Environmental statements; record of decision: Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians Reservation, UT; independent spent fuel storage installation, 58629-58630 [06-8484]

Agencies

• Indian Affairs Bureau

[Federal Register: October 4, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 192)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58629-58630]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc06-81]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

 
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision (Rod) for a 
Proposed Lease of Tribal Trust Lands Between Private Fuel Storage, 
L.L.C. (PFS) and Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indian (Band) in Tooele 
County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has signed the Record of 
Decision (ROD) that disapproves a proposed lease of tribal trust lands 
between Private Fuel Storage, L.L.C. (PFS) and the Skull Valley Band of 
Goshute Indians. BIA analyzed the environmental impacts of the proposed 
lease under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and issued a 
draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in June 2000, and the final 
EIS (FEIS) in December 2001. The BIA decision is based on review of the 
draft EIS; the FEIS; comments received from the public, other Federal 
agencies, and State and local governments; consideration of the 
required factors under the Indian Long-term Leasing Act and 
implementing regulation; and discussion of all the alternatives with 
the cooperating agencies.

[[Page 58630]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arch Wells; Deputy Director, Office of 
Trust Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs; 1849 C St. NW.; Washington, 
DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-7513.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Record of Decision are available from Arch 
Wells; Office of Trust Services; Bureau of Indian Affairs; 1849 C St. 
NW.; Washington, DC 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Skull Valley Bank of Goshute Indians is 
a federal recognized Tribe with 125 enrolled members. The Band's 
reservation consists of 18,540 acres in Tooele County, Utah, about 70 
miles West of Salt Lake City. Approximately 30 Band members live on the 
reservation.
    The proposed lease would have allowed for the operation of an 
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) on tribal lands. 
Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) consists mainly of intact fuel rods removed 
from a nuclear reactor. The rods contain pellets of uranium, each about 
the size of a pencil eraser, that are the source of heat inside a 
reactor vessel. When removed from reactors, the uranium pellets stay in 
the fuel rods, which remain highly radioactive and must be stored in 
specially constructed pools of water (``wet storage'') or in specially 
designed containers cooled by natural airflow (``dry storage'') until 
the radioactivity decreases to safer levels, a process that can take 
thousands of years.
    The proposed ISFSI at the Goshute Reservation would have been the 
first large, away from point-of-generation repository of its type to be 
licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The ISFSI would 
have been operated by PFS, a private, non-governmental entity composed 
of eight NRC-licensed nuclear power generators.
    BIA was required to by law to consider environmental issues 
concerning the proposed lease. The decision to disapprove the proposed 
lease is the result of concern over environmental impacts associated 
with the proposal. The Record of Decision contains the details of BIA's 
decision and the reasons for it. To obtain a copy of the Record of 
Decision, send a request to the address given in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice.

    Dated: September 7, 2006.
James E. Cason,
Associate Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06-8484 Filed 10-3-06; 8:45 am]

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