Notice of Intent to Prepare a Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex, 71270-71273 [05-23369]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• National Nuclear Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 227 (Monday, November 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71270-71273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23369]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Site-Wide Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental 
Quality's (CEQ) and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) regulations 
implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and 10 CFR Part 1021, 
respectively), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an 
agency within the DOE, announces its intent to prepare a Site-Wide 
Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for the Y-12 National Security 
Complex (Y-12) located at the junction of Bear Creek Road and Scarboro 
Road in Anderson County, Tennessee, near the city of Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee. NNSA has determined that one or more of the proposals to be 
evaluated would be a major federal action that could significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment; therefore, in accordance 
with the DOE regulations implementing NEPA, preparation of a new SWEIS 
is appropriate.
    The new SWEIS will evaluate new proposals as well as update the 
analyses presented in the original SWEIS (DOE/EIS-0309) issued in 
November 2001 (66 FR 56663, November 9, 2001). In its 2002 Record of 
Decision (ROD) (67 FR 11296, March 13, 2002), DOE announced its 
decision to continue operations at Y-12 and to construct and operate 
two new facilities: (1) The Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility 
(HEUMF) and (2) the Special Materials Complex (SMC). The HEUMF is 
currently under construction. The SMC was subsequently cancelled due to 
changing mission requirements and replaced by a smaller facility that 
pertains to purification only (Supplement Analysis for Purification 
Facility, Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 
National Security Complex, DOE/EIS-0309/SA-1, August 2002), and the 
installation of two new pieces of equipment to allow reuse of parts 
rather than construction of a facility to manufacture new parts. The No 
Action Alternative for the new SWEIS is the continued implementation of 
the 2002 ROD, as modified by actions analyzed in subsequent NEPA 
reviews. Three action alternatives are proposed for consideration in 
the new SWEIS in addition to the No Action Alternative. Each 
alternative includes the No Action Alternative as a baseline. The three 
alternatives differ in that one includes a new fully modernized 
manufacturing facility optimized for safety, security and efficiency; 
another consists of upgrading the existing facilities to attain the 
highest level of safety, security and efficiency possible without 
construction of new facilities; and the third consists of operating the 
current facilities until they are no longer viable followed by 
deactivation of those facilities and cessation of the associated 
operations.

DATES: NNSA invites comments on the scope of the SWEIS. The public 
scoping period starts with the publication of this NOI in the Federal 
Register and will continue through January 9, 2006. NNSA will consider 
all comments received or postmarked through this date in defining the 
scope of the SWEIS. Scoping comments received after this date will be 
considered to the extent practicable. NNSA will hold public scoping 
meetings at 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in the U.S. 
Department of Energy Information Center on December 15, 2005, from 11 
a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public scoping meetings will 
provide the public with an opportunity to present comments, ask 
questions, and discuss issues with NNSA officials regarding the SWEIS. 
The NNSA has invited the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation 
of the SWEIS. By this

[[Page 71271]]

Notice of Intent, the NNSA requests all other federal, state, local and 
tribal agencies to express their interest in being designated as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the SWEIS.

ADDRESSES: For information concerning the SWEIS, please contact Ms. Pam 
Gorman, Y-12 SWEIS Document Manager, at (865) 576-9903 or e-mail at 
gormanpl@yso.doe.gov. Written comments on the scope of the SWEIS or 
requests to be placed on the document distribution list can be sent to 
the Y-12 SWEIS Document Manager, 800 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite A-500, 
Oak Ridge, TN 37830; by facsimile to (865) 482-6052; or by e-mail to 
comments@y-12sweis.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the DOE 
NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office 
of NEPA Policy and Compliance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or leave 
a message at 1-800-472-2756. Additional information regarding DOE NEPA 
activities and access to many NEPA documents, including the 2001 SWEIS, 
are available on the Internet through the NEPA Web site at https://
www.eh.doe.gov/nepa.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background. Y-12 is located on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR), 
approximately 25 miles west of Knoxville, Tennessee. For purposes of 
the SWEIS, the Y-12 Site is defined as approximately 5,400 acres of the 
33,749-acre ORR, bounded by the DOE Boundary and Pine Ridge to the 
north, Scarboro Road to the east, Bethel Valley Road to the south, west 
to Mount Vernon Road, and then extending west along Bear Creek Road to 
Gum Branch Road and a corridor along Bear Creek Road to the 
intersection of Route 95. Y-12 has an annual budget of approximately 
$865 million and employs approximately 6,000 people.
    NNSA is responsible for providing the nation with nuclear weapons 
components and ensuring those components remain safe and reliable. Y-12 
is the NNSA's primary site for enriched uranium processing and storage, 
and one of the primary manufacturing facilities for maintaining the 
U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Y-12's nuclear nonproliferation 
programs play a critical role in securing our nation and the world and 
in combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
    Non-defense activities at Y-12 include environmental monitoring and 
remediation activities; deactivation and decontamination activities; 
management of waste materials; research activities operated by the Oak 
Ridge National Laboratory; support of other DOE programs and federal 
agencies through the Work-for-Others Program; the transfer of 
specialized technologies to the U.S. industrial base; and, the supply 
of specialized materials to DOE's foreign and domestic customers.
    Alternatives for the SWEIS. Three action alternatives and a No 
Action Alternative have been identified for analysis in the SWEIS. The 
list is tentative and intended to facilitate public comment on the 
scope of this SWEIS. The No Action Alternative is defined by the 2002 
ROD baseline, as amended by subsequent NEPA reviews. Alternative 1 
includes the No Action Alternative and proposes to modernize the Y-12 
National Security Complex around a modern Uranium Processing Facility 
(UPF). Alternative 2 includes the No Action Alternative and proposes 
extending the life of existing facilities with only the most cost 
effective modernization possible without replacing the current 
structures. Alternative 3 consists of reducing site operations as 
facilities reach the point where they can no longer be safely operated 
without significant repairs or modernization.
    No Action Alternative. The No Action Alternative includes the 
continued implementation of the 2002 ROD as modified by subsequent 
actions which have undergone separate NEPA review. The following 
decisions announced in the 2002 ROD, modifications to these decisions, 
and actions undertaken since the 2002 ROD are included in the No Action 
Alternative.
    1. Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF). The new 
HEUMF (now under construction) will store all highly enriched uranium 
that is not being used in manufacturing activities. The HEUMF--to be 
completed in 2007 and start full-scale operations in 2008--will reduce 
the current storage footprint, improve security and lower operating 
costs as described in DOE/EIS-0309.
    2. Special Materials Complex (SMC). This project was cancelled 
because it was no longer required by the reduced manufacturing needs of 
the smaller weapons stockpile. The project was replaced by a new 
purification facility and installation of two pieces of equipment 
within an existing facility; these actions allow reuse of existing 
parts. (Final Supplement Analysis for Purification Facility, Site-Wide 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex, 
DOE/EIS-0309/SA-1, August 2002). The Supplement Analysis assessed 
whether the potential environmental impacts of the stand-alone 
purification facility, a component of the SMC analyzed in the Y-12 
SWEIS, would require the preparation of a Supplemental SWEIS. The 
determination was made that proceeding with the purification facility 
would either reduce or not affect the environmental impacts of the SMC 
identified in the Y-12 SWEIS, and therefore no additional NEPA analysis 
was required.
    3. Infrastructure Reduction Initiative (IRI). The IRI is a series 
of individual projects to remove excess buildings and infrastructure, 
with a goal of reducing the active footprint at Y-12 by 50 percent 
during the next decade. As of September 27, 2005, total operational 
space at Y-12 has been reduced by 1,119,910 square feet and 244 
buildings have been demolished or removed. Over the past five years, 
each demolition project was reviewed pursuant to NEPA prior to 
initiation and found to be covered by the Categorical Exclusion 
established by 10 CFR 1021 Appendix B1.23 (Demolition and Subsequent 
Disposal of Buildings, Equipment, and Support Structures).
    4. Manufacturing Support and Public Interface facilities. These 
privately developed facilities are technical, administrative, and light 
laboratory buildings that will be built on land transferred to a 
private entity. The managing and operating contractor of the Y-12 Plant 
may lease these facilities. They were included in an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and a subsequent Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) (Alternate Financed Facility Modernization EA and FONSI, DOE/
EA-1510, January 2005).
    5. Transportation of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) from foreign 
locations to Y-12. Subsequent to issuance of the 2002 Record of 
Decision (ROD) (67 FR 11296, March 13, 2002), the Y-12 site was given 
the additional mission of securing and storing small quantities of HEU 
transported from foreign locations to prevent proliferation of nuclear 
weapons and to minimize or eliminate the use of HEU in civilian 
reactors. Environmental Assessments were prepared and FONSI's issued 
for these actions (Environmental Assessment for the Transportation of 
Highly Enriched Uranium from the Russian Federation to the Y-12 
Security Complex, DOE/EA-1471, January 2004; and Environmental 
Assessment for the Transportation of Unirradiated Uranium in Research 
Reactor Fuel from Argentina, Belgium, Japan and the Republic of Korea 
to the Y-12 National Security Complex, DOE/EA-1529, June 2005).

[[Page 71272]]

    The No Action Alternative also includes the following other actions 
for which NEPA documentation is pending and expected to be completed 
prior to issuance of any ROD based on this SWEIS: (1) refurbishments or 
upgrades to Y-12 utility systems, such as those for potable water 
(Environmental Assessment for the Y-12 Potable Water System Upgrade, 
DOE/EA-1548; Final EA and a FONSI expected to be completed in January 
2006); and (2) disposition of excess mercury in storage at Y-12 (an 
Environmental Assessment is currently being prepared and should be 
completed in early 2006).
    Alternative 1. New Uranium Processing Facility (UPF). Under this 
alternative, NNSA would take all actions in the No Action Alternative, 
undertake a series of utilities modernization projects not assessed in 
previous NEPA documents, construct and operate a modern UPF sized to 
support the smaller nuclear weapon stockpile of the future, and take 
other actions as described below to create a modern weapon enterprise.
    The UPF would be the keystone of the modernization efforts in this 
alternative. The UPF would consolidate all enriched uranium (EU) 
operations into an integrated manufacturing operation sized to satisfy 
all identified programmatic needs and would be sited adjacent to the 
HEUMF to allow the two facilities to function as one integrated 
operation. Extensive engineered security and safety features would 
combine with technical innovations such as agile machining to allow 
significant improvements in working conditions for production workers 
and security guards. Operations to be consolidated in the UPF are 
currently located in six facilities. After startup of UPF operations, 
some of these facilities would be used to consolidate non-EU 
operations, and others would be demolished.
    Transition of EU production operations to the UPF and transition of 
EU storage operations into HEUMF (No Action Alternative) would create a 
new high-security area equal to 10 percent of the current high security 
protected area. The current high security protected area would revert 
to normal access.
    Some other aspects of the site would be modernized, including 
upgrades to site electrical, compressed air, steam, and security 
systems. Nonnuclear operations and plant support functions would be 
consolidated into four new facilities adjacent to the new high-security 
area, and most of the Manhattan Project and Cold War structures on the 
site (excepting those with historical designations) could be 
demolished. The costs of nonnuclear modernization and building removal 
would be significantly reduced because the construction and demolition 
projects would not require the expensive security measures required for 
work within the high security protected area. Separate NEPA reviews 
would be conducted for each demolition project.
    The new facilities, especially the UPF, would increase the safety 
of workers and the public by replacing many of the administrative 
controls in aging facilities with contemporary engineered safety 
features. Operating and security costs of the new facilities would be 
significantly less than those of the current facilities. Demolition of 
non-historic facilities would eliminate the safety and environmental 
risks of maintaining old deactivated structures.
    Alternative 2. Upgrades to Existing Enriched Uranium and Other 
Processing Facilities. Under this alternative, NNSA would continue the 
No Action Alternative, undertake a series of utilities modernization 
projects not assessed in the previous NEPA documents, and upgrade the 
existing enriched uranium and nonnuclear processing facilities to 
contemporary environmental, safety, and security standards to the 
extent possible within the limitations of the existing structures and 
without prolonged interruptions of manufacturing operations.
    Under this alternative, there would be no UPF, the high-security 
area would expand to include the HEUMF, and no parts of the current 
high-security area would revert to normal access. Existing production 
facilities would be modernized to the extent possible within the 
limitations of the existing structures and without prolonged 
interruptions of manufacturing operations; however, it would not be 
possible to attain the level of safety, security and efficiency 
possible in Alternative 1.
    The current facilities were constructed during the Manhattan 
Project or in the early days of the Cold War when construction and 
safety standards were very different than today. Their modernization 
would require extensive changes to critical building sytems including 
electrical and fire protection systems. Ventilation systems would have 
to be re-engineered and replaced with modern systems. Some structures 
would require extensive re-enforcement to allow the seismic response 
required by current codes.
    It would not be possible in all cases to modernize the existing 
structures to meet current operational, safety and security 
expectations. The age and configuration of some existing critical 
facilities preclude streamlined operations and also preclude some new 
safety and security features. Such facilities offer only limited 
opportunities to reduce operating and security costs or to enhance the 
safety of operations. While some improvements would be made to the 
existing facilties to address natural phenomena hazards such as 
earthquakes and tornadoes, the age of those facilities and their 
configuration may preclude cost-effective improvements in these 
critical areas to bring them up to current DOE standards.
    Some other nonnuclear aspects of the site would be modernized, 
including upgrades to electrical, compressed air, steam, and security 
systems. Some nonnuclear operations and plant support functions would 
be consolidated into existing structures. Nonnuclear operations would 
be modernized through consolidation of operations into existing 
facilities with no new construction. Nonnuclear modernizations and 
demolition of unneeded Manhattan Project and Cold War facilities would 
be conducted within the expanded high security protected area at 
significantly higher costs than Alternative 1.
    Alternative 3. Reduced Operations. NNSA would invest no additional 
funds beyond normal maintenance in the Y-12 National Security Complex. 
Facilities posing an unacceptable risk to workers or the public would 
be minimally upgraded if an inexpensive upgrade would allow operations 
to continue safely, or deactivated if the costs to operate safely 
exceeded the costs of normal maintenance. Although NNSA would maintain 
full operational readiness in Y-12 facilities and operations where that 
could be done safely with normal maintenance expenditures, operations 
would cease when expensive maintenance needs rendered facilities 
unviable. As NNSA retired unviable facilities, the operations in these 
facilities would cease and Y-12 would lose the ability to perform the 
missions located in these facilities.
    NNSA would make the expenditures necessary to maintain safety and 
security for nuclear materials or other hazardous materials. 
Additionally, Y-12 would make the expenditures needed to continue 
dismantlement activities consistent with Presidential direction to 
reduce the nuclear weapons stockpile, even if those operations required 
significant maintenance expenditures. Demolition of excess facilities 
beyond that described in the No Action Alternative would be subject to 
a

[[Page 71273]]

separate NEPA review if funds became available. This alternative 
differs from the No Action Alternative in that the No Action 
Alternative assumes sufficient expenditures to sustain operational 
capability, while the Reduced Operations Alternative assumes 
deactivation of facilities when their continued safe operation requires 
more than normal maintenance except where noted above.
    Public Scoping Process. The scoping process is an opportunity for 
the public to assist the NNSA in determining the issues for impact 
analysis. A public scoping meeting will be held as noted under Dates. 
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide the public with an 
opportunity to present oral and written comments, ask questions, and 
discuss concerns regarding the new SWEIS with NNSA officials. Comments 
and recommendations can also be communicated to NNSA as noted earlier 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. The SWEIS public meetings will use a 
format to facilitate dialogue between NNSA and the public. NNSA 
welcomes specific comments or suggestions on the content of the 
document.
    The potential scope of the SWEIS discussed in the previous portions 
of this NOI is tentative and is intended to facilitate public comment 
on the scope of the SWEIS. The SWEIS will describe the potential 
environmental impacts of the alternatives by using available data where 
possible and obtaining additional data where necessary. Copies of 
written comments and transcripts of oral comments provided to NNSA 
during the scoping period will be available at the U.S. Department of 
Energy Public Reading Room at 230 Warehouse Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 
and on the internet at https://www.y-12sweis.com. The 2001 SWEIS is 
available on the internet at https://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/eis/eis0309/
toc.html.
    SWEIS Preparation Process. The SWEIS preparation process begins 
with the publication of this NOI in the Federal Register. After the 
close of the public scoping period, NNSA will begin preparing the draft 
SWEIS. NNSA expects to issue the draft SWEIS for public review by next 
summer. Public comments on the draft SWEIS will be received during a 
comment period of at least 45 days following the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency publication of the Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register. Notices placed in local newspapers will specify dates 
and locations for at least one public hearing on the draft SWEIS, and 
will establish a schedule for submitting comments on the draft, 
including a final date for submission of comments. Issuance of the 
final SWEIS is scheduled for late 2006.
    Classified Material. NNSA will review classified material while 
preparing this SWEIS. Within the limits of classification, NNSA will 
provide the public as much information as possible to assist its 
understanding and ability to comment. Any classified material needed to 
explain the purpose and need for the action, or the analyses in this 
SWEIS, will be segregated into a classified appendix or supplement, 
which will not be available for public review. However, all 
unclassified information or results of calculations using classified 
data will be reported in the unclassified section of the SWEIS, to the 
extent possible in accordance with Federal classification requirements.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 18th day of November, 2005.
Linton F. Brooks,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-23369 Filed 11-25-05; 8:45 am]
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