
interpretation of the statutory term high-level radioactive waste 
(HLW). DOE published a notice in the Federal Register on October 10, 
2018, establishing a 60-day public comment period ending on December 
10, 2018. DOE is extending the public comment period for 30 days, 
ending on January 9, 2019.

DATES: The comment period for the Notice published on October 10, 2018 
(83 FR 50909) is extended. DOE will consider all comments submitted or 
postmarked by January 9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Please direct comments to:
    (a) Email: Send comments to [email protected]. Please submit 
comments in MicrosoftTM Word, or PDF file format, and avoid 
the use of encryption.
    (b) Mail: Send to the following address: Theresa Kliczewski, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, Office of 
Waste and Materials Management (EM-4.2), 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Theresa Kliczewski at 
[email protected] or at U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Environmental Management, Office of Waste and Materials Management (EM-
4.2), 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 
(202) 586-3301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 10, 2018, DOE published a notice 
in the Federal Register [83 FR 50909] soliciting public comment on its 
interpretation of the statutory term high-level radioactive waste (HLW) 
as set forth in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Nuclear Waste 
Policy Act of 1982. This statutory term indicates that not all wastes 
from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel are HLW, and DOE interprets the 
statutory term such that some reprocessing wastes may be classified as 
not HLW (non-HLW) and may be disposed of in accordance with their 
radiological characteristics. DOE established a 60-day public comment 
period ending on December 10, 2018. DOE has received public comments in 
response to the Notice, including requests from several entities 
requesting extensions of the public comment period. Commenters noted 
the significance of this matter, the overlap in comment periods with 
another DOE radioactive waste proceeding at DOE's Hanford site, etc. 
DOE has reviewed the requests for an extension of the public comment 
period and considered the benefit to DOE and stakeholders in providing 
additional time to the public to review the Notice and provide comments 
to DOE on its HLW interpretation. Accordingly, DOE has determined that 
an extension of the comment period is appropriate, and is hereby 
extending the comment period an additional 30 days, with the public 
comment period ending on January 9, 2019.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on November 28, 2018.
Anne Marie White,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-26319 Filed 12-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P