Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Shipping container system use for spent nuclear fuel from naval aircraft carriers, 34231 [E7-12032]

Agencies

• Navy Department

[Federal Register: June 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 34231]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn07-21]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Assessment
for the Use of a More Efficient Shipping Container System for Spent
Nuclear Fuel From Naval Aircraft Carriers

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the Chief of Naval Operations
Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual (OPNAV Instruction
5090.1B), the Department of the Navy, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program,
announces the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on
the potential environmental impacts associated with using a more
efficient shipping container system for spent nuclear fuel to support
defueling and refueling U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (NNS) in Virginia, and
the associated rail shipment of this spent nuclear fuel to the Naval
Reactors Facility (NRF) in Idaho for temporary storage.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to provide comments on
environmental issues and concerns relative to this draft EA, on or
before July 24, 2007, to ensure full consideration during the
completion of the EA.

ADDRESSES: All comments should include name, organization, and mailing
address. Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Alan Denko (08U-
Naval Reactors), Naval Sea Systems Command, 1240 Isaac Hull Ave SE.
Stop 8036, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-8036. Comments provided by E-
Mail should use the following address: snfshippingcontainer@bettis.gov.
Comments provided via phone should use this number: 1-866-369-4802.
    Copies of the draft EA are available by submitting a written
request to the address above. A copy of the draft EA is also available
for public review at the https://www.snfshippingcontainer.us web site.

    The draft EA may also be reviewed at the following locations:
United States Department of Energy Public Reading Room, Idaho Falls,
ID; Boise State University, Boise, ID; and Newport News Public Library
Main Street Branch, Newport News, VA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates
the potential environmental impacts of using a proposed new longer,
more efficient shipping container system, designated the M-290 shipping
container, for transport of naval spent nuclear fuel from nuclear-
powered aircraft carriers. Use of the M-290 shipping container would
provide improved support for aircraft carrier defueling and refueling
schedules to meet the operational needs of the U.S. Navy fleet, while
continuing to provide for public safety and environmental protection.
The Navy manages naval spent nuclear fuel consistent with ``Department
of Energy (DOE) Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel Management and Idaho
National Engineering Laboratory Environmental Restoration and Waste
Management Programs Final Environmental Impact Statement (60 FR 20979,
Apr. 28, 1995)''; and the 1995 Settlement Agreement/Consent Order among
the State of Idaho, the DOE, and the Navy concerning the management of
naval spent nuclear fuel. The potential environmental impacts
associated with the Proposed Action are similar to those addressed in
previous Environmental Impact Statements associated with the use of
existing shipping container systems, which concluded that impacts upon
the environment would be small. Public comments to this EA must be
received by July 24,2007 to ensure their consideration in the
preparation of the final EA and determination of whether a Finding of
No Significant Impact is appropriate.

    Dated: June 18, 2007.
L.R. Almand,
Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Administrative Law
Division, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-12032 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]

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