Notice of Availability of Final Complex Transformation Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 63460-63463 [E8-25420]

Download as PDF 63460 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices Informed Commitment—Confirm willingness and availability of appropriate agency leadership and staff at all levels to commit to principles of engagement, and ensure commitment to participate in good faith with open mindset to new perspectives. Balanced, Voluntary Representation— Ensure balanced inclusion of affected/ concerned interests; all parties should be willing and able to participate and select their own representatives. Group Autonomy—Engage with all participants in developing and governing process; including choice of consensus-based decision rules; seek assistance as needed from impartial facilitator/mediator selected by and accountable to all parties. Informed Process—Seek agreement on how to share, test and apply relevant information (scientific, cultural, technical, etc.) among participants; ensure relevant information is accessible and understandable by all participants. Accountability—Participate in the process directly, fully, and in good faith; be accountable to all participants, as well as agency representatives and the public. Openness—Ensure all participants, and, as appropriate, the public, are fully informed in a timely manner of the purpose and objectives of process; communicate agency authorities, requirements and constraints; uphold confidentiality rules and agreements as required for particular proceedings. Timeliness—Ensure timely decisions and outcomes. Implementation—Ensure that decisions are implementable consistent with federal law and policy. Parties also should commit to identify roles and responsibilities necessary to implement agreement; should agree in advance on the consequences of a party being unable to provide necessary resources or to implement agreement; and should take steps to obtain resources necessary to implement any agreement. Appendix B jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES List of References and Other Resources Relating to ADR, ECR and Other Collaborative Processes References 1. Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 571 et seq. 2. The Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 2000, Public Law No. 106–404 3. Joint Memorandum from Office of Management and Budget and the Council on Environmental Quality Joint Memorandum on Environmental Conflict Resolution, November 2005, (https:// www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/jointstatement.html) 4. The Negotiated Rulemaking Act, 5 U.S.C. 561 et seq. 5. Department of Justice Order 1160.1, Promoting the Broader Appropriate Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques, https://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ adr/agorder.html Other Resources 1. DOE’s Office of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Web site, https:// VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:48 Oct 23, 2008 Jkt 217001 www.gc.doe.gov/disputeResolution.htm 2. U.S. Department of Justice’s Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution Working Group, https://www.adr.gov/ 3. The Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, https://www.ecr.gov [FR Doc. E8–25398 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Notice of Availability of Final Complex Transformation Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a separately-organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces the availability of the Complex Transformation Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Complex Transformation SPEIS, DOE/EIS–0236–S4). The Complex Transformation SPEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of reasonable alternatives to continue transformation of the nuclear weapons complex to be smaller, and more responsive, efficient, and secure in order to meet national security requirements. It is a supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SSM PEIS, DOE/EIS–0236). NNSA prepared the SPEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500–1508), and DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR Part 1021). DATES: NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision (RODs) based on the Complex Transformation SPEIS thirty or more days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes a notice of availability of the Final Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Requests for additional information on the Complex Transformation SPEIS, including requests for copies of the document, should be directed to: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, Complex Transformation SPEIS Document Manager, Office of Transformation, NA–141, Department of Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, toll free 1–800–832–0885 ext. 63519. A PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 request for a copy of the document may also be sent by facsimile to 1–703–931– 9222, or by e-mail to complextrans formation@nnsa.doe.gov.The Complex Transformation SPEIS and additional information regarding complex transformation are available on the Internet at https://www.Complex TransformationSPEIS.com and https:// www.nnsa.doe.gov. The Complex Transformation SPEIS and referenced documents are available for review at the DOE Reading Rooms and public libraries listed at the end of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA’s proposal, please contact: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, NA–141, Complex Transformation SPEIS Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, or telephone at 1–800–832–0885 ext. 63519. For general information about the DOE NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone 202– 586–4600, or leave a message at 1–800– 472–2756. Additional information regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many of DOE’s NEPA documents are available on the Internet through the DOE NEPA Web site at https://www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National security policies require the U.S. DOE, through the NNSA, to maintain the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile,1 as well as core competencies in nuclear weapons. Since completion in 1996 of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Stockpile Stewardship and Management (SSM PEIS, DOE/EIS–0236) and associated ROD (61 FR 68014; December 26, 1996), DOE has implemented these policies through the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). The SSP emphasizes development and application of greatly improved scientific and technical capabilities to assess the safety, security, and reliability of existing nuclear warheads without the use of nuclear testing. Throughout the 1990s, DOE also took steps to consolidate the Complex from 12 sites to its current configuration of three national laboratories (plus an 1 The nuclear weapons stockpile consists of nuclear weapons that are both deployed to the military services (‘‘operationally deployed’’) and ‘‘reserve weapons’’ that could be used to augment the operationally deployed weapons or to provide replacements for warheads that experience safety or reliability problems. E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES associated flight test range), four industrial plants, and a nuclear test site. The Complex Transformation SPEIS evaluates alternatives for continuing transformation of the nuclear weapons complex (Complex) into a smaller, more efficient enterprise that can respond to changing national security challenges. These changes would build upon decisions made in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War and the cessation of nuclear weapons testing. The SPEIS contains NNSA’s responses to comments submitted during the public comment period, which opened on January 11, 2008, and closed on April 30, 2008, as well as changes that were made to the Draft SPEIS as a result of these comments. The specific alternatives for restructuring special nuclear materials (SNM) 2 facilities are divided into two broad categories: Programmatic, which looks at ways to consolidate and modernize manufacturing and SNM activities; and project specific, which look at ways to consolidate and modernize specific research, development, and testing activities. For the programmatic alternatives, NNSA evaluated: • No Action Alternative: Under the No Action Alternative, NNSA would make no major changes to the SNM missions now assigned to NNSA sites and would continue to implement actions for which NNSA has previously announced its decision in a ROD. With respect to SNM consolidation, ongoing actions to transfer Category I/II 3 SNM from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are included within the No Action Alternative. • Programmatic Alternative 1: Distributed Centers of Excellence (DCE). The DCE alternative would locate the three major SNM functional capabilities (plutonium operations, uranium operations, and weapon assembly/ disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM at two or three separate Complex sites. This alternative examines the potential creation of a Consolidated Plutonium Center (CPC) for research and development (R&D), storage, processing, and manufacture of plutonium parts (pits) for the nuclear 2 As defined in section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, special nuclear material is: (1) Plutonium, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235; or (2) any material artificially enriched by any of the foregoing and any other material which the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines to be special nuclear material. 3 Special nuclear material is categorized into Security Categories I, II, III, and IV based on the type, attractiveness level, and quantity of material. Categories I and II require the highest level of security. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:48 Oct 23, 2008 Jkt 217001 weapons stockpile. A CPC could consist of new facilities, or modifications to existing facilities at one of the following sites: Los Alamos,4 Nevada Test Site (NTS), Pantex, Savannah River Site (SRS), or Y–12. This alternative assumes that highly-enriched uranium and uranium storage, and uranium operations, would continue at Y–12, either at a new Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) or at upgraded, existing facilities. It also assumes that the weapons Assembly/Disassembly/High Explosives (A/D/HE) mission would remain at Pantex. • Programmatic Alternative 2: Consolidated Centers of Excellence (CCE). Under this alternative, NNSA would consolidate the three major SNM functions (plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM at one or two sites. Two options are assessed: A single site option referred to as the consolidated nuclear production center (CNPC) option, and a two-site option, referred to as the Consolidated Nuclear Center (CNC) option. Under the CNPC option, a new CNPC with facilities dedicated to modernizing plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/disassembly operations could be established at Los Alamos, NTS, Pantex, SRS, or Y–12. The SPEIS analyzes the impacts of each of these facilities separately and in combination at all potential locations. Under the CNC option, the plutonium and uranium nuclear component manufacturing missions could be separate from the A/D/HE mission. The A/D/HE functions could remain at Pantex or move to the NTS, while the plutonium and uranium missions could be located at sites different than the A/ D/HE function. • Programmatic Alternative 3: Capability-Based Alternative. Under this alternative, NNSA would maintain a basic capability for manufacturing components for all stockpile weapons, as well as laboratory and experimental capabilities to support the stockpile, while reducing production facilities inplace to the extent that would allow NNSA to produce a nominal level of replacement components (approximately 50 components per year). Pit production capacity at LANL would not be expanded beyond the capability to produce 50 pits per year. Within this alternative, NNSA also considered a No Net Production/ 4 In general, when referring to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the SPEIS refers to this site as ‘‘LANL.’’ The term ‘‘Los Alamos’’ is used to describe this site as an alternative location for a CPC or Consolidated Nuclear Production Center (CNPC). PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63461 Capability-Based Alternative, in which NNSA would maintain capabilities to continue surveillance of the weapons stockpile, produce limited life components, and continue dismantlement. This alternative involves a minimum production (production of 10 sets of components or assembly of 10 weapons per year), within facilities with a larger manufacturing capability. For the project specific alternatives, NNSA evaluated: • High Explosives (HE) Research and Development (R&D) • Tritium R&D • Flight Test Operations • Hydrodynamic Testing • Major Environmental Testing • Weapons Support Functions at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), California Alternatives for each of these project areas generally include: No action, consolidation, and downsizing in place. In the case of Flight Test Operations, NNSA also considered additional alternatives that would relocate Flight Test Operations to either White Sands Missile Range, or the Nevada Test Site. Preferred Alternatives: In accordance with CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1502.14(e), NNSA identified the following preferred alternatives in the SPEIS: Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring SNM Facilities • Plutonium manufacturing and R&D: Los Alamos would provide a consolidated plutonium research, development, and manufacturing capability within Technical Area–55 (TA–55), enabled by construction and operation of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research ReplacementNuclear Facility (CMRR–NF). The CMRR–NF is needed to replace the existing Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) Facility (a 50-year old facility that has significant safety issues that cannot be addressed in the existing structure), to support movement of plutonium R&D and Category I/II quantities of SNM from LLNL, and consolidate weapons-related plutonium operations at Los Alamos. Until completion of a new Nuclear Posture Review in 2009 or later, the net production at Los Alamos would be limited to a maximum of 20 pits per year. Other national security actinide needs and missions would continue to be supported at TA–55 on a priority basis (e.g., emergency response, material disposition, nuclear energy). • Uranium manufacturing and R&D: Y–12 would continue as the uranium E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1 63462 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices center producing components and canned subassemblies, and conducting surveillance and dismantlement. NNSA has completed construction of the HEUMF and will consolidate HEU storage in that facility.5 NNSA would build a Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y–12 in order to provide a smaller and modern highly-enriched uranium production capability to replace existing 50-year old facilities. The site-specific impacts and candidate locations for a UPF will be analyzed in a new SWEIS for Y–12 that NNSA is currently preparing. • Assembly/disassembly/high explosives production and manufacturing: Pantex would remain the Assembly/Disassembly/High Explosives production and manufacturing center. NNSA would consolidate non-destructive surveillance operations at Pantex. • Consolidation of Category I/II SNM: NNSA would continue to transfer Category I/II SNM from LLNL under the No Action Alternative and phase out Category I/II operations at LLNL Superblock by the end of 2012. NNSA would consolidate Category I/II SNM at Pantex within Zone 12, and close Zone 4. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring R&D and Testing Facilities HE R&D: NNSA would reduce the footprint of its HE production and R&D related to nuclear weapons and reduce the number of firing sites. Use of energetic materials (greater than 1 kg) for environmental testing conducted at SNL, New Mexico (SNL/NM) would continue (e.g., acceleration or sled tracks, shock loading, or in explosive tubes) and is not included in HE R&D. NNSA would consolidate weapons HE R&D and testing within the following locations, without constraining transfer and operation of weapons programs firing sites to other NNSA, Department of Defense (DoD), and national security sponsors, as follows: • Pantex would remain the HE production (formulation, processing, and testing) and machining center. All HE production and machining to develop nuclear explosive packages would continue at Pantex. HE experiments up to 22 kg HE would remain at Pantex; • NTS would remain the testing center for large quantities of HE (greater than 10 kg); • LLNL would be the HE R&D center for formulation, processing, and testing 5 The environmental impacts at HEUMF and its alternatives are analyzed in the 2001 Y–12 SWEIS (DOE/EIS–0309). VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:48 Oct 23, 2008 Jkt 217001 (processing capability to handle up to 15 kg and testing less than 10 kg) HE at the High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF); formulation and processing of HE would be conducted either at a new HEAF Annex built adjacent to HEAF, or at existing Site 300 facilities (but using less space than currently used for these activities); • SNL/NM would remain the HE R&D center for non-nuclear explosive package components (less than 1 kg of HE) at the Explosive Components Facility (ECF); and • LANL would produce war reserve main charge detonators, conduct HE R&D experimentation and support activities, and move towards contained HE R&D experimentation. • Each site would maintain one weapons program open-burn and one open-detonation area for safety and treatment purposes. Tritium R&D: NNSA would consolidate tritium R&D at SRS. SRS would remain the site for tritium supply management and provide R&D support to production operations and gas transfer system development. Neutron generator target loading at SNL/NM and production of National Ignition Facility targets at LLNL, which involve small quantities of tritium, would continue and would not be included in this consolidation. NNSA would move bulk quantities of tritium from LANL to SRS by 2009; and remove tritium materials above the 30 gram level from the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) at LANL by 2014. NNSA flight test operations: NNSA would reduce the footprint of Tonopah Test Range, upgrade equipment with mobile capability, and operate in campaign mode. NNSA expects it would not use Category I/II SNM in future flight tests. Major Hydrodynamic Testing: By the end of fiscal year 2008, NNSA would contain the hydrodynamic testing (consisting of Integrated Weapons Experiments and Focused Experiments) at LLNL at the Contained Firing Facility and at LANL at the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) facility. At LANL, firing site operations for weapon programs required by NNSA’s hydrodynamic test program would be moved to contained firing. In addition: • Hydrotesting at LLNL Site 300 would be consolidated to a smaller footprint by 2015. • The goal is to minimize open-air testing at LANL. Open-air hydrotests at LANL’s DARHT, excluding SNM, would only occur if needed to meet national security requirements. PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • NNSA would allow open-air firing at LANL TA–36 until adequate radiographic capabilities and associated supporting infrastructure are available for open-air firing at NTS. Major Environmental Test Facilities: NNSA would consolidate major environmental testing at SNL/NM and, infrequently, conduct operations requiring Category I/II SNM in security campaign mode there. NNSA would close LANL’s and LLNL’s major environmental testing facilities by 2010 (except those in LLNL Building 334 and the Building 834 Complex). NNSA would move environmental testing of nuclear explosive packages and other functions currently performed in LLNL Buildings 334 and 834 to Pantex by 2012. Sandia National Laboratories, California Weapons Support Functions: NNSA would continue operations under the No Action Alternative. As to any other programmatic and project-specific alternatives not mentioned above, NNSA’s preferred alternative at this time is to continue with the No Action Alternatives. NNSA will consider the environmental impact analysis presented in the Complex Transformation SPEIS, along with other information, in making decisions regarding its continuing transformation of the Complex. NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision 30 or more days after EPA publishes a notice of availability of the Final Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal Register. It is anticipated that several Records of Decision may be issued based on the Complex Transformation SPEIS over the next several years. NNSA will publish all Records of Decision in the Federal Register. The Complex Transformation SPEIS and referenced documents are available for review at the following DOE Reading Rooms and public libraries: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, Discovery Center, Building 6525, Livermore, CA 94550, Phone: (925) 422–3272. Livermore Public Library, 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550–9315, Phone: (925) 937–5500. Tracy Public Library, 20 East Eaton Avenue, Tracy, CA 95376, Phone: (209) 937–8221. Southeastern Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, GA 30635–6711, Phone: (706) 213–3800. East-Central Georgia Regional Library, 902 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901, Phone: (706) 821–2600. E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices Central Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105, Phone: (816) 701–3400. North-East Branch, 6000 Wilson Road, Kansas City, MO 64123, Phone: (816) 701–3485. Kansas City Site Office, Mid-Continent Public Library, Blue Ridge Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64138, Phone: (816) 761– 3382. NNSA Nevada Site Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, 755 East Flamingo Road; Room 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119, Phone: (702) 784–5121. Office of Repository Development, Bechtel SAIC Company LLC, Reading Room, Science Center, 4101 B Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107, Phone: (702) 295–1312. Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101, Phone: (702) 507–3500. Indian Springs Library, 715 Gretta Lane, Indian Springs, NV 89018, Phone: (702) 879–3845. Beatty Community Library, 400 North 4th Street, Beatty, NV 89003, Phone: (775) 553–2257. Tonopah Public Library, 167 South Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049, Phone: (775) 482–3374. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, PO Box 1663, Mail Stop M9991, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Phone: (505) 667–0216. National Nuclear Security Administration Service Center, DOE Reading Room, Government Information Department, Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131–1466, Phone: (505) 277–7180. Mesa Public Library, 2300 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544, Phone: (505) 662–8250. Santa Fe Main Library, 145 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501, Phone: (505) 955–6780. Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, NM 87801, Phone: (505) 835–1114. Savannah River Operations Office, Gregg-Graniteville Library, University of South Carolina-Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801, Phone: (803) 641–3320. Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield Street South, Aiken, SC 29801, Phone: (803) 642–2020. Barnwell County Public Library, 617 Hagood Avenue, Barnwell, SC 29812, Phone: (803) 259–3612. Oak Ridge Office, DOE Information Center, 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 241– 4780 or 1 (800) 328–6938, Option 6. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:48 Oct 23, 2008 Jkt 217001 Oak Ridge Public Library, Civic Center, 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 425–3455. Kingston Public Library, 1004 Bradford Way, Kingston, TN 37763, Phone: (865) 376–9905. Central Library, 413 E 4th Avenue; Amarillo, TX 79101, Phone: (806) 378–3054. North Branch, 1500 NE 24th Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79107, Phone: (806) 381–7931. DOE Reading Room, Lynn Library/ Learning Center, Amarillo College, Washington Street Campus, 2201 South Washington Street, Amarillo, Texas, Phone: (806) 371–5400. Carson County Library, 401 Main Street, Panhandle, Texas 79068, Phone: (806) 537–3742. U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Act Reading Room, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., IE–190, Washington, DC 20585–0001, Phone: (202) 586–5955. Signed in Washington, DC, this 21st day of October 2008. Thomas P. D’Agostino, Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration. [FR Doc. E8–25420 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Supplement to the Environmental Impact Statements for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, NV U.S. Department of Energy. Notice of Intent. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is announcing its intent to prepare a Supplement to the ‘‘Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada’’ (DOE/EIS–0250F, February 2002) (Yucca Mountain Final EIS), and the ‘‘Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada’’ (DOE/EIS–0250FS1, July 2008) (Repository SEIS). The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff determined, pursuant to Section 114(f)(4) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (NWPA), that it is practicable to adopt, with further supplementation, DOE’s PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63463 environmental impact statements prepared in connection with the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada. The NRC staff concluded that the Yucca Mountain Final EIS and Repository SEIS did not address adequately all of the repositoryrelated impacts on groundwater, or from surface discharges of groundwater, and therefore requested that DOE prepare a supplement to these environmental impact statements. Based on a review of the NRC staff evaluation, the Department has decided to prepare the requested supplement. DATES: The Department invites comments during a 30-day period, which starts with publication of this Notice of Intent and ends November 24, 2008. Comments received after this date will be considered to the extent practicable. Requests for additional information on the supplement or on the repository program in general, or to become a cooperating agency should be directed to: Dr. Jane Summerson, EIS Document Manager, Regulatory Authority Office, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, U.S. Department of Energy, 1551 Hillshire Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89134, Telephone 1–800–967–3477. Written comments may be submitted to Dr. Jane Summerson at this address, or by facsimile to 1–888–767–0739, or via the Internet at https://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/ contact/comments.shtml. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the DOE National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone 202–586–4600, or leave a message at 1–800–472–2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Background The NWPA directs the Secretary of Energy, if the Secretary decides to recommend approval of the Yucca Mountain site for development of a repository, to submit a final environmental impact statement with any recommendation to the President. The Department prepared the Yucca Mountain Final EIS to fulfill that requirement. The Yucca Mountain Final EIS considered the potential environmental impacts of a repository design for surface and subsurface facilities, and plans for the construction, operation, monitoring, and eventual closure of the repository. E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63460-63463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25420]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of Final Complex Transformation 
Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a 
separately-organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 
announces the availability of the Complex Transformation Supplemental 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Complex Transformation 
SPEIS, DOE/EIS-0236-S4). The Complex Transformation SPEIS analyzes the 
potential environmental impacts of reasonable alternatives to continue 
transformation of the nuclear weapons complex to be smaller, and more 
responsive, efficient, and secure in order to meet national security 
requirements. It is a supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and 
Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SSM PEIS, DOE/
EIS-0236). NNSA prepared the SPEIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 
CFR Parts 1500-1508), and DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR Part 
1021).

DATES: NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision (RODs) 
based on the Complex Transformation SPEIS thirty or more days after the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes a notice of 
availability of the Final Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Requests for additional information on the Complex 
Transformation SPEIS, including requests for copies of the document, 
should be directed to: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, Complex Transformation 
SPEIS Document Manager, Office of Transformation, NA-141, Department of 
Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, toll 
free 1-800-832-0885 ext. 63519. A request for a copy of the document 
may also be sent by facsimile to 1-703-931-9222, or by e-mail to 
complextransformation@nnsa.doe.gov.The Complex Transformation SPEIS and 
additional information regarding complex transformation are available 
on the Internet at https://www.ComplexTransformationSPEIS.com and  
https://www.nnsa.doe.gov. The Complex Transformation SPEIS and 
referenced documents are available for review at the DOE Reading Rooms 
and public libraries listed at the end of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA's 
proposal, please contact: Mr. Theodore A. Wyka, NA-141, Complex 
Transformation SPEIS Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585, or telephone at 1-800-832-0885 ext. 63519. 
For general information about the DOE NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol 
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20), 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20585, telephone 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756. 
Additional information regarding DOE NEPA activities and access to many 
of DOE's NEPA documents are available on the Internet through the DOE 
NEPA Web site at https://www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National security policies require the U.S. 
DOE, through the NNSA, to maintain the United States' nuclear weapons 
stockpile,\1\ as well as core competencies in nuclear weapons. Since 
completion in 1996 of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
for Stockpile Stewardship and Management (SSM PEIS, DOE/EIS-0236) and 
associated ROD (61 FR 68014; December 26, 1996), DOE has implemented 
these policies through the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). The SSP 
emphasizes development and application of greatly improved scientific 
and technical capabilities to assess the safety, security, and 
reliability of existing nuclear warheads without the use of nuclear 
testing. Throughout the 1990s, DOE also took steps to consolidate the 
Complex from 12 sites to its current configuration of three national 
laboratories (plus an

[[Page 63461]]

associated flight test range), four industrial plants, and a nuclear 
test site.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The nuclear weapons stockpile consists of nuclear weapons 
that are both deployed to the military services (``operationally 
deployed'') and ``reserve weapons'' that could be used to augment 
the operationally deployed weapons or to provide replacements for 
warheads that experience safety or reliability problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Complex Transformation SPEIS evaluates alternatives for 
continuing transformation of the nuclear weapons complex (Complex) into 
a smaller, more efficient enterprise that can respond to changing 
national security challenges. These changes would build upon decisions 
made in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War and the cessation 
of nuclear weapons testing.
    The SPEIS contains NNSA's responses to comments submitted during 
the public comment period, which opened on January 11, 2008, and closed 
on April 30, 2008, as well as changes that were made to the Draft SPEIS 
as a result of these comments.
    The specific alternatives for restructuring special nuclear 
materials (SNM) \2\ facilities are divided into two broad categories: 
Programmatic, which looks at ways to consolidate and modernize 
manufacturing and SNM activities; and project specific, which look at 
ways to consolidate and modernize specific research, development, and 
testing activities. For the programmatic alternatives, NNSA evaluated:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ As defined in section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
special nuclear material is: (1) Plutonium, uranium enriched in the 
isotope 233 or in the isotope 235; or (2) any material artificially 
enriched by any of the foregoing and any other material which the 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines to be special nuclear 
material.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     No Action Alternative: Under the No Action Alternative, 
NNSA would make no major changes to the SNM missions now assigned to 
NNSA sites and would continue to implement actions for which NNSA has 
previously announced its decision in a ROD. With respect to SNM 
consolidation, ongoing actions to transfer Category I/II \3\ SNM from 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are included within the 
No Action Alternative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Special nuclear material is categorized into Security 
Categories I, II, III, and IV based on the type, attractiveness 
level, and quantity of material. Categories I and II require the 
highest level of security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Programmatic Alternative 1: Distributed Centers of 
Excellence (DCE). The DCE alternative would locate the three major SNM 
functional capabilities (plutonium operations, uranium operations, and 
weapon assembly/disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM 
at two or three separate Complex sites. This alternative examines the 
potential creation of a Consolidated Plutonium Center (CPC) for 
research and development (R&D), storage, processing, and manufacture of 
plutonium parts (pits) for the nuclear weapons stockpile. A CPC could 
consist of new facilities, or modifications to existing facilities at 
one of the following sites: Los Alamos,\4\ Nevada Test Site (NTS), 
Pantex, Savannah River Site (SRS), or Y-12. This alternative assumes 
that highly-enriched uranium and uranium storage, and uranium 
operations, would continue at Y-12, either at a new Uranium Processing 
Facility (UPF) or at upgraded, existing facilities. It also assumes 
that the weapons Assembly/Disassembly/High Explosives (A/D/HE) mission 
would remain at Pantex.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ In general, when referring to the Los Alamos National 
Laboratory, the SPEIS refers to this site as ``LANL.'' The term 
``Los Alamos'' is used to describe this site as an alternative 
location for a CPC or Consolidated Nuclear Production Center (CNPC).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Programmatic Alternative 2: Consolidated Centers of 
Excellence (CCE). Under this alternative, NNSA would consolidate the 
three major SNM functions (plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/
disassembly) involving Category I/II quantities of SNM at one or two 
sites. Two options are assessed: A single site option referred to as 
the consolidated nuclear production center (CNPC) option, and a two-
site option, referred to as the Consolidated Nuclear Center (CNC) 
option. Under the CNPC option, a new CNPC with facilities dedicated to 
modernizing plutonium, uranium, and weapon assembly/disassembly 
operations could be established at Los Alamos, NTS, Pantex, SRS, or Y-
12. The SPEIS analyzes the impacts of each of these facilities 
separately and in combination at all potential locations. Under the CNC 
option, the plutonium and uranium nuclear component manufacturing 
missions could be separate from the A/D/HE mission. The A/D/HE 
functions could remain at Pantex or move to the NTS, while the 
plutonium and uranium missions could be located at sites different than 
the A/D/HE function.
     Programmatic Alternative 3: Capability-Based Alternative. 
Under this alternative, NNSA would maintain a basic capability for 
manufacturing components for all stockpile weapons, as well as 
laboratory and experimental capabilities to support the stockpile, 
while reducing production facilities in-place to the extent that would 
allow NNSA to produce a nominal level of replacement components 
(approximately 50 components per year). Pit production capacity at LANL 
would not be expanded beyond the capability to produce 50 pits per 
year. Within this alternative, NNSA also considered a No Net 
Production/Capability-Based Alternative, in which NNSA would maintain 
capabilities to continue surveillance of the weapons stockpile, produce 
limited life components, and continue dismantlement. This alternative 
involves a minimum production (production of 10 sets of components or 
assembly of 10 weapons per year), within facilities with a larger 
manufacturing capability.
    For the project specific alternatives, NNSA evaluated:
     High Explosives (HE) Research and Development (R&D)
     Tritium R&D
     Flight Test Operations
     Hydrodynamic Testing
 Major Environmental Testing
 Weapons Support Functions at Sandia National Laboratories 
(SNL), California

    Alternatives for each of these project areas generally include: No 
action, consolidation, and downsizing in place. In the case of Flight 
Test Operations, NNSA also considered additional alternatives that 
would relocate Flight Test Operations to either White Sands Missile 
Range, or the Nevada Test Site.
    Preferred Alternatives: In accordance with CEQ regulations at 40 
CFR 1502.14(e), NNSA identified the following preferred alternatives in 
the SPEIS:

Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring SNM Facilities

     Plutonium manufacturing and R&D: Los Alamos would provide 
a consolidated plutonium research, development, and manufacturing 
capability within Technical Area-55 (TA-55), enabled by construction 
and operation of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement-
Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF). The CMRR-NF is needed to replace the 
existing Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) Facility (a 50-year 
old facility that has significant safety issues that cannot be 
addressed in the existing structure), to support movement of plutonium 
R&D and Category I/II quantities of SNM from LLNL, and consolidate 
weapons-related plutonium operations at Los Alamos. Until completion of 
a new Nuclear Posture Review in 2009 or later, the net production at 
Los Alamos would be limited to a maximum of 20 pits per year. Other 
national security actinide needs and missions would continue to be 
supported at TA-55 on a priority basis (e.g., emergency response, 
material disposition, nuclear energy).
     Uranium manufacturing and R&D: Y-12 would continue as the 
uranium

[[Page 63462]]

center producing components and canned subassemblies, and conducting 
surveillance and dismantlement. NNSA has completed construction of the 
HEUMF and will consolidate HEU storage in that facility.\5\ NNSA would 
build a Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y-12 in order to provide a 
smaller and modern highly-enriched uranium production capability to 
replace existing 50-year old facilities. The site-specific impacts and 
candidate locations for a UPF will be analyzed in a new SWEIS for Y-12 
that NNSA is currently preparing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The environmental impacts at HEUMF and its alternatives are 
analyzed in the 2001 Y-12 SWEIS (DOE/EIS-0309).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Assembly/disassembly/high explosives production and 
manufacturing: Pantex would remain the Assembly/Disassembly/High 
Explosives production and manufacturing center. NNSA would consolidate 
non-destructive surveillance operations at Pantex.
     Consolidation of Category I/II SNM: NNSA would continue to 
transfer Category I/II SNM from LLNL under the No Action Alternative 
and phase out Category I/II operations at LLNL Superblock by the end of 
2012. NNSA would consolidate Category I/II SNM at Pantex within Zone 
12, and close Zone 4.

Preferred Alternatives for Restructuring R&D and Testing Facilities

    HE R&D: NNSA would reduce the footprint of its HE production and 
R&D related to nuclear weapons and reduce the number of firing sites. 
Use of energetic materials (greater than 1 kg) for environmental 
testing conducted at SNL, New Mexico (SNL/NM) would continue (e.g., 
acceleration or sled tracks, shock loading, or in explosive tubes) and 
is not included in HE R&D. NNSA would consolidate weapons HE R&D and 
testing within the following locations, without constraining transfer 
and operation of weapons programs firing sites to other NNSA, 
Department of Defense (DoD), and national security sponsors, as 
follows:
     Pantex would remain the HE production (formulation, 
processing, and testing) and machining center. All HE production and 
machining to develop nuclear explosive packages would continue at 
Pantex. HE experiments up to 22 kg HE would remain at Pantex;
     NTS would remain the testing center for large quantities 
of HE (greater than 10 kg);
     LLNL would be the HE R&D center for formulation, 
processing, and testing (processing capability to handle up to 15 kg 
and testing less than 10 kg) HE at the High Explosives Applications 
Facility (HEAF); formulation and processing of HE would be conducted 
either at a new HEAF Annex built adjacent to HEAF, or at existing Site 
300 facilities (but using less space than currently used for these 
activities);
     SNL/NM would remain the HE R&D center for non-nuclear 
explosive package components (less than 1 kg of HE) at the Explosive 
Components Facility (ECF); and
     LANL would produce war reserve main charge detonators, 
conduct HE R&D experimentation and support activities, and move towards 
contained HE R&D experimentation.
     Each site would maintain one weapons program open-burn and 
one open-detonation area for safety and treatment purposes.
    Tritium R&D: NNSA would consolidate tritium R&D at SRS. SRS would 
remain the site for tritium supply management and provide R&D support 
to production operations and gas transfer system development. Neutron 
generator target loading at SNL/NM and production of National Ignition 
Facility targets at LLNL, which involve small quantities of tritium, 
would continue and would not be included in this consolidation. NNSA 
would move bulk quantities of tritium from LANL to SRS by 2009; and 
remove tritium materials above the 30 gram level from the Weapons 
Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) at LANL by 2014.
    NNSA flight test operations: NNSA would reduce the footprint of 
Tonopah Test Range, upgrade equipment with mobile capability, and 
operate in campaign mode. NNSA expects it would not use Category I/II 
SNM in future flight tests.
    Major Hydrodynamic Testing: By the end of fiscal year 2008, NNSA 
would contain the hydrodynamic testing (consisting of Integrated 
Weapons Experiments and Focused Experiments) at LLNL at the Contained 
Firing Facility and at LANL at the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic 
Test (DARHT) facility. At LANL, firing site operations for weapon 
programs required by NNSA's hydrodynamic test program would be moved to 
contained firing. In addition:
     Hydrotesting at LLNL Site 300 would be consolidated to a 
smaller footprint by 2015.
     The goal is to minimize open-air testing at LANL. Open-air 
hydrotests at LANL's DARHT, excluding SNM, would only occur if needed 
to meet national security requirements.
     NNSA would allow open-air firing at LANL TA-36 until 
adequate radiographic capabilities and associated supporting 
infrastructure are available for open-air firing at NTS.
    Major Environmental Test Facilities: NNSA would consolidate major 
environmental testing at SNL/NM and, infrequently, conduct operations 
requiring Category I/II SNM in security campaign mode there. NNSA would 
close LANL's and LLNL's major environmental testing facilities by 2010 
(except those in LLNL Building 334 and the Building 834 Complex). NNSA 
would move environmental testing of nuclear explosive packages and 
other functions currently performed in LLNL Buildings 334 and 834 to 
Pantex by 2012.
    Sandia National Laboratories, California Weapons Support Functions: 
NNSA would continue operations under the No Action Alternative.
    As to any other programmatic and project-specific alternatives not 
mentioned above, NNSA's preferred alternative at this time is to 
continue with the No Action Alternatives.
    NNSA will consider the environmental impact analysis presented in 
the Complex Transformation SPEIS, along with other information, in 
making decisions regarding its continuing transformation of the 
Complex. NNSA intends to issue one or more Records of Decision 30 or 
more days after EPA publishes a notice of availability of the Final 
Complex Transformation SPEIS in the Federal Register. It is anticipated 
that several Records of Decision may be issued based on the Complex 
Transformation SPEIS over the next several years. NNSA will publish all 
Records of Decision in the Federal Register. The Complex Transformation 
SPEIS and referenced documents are available for review at the 
following DOE Reading Rooms and public libraries:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, Discovery 
Center, Building 6525, Livermore, CA 94550, Phone: (925) 422-3272.
Livermore Public Library, 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore, CA 
94550-9315, Phone: (925) 937-5500.
Tracy Public Library, 20 East Eaton Avenue, Tracy, CA 95376, Phone: 
(209) 937-8221.
Southeastern Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Public 
Reading Room, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, GA 30635-6711, Phone: 
(706) 213-3800.
East-Central Georgia Regional Library, 902 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 
30901, Phone: (706) 821-2600.

[[Page 63463]]

Central Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105, Phone: 
(816) 701-3400.
North-East Branch, 6000 Wilson Road, Kansas City, MO 64123, Phone: 
(816) 701-3485.
Kansas City Site Office, Mid-Continent Public Library, Blue Ridge 
Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64138, Phone: (816) 
761-3382.
NNSA Nevada Site Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading 
Room, 755 East Flamingo Road; Room 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119, Phone: 
(702) 784-5121.
Office of Repository Development, Bechtel SAIC Company LLC, Reading 
Room, Science Center, 4101 B Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107, Phone: 
(702) 295-1312.
Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101, 
Phone: (702) 507-3500.
Indian Springs Library, 715 Gretta Lane, Indian Springs, NV 89018, 
Phone: (702) 879-3845.
Beatty Community Library, 400 North 4th Street, Beatty, NV 89003, 
Phone: (775) 553-2257.
Tonopah Public Library, 167 South Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049, 
Phone: (775) 482-3374.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, PO Box 1663, Mail 
Stop M9991, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Phone: (505) 667-0216.
National Nuclear Security Administration Service Center, DOE Reading 
Room, Government Information Department, Zimmerman Library, University 
of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1466, Phone: (505) 277-7180.
Mesa Public Library, 2300 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544, Phone: 
(505) 662-8250.
Santa Fe Main Library, 145 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 
Phone: (505) 955-6780.
Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, NM 87801, Phone: 
(505) 835-1114.
Savannah River Operations Office, Gregg-Graniteville Library, 
University of South Carolina-Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 
29801, Phone: (803) 641-3320.
Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield Street South, Aiken, SC 
29801, Phone: (803) 642-2020.
Barnwell County Public Library, 617 Hagood Avenue, Barnwell, SC 29812, 
Phone: (803) 259-3612.
Oak Ridge Office, DOE Information Center, 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak 
Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 241-4780 or 1 (800) 328-6938, Option 6.
Oak Ridge Public Library, Civic Center, 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak 
Ridge, TN 37830, Phone: (865) 425-3455.
Kingston Public Library, 1004 Bradford Way, Kingston, TN 37763, Phone: 
(865) 376-9905.
Central Library, 413 E 4th Avenue; Amarillo, TX 79101, Phone: (806) 
378-3054.
North Branch, 1500 NE 24th Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79107, Phone: (806) 
381-7931.
DOE Reading Room, Lynn Library/Learning Center, Amarillo College, 
Washington Street Campus, 2201 South Washington Street, Amarillo, 
Texas, Phone: (806) 371-5400.
Carson County Library, 401 Main Street, Panhandle, Texas 79068, Phone: 
(806) 537-3742.
U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Act Reading Room, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., IE-190, Washington, DC 20585-0001, 
Phone: (202) 586-5955.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 21st day of October 2008.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-25420 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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