[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10574-10577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4151]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level
Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste, and Notice of Public Hearings
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability
of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of
Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like
Waste (EIS-0375D, Draft EIS) for public review and comment. The Low-
Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA) of 1985 makes
the Federal Government responsible for the disposal of GTCC low-level
radioactive waste (LLRW) that results from Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) and Agreement State licensed activities. DOE is the
Federal agency responsible for the disposal of GTCC LLRW. In addition
to GTCC LLRW, this Draft EIS also addresses DOE generated or -owned
LLRW and potential non-defense-generated transuranic radioactive waste
having characteristics similar to GTCC LLRW (referred to herein as
``GTCC-like'' waste) and for which there may be no path to disposal.
DOE prepared this Draft EIS in accordance with the regulations of
the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) for
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and DOE's
NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021). The Draft EIS
evaluates the potential human health and environmental impacts of
alternatives for disposing of an estimated 12,000 cubic meters (m\3\)
of waste, containing approximately 160 million curies of radioactivity.
This includes GTCC LLRW as defined by the NRC in 10 CFR 72.3, i.e.,
``low-level radioactive waste that exceeds the concentration limits of
radionuclides established for Class C waste in 10 CFR 61.55,'' as well
as GTCC-like waste.
DOE proposes to construct and operate a new facility or facilities,
or use an existing facility or facilities, for the disposal of GTCC
LLRW and GTCC-like waste. The Draft EIS evaluates alternative methods
for disposal of these wastes at the following alternative locations:
the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho;
at and near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico; the Los
Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico; the Nevada
[[Page 10575]]
National Security Site (formerly known as the Nevada Test Site) in
Nevada; and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Draft EIS
also evaluates generic commercial disposal sites in four regions of the
U.S., and a ``No Action Alternative'' as required under NEPA. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is a cooperating agency in the
preparation of this EIS.
DATES: DOE invites the public to submit oral and/or written comments on
this Draft EIS during the public comment period, which extends through
June 27, 2011. DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked by
that date in preparing the Final EIS, and will consider late comments
to the extent practicable. DOE will hold public hearings on the dates,
times, and locations listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by U.S.
mail to the following address: Mr. Arnold M. Edelman, EIS Document
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, GTCC EIS, Cloverleaf Building, EM-
43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Comments may
also be submitted electronically via the GTCC EIS Web site at http://www.gtcceis.anl.gov, where the Draft EIS can be found, or by electronic
mail to [email protected]. The Draft EIS is also available on DOE's NEPA
Web site at http://nepa.energy.gov/draft_environmental_impact_statements.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
Draft EIS, please contact Mr. Edelman at the mailing address or via the
GTCC EIS Web site listed above. For information regarding the DOE NEPA
process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of
NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-
4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 3(b)(1)(D) of the LLRWPAA assigned the Federal government
responsibility for the disposal of GTCC LLRW that results from
activities conducted under NRC and Agreement State licenses. The
LLRWPAA also specified in Section 3(b)(2) that such waste be disposed
of in a facility licensed by NRC. DOE is the Federal agency responsible
for the disposal of GTCC LLRW. NRC, in 10 CFR 72.3, defines GTCC waste
as LLRW that exceeds the concentration limits of radionuclides
established for Class C waste in 10 CFR 61.55.
This Draft EIS evaluates the range of reasonable alternatives for
disposal of GTCC LLRW. It also evaluates alternatives for the disposal
of LLRW and potential non-defense-generated transuranic radioactive
waste generated or owned by DOE, which has characteristics similar to
GTCC LLRW, and for which there may be no path to disposal. For the
purposes of this Draft EIS, DOE is referring to this waste as GTCC-like
waste. The NRC LLRW waste classification system in 10 CFR 61.55 does
not apply to radioactive waste generated or owned by DOE and disposed
of in DOE facilities. DOE evaluates GTCC-like waste in the Draft EIS
because common approaches may be used to dispose of both GTCC LLRW and
GTCC-like waste.
DOE's proposed action is to construct and operate a new facility or
facilities, or use an existing facility or facilities, for the disposal
of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste. Accordingly, the Draft EIS evaluates
the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed
construction, operation, and performance of a facility or facilities
for the disposal of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste.
Types and Estimated Quantities of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-Like Wastes
The total inventory volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste
evaluated in the Draft EIS is about 12,000 m\3\, and is estimated to
contain approximately 160 million curies of radioactivity. Of this
total, approximately 3,000 m\3\ and less than one million curies are
estimated to be GTCC-like waste. Approximately ten percent of the total
estimated inventory volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste is
currently in storage, while approximately 90 percent is expected to be
generated in the future.
GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste, for purposes of the Draft EIS, are
categorized into three waste types: activated metal, sealed sources, or
Other Waste. Activated metal wastes are largely generated from the
decommissioning of nuclear reactors. They include portions of the
nuclear reactor vessel, such as the core shroud and core support plate.
Activated Metal wastes represent approximately 17 percent of the total
inventory volume and approximately 98 percent of the radioactivity from
GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste. There are 104 operating commercial
reactors in the U.S., an additional 18 that have been closed or
decommissioned, and an estimated 33 new commercial reactors that may be
constructed in the future. Most of the Activated Metal waste will not
be generated for several decades, when the majority of the currently
operating reactors are scheduled to undergo decommissioning.
Sealed Sources are widely used for medical purposes, such as in
equipment to diagnose and treat illnesses (particularly cancer),
sterilize medical devices, and irradiate blood for transplant patients;
and for industrial purposes, such as nondestructive testing of
structures and industrial equipment and exploration of geologic
formations for oil and gas. They are located in hospitals,
universities, and industries throughout the U.S. Sealed sources
represent approximately 25 percent of the total inventory volume and
approximately one percent of the total radioactivity from GTCC LLRW and
GTCC-like waste.
Other Waste primarily includes contaminated equipment, debris,
scrap metal, and decommissioning waste such as waste from the
production of molybdenum-99, which is used in about 16 million medical
procedures (e.g., to detect cancer) each year; the production of
radioisotope power systems in support of space exploration and national
security; and the environmental cleanup of the West Valley Site in New
York (a former commercial facility for reprocessing of spent nuclear
fuel from nuclear power reactors). Other Waste represents approximately
58 percent of the total inventory volume and approximately one percent
of the radioactivity from GTCC and GTCC-like wastes.
Disposal Alternatives Evaluated
The Draft EIS evaluates the range of reasonable alternatives for
the disposal of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste including:
1. Disposal in the WIPP geologic repository in New Mexico;
2. Disposal in a new borehole disposal facility at the Hanford Site
in Washington, the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho, the Los Alamos
National Laboratory and WIPP Vicinity in New Mexico, and the Nevada
National Security Site (formerly known as the Nevada Test Site) in
Nevada; and
3. Disposal in a new trench or vault disposal facility at the same
sites identified in item 2 above and at the Savannah River Site in
South Carolina.
The Draft EIS also evaluates the potential environmental impacts of
using a facility or facilities at generic commercial disposal sites in
four regions of the U.S., should one or more commercial facilities be
proposed in the future. In addition, the Draft EIS
[[Page 10576]]
analyzes the No Action Alternative, as required by NEPA.
Alternatives Considered but Not Evaluated
DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) for this EIS (72 FR 40135, July 23,
2007) identified Yucca Mountain in Nevada and the Oak Ridge Reservation
(ORR) in Tennessee as locations to be evaluated for the potential
disposal of GTCC wastes. DOE did not evaluate a repository at Yucca
Mountain as an alternative in this Draft EIS because, since publication
of the NOI, the Department determined that developing a permanent
repository for high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca
Mountain is not a workable option and that the project should be
terminated. Creating a disposal site at Yucca Mountain only for GTCC
waste is not a reasonable alternative. Therefore, disposal of GTCC LLRW
and GTCC-like waste at Yucca Mountain is no longer a reasonable
alternative. The Draft EIS also does not evaluate disposal of this
waste at ORR. Reviews conducted by DOE's Low-Level Waste Disposal
Facility Federal Review Group determined that the site is not
appropriate for disposal of LLRW containing high concentrations of
long-lived radionuclides such as those found in GTCC wastes.
Preferred Alternative
DOE does not have a preferred alternative for the disposal of GTCC
and GTCC-like waste, but does identify factors that DOE plans to
consider in developing a preferred alternative or alternatives for
inclusion in the Final EIS. These factors are discussed in the Summary
and Chapter 2 of the Draft EIS and include waste type characteristics
(e.g., radionuclide inventory and waste form stability), disposal
method considerations (e.g., protection of an inadvertent intruder and
operational experience), and disposal location considerations (e.g.,
potential human health impacts, tribal concerns, laws and other
requirements). The preferred alternative could be a combination of two
or more alternatives, which could include the No Action Alternative for
a portion of the waste. DOE invites public comments on these factors
and any additional factors that should be considered in the selection
of a preferred alternative and why.
Public Hearings
DOE invites the public to present oral and/or written comments
during public hearings on the Draft EIS. Participants may register to
speak at the hearing or via the GTCC Web site. Speakers will be
recognized in order as registered. Speakers may be asked to limit their
oral comments to a certain time limit to be decided at the beginning of
each of the public hearings based on the number of registered speakers.
Speakers may be given an opportunity to take the floor a second time
after all those who wish to speak have been given an opportunity to do
so. During the first hour, the public may review informational
materials provided by DOE and speak informally with DOE
representatives. This will be followed by the formal hearing, which
will be opened with a brief DOE presentation about the Draft EIS and a
review of the hearing procedures. A court reporter will record all oral
comments, which later will be publicly available. In addition to the
dates, times, and locations of all the hearings listed below, further
information about the hearings will also be available on the GTCC Web
site and provided in local print media seven days in advance of the
hearing.
Public hearings will be held at the following locations:
South Carolina
North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Avenue, North Augusta, SC
29841, April 19, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
New Mexico
Pecos River Village Conference Center, Carousel House, 711 Muscatel
Avenue, Carlsbad, NM 88220, April 26, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco Road NE., Albuquerque, NM,
April 27, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Cities of Gold Hotel Conference Center, 10-B Cities of Gold Road, Santa
Fe, NM 87506, April 28, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Nevada
Desert Research Institute--Frank Rodgers Building, 755 C. East Flamingo
Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, May 9, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Idaho
Shiloh Inn Suites Hotel, 780 Lindsay Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83402,
May 11, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Washington
Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, May 17, 2011,
5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Oregon
Doubletree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232, May 19,
2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Washington, DC
Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005, May 25,
2011, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Public Reading Rooms and Libraries
Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review at the
locations listed below:
District of Columbia
U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Act Public Reading
Room, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1G-033, Washington, DC 20585,
(202) 586-5955.
Idaho
University Place, TAB Building, U.S. Department of Energy Public
Reading Room, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, (208)
526-0833.
Nevada
Nevada Site Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, 755
East Flamingo Road, Room 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119, (702) 794-5106.
Amargosa Valley Library, 829 E. Farm Road, HCR 69 Box 401-T, Amargosa,
NV 89020, (775) 372-5340.
Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, (702)
507-3400.
Indian Springs Library, 715 Gretta Lane, P.O. Box 629, Indian Springs,
NV 89018, (702) 879-3845.
Las Vegas Library, 833 N. Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89101,
(702) 507-3500.
Pahrump Community Library, 701 S. East Street, Pahrump, NV 89048, (775)
727-5930.
Tonopah Public Library, 167 S. Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049, (775)
482-3374.
New Mexico
DOE FOIA Reading Room, Government Information/Zimmerman Library,
University of New Mexico, MSC05 3020, 1 University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, (505) 277-7180.
Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy, WIPP Information
Center, 4021 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220, (575) 234-7348
or (800) 336-9477.
Carlsbad Public Library, 101 South Halagueno Street, Carlsbad, NM
88220, (575) 885-6776.
[[Page 10577]]
Eunice Public Library, 1039 10th Street, Eunice, NM 88231, (575) 394-
2336.
Espa[ntilde]ola Public Library, 313 N Paseo de O[ntilde]ate,
Espa[ntilde]ola, NM 87532, (505) 747-6087.
Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544, (505)
662-8250.
Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501,
(505) 955-6780.
Santa Fe Public Library, Oliver La Farge Branch, 1730 Llano Street,
Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 955-4860.
New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507,
(505) 476-9717.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, P.O. Box 1663,
Mail Stop M9991, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Phone: (505) 667-0216.
Oregon
Portland State University, Government Information, Branford Price
Millar Library, 1875 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, (503) 725-
5874.
South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Aiken, Gregg-Graniteville Library, 471
University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801, (803) 641-3320.
South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29211,
(803) 734-8026.
Washington
U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Consolidated
Information Center, 2770 University Drive, Room 101L, Richland, WA
99352, (509) 372-7443.
University of Washington, Suzzallo-Allen Library, Government
Publications Division, Seattle, WA 98195, (206) 543-1937.
Gonzaga University, Foley Center Library, 101-L 502 East Boone Avenue,
Spokane, WA 99258, (509) 313-5931.
Individual commentors' names and addresses (including e-mail
addresses) received as part of oral presentations at the public
hearings or comment documents on this Draft EIS normally are part of
the public record. DOE plans to reproduce comment documents in their
entirety in the Final EIS, as appropriate, and to post all comment
documents received in their entirety on the website for this EIS at the
close of the public comment period. Any person wishing to have his/her
name, address, or other identifying information withheld from the
public record of comment documents must state this request prominently
at the beginning of any comment document. DOE will honor the request to
the extent allowable by law. All submissions from organizations or
businesses will be included in the public record and open to public
inspection in their entirety.
Next Steps
Following the end of the public comment period, DOE will consider
public comments on the Draft EIS in preparing the Final EIS. After
issuing the Final EIS, DOE will consider the environmental impact(s)
presented in the Final EIS, along with other appropriate information in
proposing its decision(s) related to the disposal of GTCC and GTCC-like
wastes. DOE will not issue a Record of Decision until its required
Report to Congress has been provided and appropriate action has been
taken by Congress in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2011.
Christine Gelles,
Director, Office of Disposal Operations, Office of Environmental
Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-4151 Filed 2-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P