Amended Record of Decision for the Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, UT, 11103-11104 [E8-3931]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 41 / Friday, February 29, 2008 / Notices 6:45 p.m. Presentation. 7 p.m. Public Comments. 7:15 p.m. Administrative Issues • Motions. • Review of Work Plan. • Review Next Agenda. 8 p.m. Final Comments. 8:15 p.m. Adjourn. Breaks taken as Appropriate. Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. Written statements may be filed with the Board either before or after the meeting. Individuals who wish to make oral statements pertaining to agenda items should contact Reinhard Knerr at the address or telephone number listed above. Requests must be received five days prior to the meeting and reasonable provision will be made to include the presentation in the agenda. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to make public comment will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present their comments. Minutes: Minutes will be available by writing or calling Reinhard Knerr at the address and phone number listed above. Minutes will also be available at the following Web site: https:// www.pgdpcab.org/minutes.htm. Issued at Washington, DC, on February 25, 2008. Rachel Samuel, Deputy Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E8–3926 Filed 2–28–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee Office of Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee (NEAC) Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register. DATES: Tuesday, March 18, 2008, and will tentatively meet from 8 a.m. until 5:15 p.m.. and Wednesday, March 19, 2008, and will tentatively meet from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: Marriott Crystal City, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Boger, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:22 Feb 28, 2008 Jkt 214001 Germantown Rd, Germantown, MD 20874; telephone (301) 903–4495; e-mail john.boger@hq.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee (NEAC), formerly the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC), was established in 1998 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to provide independent, expert advice on complex scientific, technical, and policy issues that arise in the planning, managing, and implementation of DOE’s civilian nuclear energy research programs. The committee is composed of 12 individuals of diverse backgrounds selected for their technical expertise and experience, established records of distinguished professional service, and their knowledge of issues that pertain to nuclear energy. Purpose of the Meeting: To inform the committee of recent developments and current status of research programs and projects pursued by the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy and receive advice and comments in return from the committee. Tentative Agenda: The two-day meeting is expected to include presentations that cover such topics as the current status of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), Next Generation of Nuclear Power, Nuclear Power 2010, and Idaho National Laboratory. The agenda may change to accommodate committee business. For updates, one is directed the NEAC Web site: https://www.ne.doe.gov/neac/ neNeacOverview.html. Public Participation: Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to offer comments and suggestions may do so on the second day of the meeting, Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Approximately one-half hour will be reserved for public comments. Time allotted per speaker will depend on the number who wish to speak but is not expected to exceed 5 minutes. Anyone who is not able to make the meeting or has had insufficient time to address the committee is invited to send a written statement to Dr. John Boger, 19901 Germantown Rd, Germantown, MD 20874, or e-mail john.boger@hq.doe.gov. Minutes: The minutes of meeting will be available on the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy Web site at: https://www.ne.doe.gov/neac/ neNeacOverview.html. PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11103 Issued in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2008. Rachel Samuel, Deputy Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E8–3927 Filed 2–28–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Amended Record of Decision for the Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, UT Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy. ACTION: Amended Record of Decision. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its decision regarding the transportation method that DOE will use to relocate uranium mill tailings and other contaminated materials (residual radioactive material) at the Moab milling site and vicinity properties in Utah. In its Record of Decision for the Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah (70 FR 55358; September 21, 2005), DOE had decided to relocate the residual radioactive material using predominately rail, with truck transport for some oversized materials. Under this amended Record of Decision (ROD), DOE will use either truck and/or rail for all materials. This ROD amendment is essential to give DOE flexibility needed to expedite completion of the Moab, Utah, Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. Expediting completion is in accordance with Congressional direction (Section 3402 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 (Pub. L. 110–181)). This ROD amendment meets the strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive material as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first shipment because truck shipments could start sooner since the logistics of initiating the rail alternative would require time to safely implement (i.e. building the hillside loadout infrastructure). In addition long-term risks would be reduced through earlier completion, and reducing total project costs would be reduced through greater flexibility and competition between rail and truck transporters. DOE analyzed several transportation methods in its Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ EIS–0355)(Final EIS), issued in August 2005. An all truck option was among the E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1 rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 11104 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 41 / Friday, February 29, 2008 / Notices reasonable alternative methods analyzed in the Final EIS for transporting the residual radioactive material. This ROD amendment allows an increase in the quantity to be shipped by truck. All other aspects of DOE’s original decision remain unchanged, including that DOE will relocate the residual radioactive material at the Moab site and vicinity properties to a new disposal site 30 miles north at Crescent Junction, Utah, and will conduct active remediation of contaminated groundwater at the Moab site. This ROD amendment has been prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500– 1508) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOE’s NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). Based on information previously provided in the Final EIS, DOE has determined that no further review under NEPA is required. ADDRESSES: Copies of this ROD amendment may be requested by contacting Mr. Donald Metzler, Moab Federal Project Director, U.S. Department of Energy, by mail: 200 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado, 81501; by phone: 1–800–637– 4575 or 1–970–257–2115; by fax: 1–970–257–2175; or e-mail: moabcomments@gjem.doe.gov. This ROD amendment will be available on the DOE NEPA Web site, at https:// www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/documents.html, and on the project Web site at https:// www.gjem.energy.gov/moab/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this amended ROD, contact Donald Metzler, as indicated in the ADDRESSES section above. For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC–20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone 1–202–586–4600, or leave a message at 1–800–472–2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE analyzed several transportation methods in its Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS–0355) (Final EIS), issued in August 2005. An all truck option was among the reasonable alternative methods analyzed in the Final EIS for transporting the residual radioactive material. DOE also analyzed transportation by rail and slurry pipeline. In DOE’s original ROD, issued in September 2005, DOE had VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:22 Feb 28, 2008 Jkt 214001 decided to relocate the residual radioactive material using predominately rail, with truck transport for some oversized materials. Under this amended Record of Decision (ROD), DOE will use truck and/or rail for all materials. This ROD amendment allows an increase in the quantity to be shipped by truck. All other aspects of DOE’s original decision remain unchanged, including that DOE will relocate the residual radioactive material at the Moab site and vicinity properties to a new disposal site 30 miles north at Crescent Junction, Utah, and will conduct active remediation of contaminated groundwater at the Moab site. This ROD amendment has been prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500– 1508) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOE’s NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). Based on information previously provided in the Final EIS, DOE has determined that no further review under NEPA is required. Basis for Decision: Trucking will be performed primarily during daylight hours, thus minimizing potential safety hazards. The trucking option allows DOE more control over the schedule by giving the additional flexibility to supplement rail transport and avoid potential project delays. This ROD amendment is essential to give DOE flexibility needed to expedite completion of the Moab, Utah, Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. Expediting completion is in accordance with Public Law 110–181, which directs DOE to complete remediation of the Moab site and the removal of the tailings to the Crescent Junction site in Utah by October 1, 2019 and, if DOE is unable to do so, DOE must submit a plan to Congress by October 2, 2019, with the projected completion date and estimated funding. This ROD amendment meets the strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive material as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first shipment, reducing long-term risks through earlier completion, and reducing total project costs through greater flexibility and competition between rail and truck transporters. This amended decision incorporates all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm. Although DOE identified in its original ROD rail transportation as part of the environmentally preferred alternative, PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the analyses in the Final EIS show that truck transportation also can be conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner. In view of the acceleration of long-term risk reduction at the Moab site that use of both truck and rail will afford, DOE now regards rail and truck transportation as equally environmentally preferable. Issued in Washington, DC, this 25th day of February 2008. ´ Ines R. Triay Acting, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management. [FR Doc. E8–3931 Filed 2–28–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2493–084] Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Fishway Prescriptions February 25, 2008. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection: a. Application Type: Amendment of License. b. Project No.: 2493–084. c. Date Filed: December 6, 2007. d. Applicant: Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (Puget). e. Name of Project: Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: The project is located on the Snoqualmie River, in the City of Snoqualmie, King County, Washington. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r. h. Applicant Contact: Joel Molander, Puget Sound Energy, Inc., M/S PSE– 09S, P.O. Box 90868, Bellevue, Washington 98009–0868; telephone (425) 462–3603. i. FERC Contact: Linda Stewart, telephone: (202) 502–6680, and e-mail: linda.stewart@ferc.gov. j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice. All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 41 (Friday, February 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11103-11104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3931]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Amended Record of Decision for the Remediation of the Moab 
Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, UT

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

ACTION: Amended Record of Decision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its decision 
regarding the transportation method that DOE will use to relocate 
uranium mill tailings and other contaminated materials (residual 
radioactive material) at the Moab milling site and vicinity properties 
in Utah. In its Record of Decision for the Remediation of the Moab 
Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah (70 FR 55358; 
September 21, 2005), DOE had decided to relocate the residual 
radioactive material using predominately rail, with truck transport for 
some oversized materials. Under this amended Record of Decision (ROD), 
DOE will use either truck and/or rail for all materials.
    This ROD amendment is essential to give DOE flexibility needed to 
expedite completion of the Moab, Utah, Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial 
Action (UMTRA) Project. Expediting completion is in accordance with 
Congressional direction (Section 3402 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181)). This ROD amendment meets 
the strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive 
material as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first 
shipment because truck shipments could start sooner since the logistics 
of initiating the rail alternative would require time to safely 
implement (i.e. building the hillside loadout infrastructure). In 
addition long-term risks would be reduced through earlier completion, 
and reducing total project costs would be reduced through greater 
flexibility and competition between rail and truck transporters.
    DOE analyzed several transportation methods in its Remediation of 
the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0355)(Final EIS), issued 
in August 2005. An all truck option was among the

[[Page 11104]]

reasonable alternative methods analyzed in the Final EIS for 
transporting the residual radioactive material. This ROD amendment 
allows an increase in the quantity to be shipped by truck. All other 
aspects of DOE's original decision remain unchanged, including that DOE 
will relocate the residual radioactive material at the Moab site and 
vicinity properties to a new disposal site 30 miles north at Crescent 
Junction, Utah, and will conduct active remediation of contaminated 
groundwater at the Moab site.
    This ROD amendment has been prepared in accordance with the 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508) for implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOE's NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). Based on information previously provided 
in the Final EIS, DOE has determined that no further review under NEPA 
is required.

ADDRESSES: Copies of this ROD amendment may be requested by contacting 
Mr. Donald Metzler, Moab Federal Project Director, U.S. Department of 
Energy, by mail: 200 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado, 81501; by 
phone: 1-800-637-4575 or 1-970-257-2115; by fax: 1-970-257-2175; or e-
mail: moabcomments@gjem.doe.gov. This ROD amendment will be available 
on the DOE NEPA Web site, at https://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/documents.html, 
and on the project Web site at https://www.gjem.energy.gov/moab/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this 
amended ROD, contact Donald Metzler, as indicated in the ADDRESSES 
section above. For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact 
Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-20, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20585; telephone 1-202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-800-472-
2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE analyzed several transportation methods 
in its Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San 
Juan Counties, Utah, Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-
0355) (Final EIS), issued in August 2005. An all truck option was among 
the reasonable alternative methods analyzed in the Final EIS for 
transporting the residual radioactive material. DOE also analyzed 
transportation by rail and slurry pipeline. In DOE's original ROD, 
issued in September 2005, DOE had decided to relocate the residual 
radioactive material using predominately rail, with truck transport for 
some oversized materials. Under this amended Record of Decision (ROD), 
DOE will use truck and/or rail for all materials.
    This ROD amendment allows an increase in the quantity to be shipped 
by truck. All other aspects of DOE's original decision remain 
unchanged, including that DOE will relocate the residual radioactive 
material at the Moab site and vicinity properties to a new disposal 
site 30 miles north at Crescent Junction, Utah, and will conduct active 
remediation of contaminated groundwater at the Moab site.
    This ROD amendment has been prepared in accordance with the 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508) for implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOE's NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). Based on information previously provided 
in the Final EIS, DOE has determined that no further review under NEPA 
is required.
    Basis for Decision: Trucking will be performed primarily during 
daylight hours, thus minimizing potential safety hazards. The trucking 
option allows DOE more control over the schedule by giving the 
additional flexibility to supplement rail transport and avoid potential 
project delays.
    This ROD amendment is essential to give DOE flexibility needed to 
expedite completion of the Moab, Utah, Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial 
Action (UMTRA) Project. Expediting completion is in accordance with 
Public Law 110-181, which directs DOE to complete remediation of the 
Moab site and the removal of the tailings to the Crescent Junction site 
in Utah by October 1, 2019 and, if DOE is unable to do so, DOE must 
submit a plan to Congress by October 2, 2019, with the projected 
completion date and estimated funding. This ROD amendment meets the 
strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive material 
as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first shipment, 
reducing long-term risks through earlier completion, and reducing total 
project costs through greater flexibility and competition between rail 
and truck transporters. This amended decision incorporates all 
practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm. Although DOE 
identified in its original ROD rail transportation as part of the 
environmentally preferred alternative, the analyses in the Final EIS 
show that truck transportation also can be conducted in a safe and 
environmentally sound manner. In view of the acceleration of long-term 
risk reduction at the Moab site that use of both truck and rail will 
afford, DOE now regards rail and truck transportation as equally 
environmentally preferable.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 25th day of February 2008.
In[eacute]s R. Triay
Acting, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. E8-3931 Filed 2-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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