Notice of Availability of the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 28453-28454 [E8-11007]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• National Nuclear Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 96 (Friday, May 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28453-28454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11007]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Notice of Availability of the Final Site-Wide Environmental 
Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos National 
Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: NNSA announces the availability of the Final Site-Wide 
Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos 
National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (Final SWEIS) (DOE/EIS-
0380). The Final SWEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of 
continuing to operate Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and 
addresses public comments received on the Draft SWEIS. NNSA's Preferred 
Alternative for LANL, as identified in the Draft and Final SWEIS, is 
the Expanded Operations Alternative. The Final SWEIS also evaluates a 
No Action Alternative and a Reduced Operations Alternative.

DATES: NNSA will not issue Records of Decision based on the SWEIS 
before 30 days have passed from the publication of this notice of 
availability.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final SWEIS may be obtained by writing to: 
U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, 
Los Alamos Site Office, Attn: NEPA Compliance Officer, Environmental 
Operations, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544.
    Requests for copies of the document may also be sent by facsimile 
((505) 845-4239); or by E-mail (LANL_SWEIS@doeal.gov) or 
LASO.SWEIS@doeal.gov. The Final SWEIS will also be available on the 
NNSA Los Alamos Site Office's NEPA Web site at: https://www.doeal.gov/
laso/NEPASWEIS.aspx. Copies of the Final SWEIS are also available for 
review at the following locations: The Los Alamos Research Library, 
West Jemez Road, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New 
Mexico; the Office of the Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Board, 
1660 Old Pecos Trail, Suite B, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and, the Zimmerman 
Library, Central Avenue, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA's NEPA 
process, please contact: Ms. Alice C. Williams, NA-50, NEPA Compliance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security 
Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, or 
telephone 1-202-586-6847. For general information about the DOE NEPA 
process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA 
Policy and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or leave 
a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose and need for continued 
operation of LANL is to provide support for DOE and NNSA core missions 
as directed by Congress and the President. NNSA's need to continue 
operating LANL arises from its obligation to ensure a safe and reliable 
nuclear weapons stockpile. LANL is also needed to support other Federal 
agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. The Final 
SWEIS analyzed the environmental impacts of operating LANL at different 
levels. LANL is located in north-central New Mexico and covers an area 
of about 40 square miles (104 square kilometers). It was established in 
1943 as ``Project Y'' of the Manhattan Project with a single mission--
to build the world's first nuclear weapons. After World War II ended, 
Project Y was designated a permanent research and development 
laboratory and its work was expanded to incorporate a wide variety of 
assignments in support of other government and civilian programs. LANL 
is now a multi-disciplinary, multipurpose institution engaged in 
theoretical and experimental research and development.
    DOE issued a Final SWEIS and Record of Decision in 1999 for the 
continued operation of the laboratory. DOE regulations implementing 
NEPA require the evaluation of site-wide NEPA analyses every five years 
to determine their continued applicability; such a five-year evaluation 
was initiated for the 1999 SWEIS in 2004, and NNSA subsequently decided 
to prepare a new SWEIS. A new Draft SWEIS was issued in July 2006 for 
public review and comment over a 75-day period. NNSA considered the 
comments received on

[[Page 28454]]

the Draft SWEIS in preparing the Final SWEIS.
    The alternatives evaluated in the Final SWEIS represent a range of 
operational levels from the minimal reasonable activity levels (Reduced 
Operations Alternative) to the highest reasonable activity levels that 
could be supported by current facilities combined with expansion and 
construction of new facilities (Expanded Operations Alternative). The 
No Action Alternative would continue current mission support work at 
LANL and includes actions, facility construction, and other activities 
for which NEPA analyses have already been completed. All alternatives 
assumed that NNSA will continue to operate LANL as a national security 
laboratory for the foreseeable future.
    Subsequent Document Preparation: NNSA will consider the 
environmental impact analysis presented in the Final LANL SWEIS, along 
with other information, in making decisions regarding the continued 
operation of LANL. NNSA will wait to issue a ROD for at least 30 days 
following publication in the Federal Register of this notice of 
availability. It is anticipated that several RODs may be issued based 
on the Final SWEIS over the next several years. NNSA will publish all 
RODs in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 4th day of April, 2008.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-11007 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
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