Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Recapitalization of Infrastructure Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling and Examination at the Idaho National Laboratory, 42082-42084 [2010-17523]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 20, 2010 / Notices
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
U.S. Department of
Education, Board Room, 555 New Jersey
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donald E. Watson, Executive Director,
Historically Black College and
University Capital Financing (HBCU
Capital Financing) Advisory Board,
1990 K Street, NW., Room 6071,
Washington, DC 20006; telephone: (202)
219–7037; fax: (202) 502–7852; e-mail:
donald.watson@ed.gov.
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(TDD) may call the Federal Information
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board
is authorized by Title III, Part D, Section
347, of the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended in 1998 (20 U.S.C.
1066f). The Board is established within
the Department of Education to provide
advice and counsel to the Secretary and
the designated bonding authority as to
the most effective and efficient means of
implementing construction financing on
Historically Black College and
University (HBCU) campuses and to
advise Congress regarding the progress
made in implementing the program.
Specifically, the Board will provide
advice as to the capital needs of HBCUs,
how those needs can be met through the
program, and what additional steps
might be taken to improve the operation
and implementation of the constructionfinancing program.
The purpose of this meeting is to
review current program activities, to
make administrative and legislative
recommendations to the Secretary and
the U.S. Congress that address the
current capital needs of HBCUs and
capital financing issues of HBCUs, and
to share additional steps in which the
HBCU Capital Financing Program might
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to attend the meeting (e.g., interpreting
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notify Donald Watson at 202 219–7037,
no later than July 16, 2010. We will
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meeting site is accessible to individuals
with disabilities.
An opportunity for public comment is
available on Friday, July 30, 2010,
between 12:30 p.m.–1 p.m. Those
members of the public interested in
submitting written comments may do so
TIME:
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ADDRESSES:
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by submitting them to the attention of
Donald Watson, 1990 K Street, NW.,
Room 6071, Washington, DC, by Friday,
July 16, 2010.
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proceedings and are available for public
inspection at the Office of the
Historically Black College and
University Capital Financing Advisory
Board, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6071,
Washington, DC 20006, from the hours
of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time (EST), Monday through Friday.
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index.html.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
[FR Doc. 2010–17699 Filed 7–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Recapitalization of Infrastructure
Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel
Handling and Examination at the Idaho
National Laboratory
Department of Energy.
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement;
Notice of Public Meetings.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), the Council on Environmental
Quality regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of NEPA (40
CFR part 1500–1508), and the
Department of Energy (DOE)
implementing procedures (10 CFR part
1021), the DOE Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (NNPP) announces
its intent to prepare an Environmental
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Recapitalization of Naval Spent Nuclear
Fuel Handling and Examination
Facilities at the Idaho National
Laboratory (INL). The NNPP intends to
prepare an EIS for the recapitalization of
infrastructure at the Expended Core
Facility (ECF) at the INL in Idaho. This
action supports the receipt, handling,
examination, and packaging of naval
spent nuclear fuel removed from
nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and
submarines, as well as from land-based
prototype reactors, and the examination
of other irradiated materials.
Infrastructure recapitalization (e.g., new
or improved facilities and equipment) is
needed to ensure continued naval
nuclear-powered operations and
missions for at least the next 40 years.
In addition, the recapitalized
infrastructure will support the Navy’s
commitments, as identified in the 1995
Idaho Settlement Agreement (amended
in June 2008), among the State of Idaho,
the DOE, and the Navy. Three public
scoping meetings will be held.
DATES: NNPP invites interested parties
to comment on the proposed scope of
the EIS. NNPP will consider all
comments received by September 3,
2010, and to the extent practical
comments received after that date, in
the preparation of the EIS.
The public meetings will address the
scope of the planned EIS. For dates,
times, and locations of public scoping
meetings, see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope of the EIS may be submitted by
mailing to: Mr. Gregory F. Holden (08U–
Naval Reactors), Naval Sea Systems
Command, 1240 Isaac Hull Avenue, SE.,
Stop 8036, Washington Navy Yard, DC
20376–8036.
Comments provided by E–Mail
should be submitted to
ecfrecapitalization@unnpp.gov and
comments provided via phone should
be made by calling 1–866–369–4802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information about this project,
contact Mr. Gregory F. Holden, as
described above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP
is responsible for all aspects of U.S.
Navy nuclear power and propulsion.
These responsibilities include design,
maintenance, and safe operation of
nuclear propulsion systems throughout
their operational life cycles. A crucial
component of this mission, naval spent
nuclear fuel handling, occurs at the end
of a nuclear propulsion system’s useful
life. Once a naval nuclear core is
depleted, the NNPP is responsible for
removal of the spent nuclear fuel
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 20, 2010 / Notices
through a defueling or refueling
operation. Both operations remove the
spent nuclear fuel from a reactor core,
but a refueling operation also involves
installing new fuel into the reactor core,
allowing the nuclear-powered ship to be
redeployed into the U.S. Navy fleet.
After the naval spent nuclear fuel has
been removed from an aircraft carrier or
submarine, NNPP spent fuel handling
includes the subsequent transfer,
preparation, and packaging required for
dry storage pending transportation of
the fuel to a national geologic repository
or interim storage site.
A second component of the mission is
to support the design and maintenance
of nuclear propulsion systems by
providing for the examination of naval
spent nuclear fuel and irradiated
materials. This examination includes
the receipt and unloading of the spent
nuclear fuel; preparation of irradiated
materials for examination using various
visual, microscopic, and metallurgical
techniques; and preparation of small
fuel and non-fuel test samples for
insertion into test reactors, where they
are irradiated.
The NNPP ensures that naval spent
nuclear fuel handling and examination
are performed in a safe and
environmentally responsible manner in
accordance with 50 U.S.C. 2406, 2511
(codifying Executive Order 12344).
Nuclear fuel handling and examination
are intricate and intensive processes
requiring a complex infrastructure.
Naval spent nuclear fuel handling
includes the transfer of spent nuclear
fuel removed from a reactor to the ECF
at the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) at
the INL, where it is received, unloaded,
prepared, and packaged for disposal.
Currently, naval spent nuclear fuel
examination and the examination of
some irradiated specimens are
performed at the ECF. Examination of
spent naval fuel and irradiated materials
is essential to the mission of the Navy
for three reasons: to provide data on
current reactor performance, to validate
models used to predict future
performance, and to support research to
improve reactor design.
The NNPP is proposing to recapitalize
the existing ECF infrastructure at the
INL. The purpose of the proposed action
is to ensure the continued availability of
the infrastructure needed to support the
transfer, handling, examination, and
packaging of naval spent nuclear fuel
removed from nuclear-powered aircraft
carriers and submarines, as well as from
land-based prototype reactors, and the
examination of other irradiated
materials, for at least the next 40 years.
This action is needed because, although
the ECF at the NRF, where this work is
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currently supported, continues to be
maintained and operated in a safe and
environmentally responsible manner, a
significant portion of the ECF
infrastructure has been in service for
over 50 years. Deterioration of the ECF
infrastructure could immediately and
profoundly impact the NNPP mission,
including the NNPP’s ability to support
refueling and defueling of nuclear
powered submarines and aircraft
carriers. The ECF capabilities to
transfer, prepare, examine, and package
naval spent nuclear fuel, and other
irradiated materials are vital to the
NNPP’s mission of maintaining the
reliable operation of the naval nuclearpowered fleet and developing militarily
effective nuclear propulsion plants.
Consistent with the Record of
Decision for the April 1995 DOE
Programmatic EIS for Spent Nuclear
Fuel Management (DOE/EIS–0203–F),
naval spent nuclear fuel is shipped by
rail from shipyards and prototype
facilities to NRF for examination and
processing. After processing, naval
spent nuclear fuel is transferred into dry
storage containers and placed into
temporary storage at NRF, prior to offsite transfer consistent with the Record
of Decision for the November 1996 Navy
EIS for a Container System for
Management of Naval Spent Nuclear
Fuel (DOE/EIS–0251). Ongoing efforts to
sustain the infrastructure needed to
transfer, prepare, examine, and package
naval spent nuclear fuel will preserve
these essential capabilities and ensure
that the NNPP high standards for
protecting the public and the
environment continue to be met.
Facility age, however, is expected to
cause a growing maintenance burden
and increase the likelihood of
unacceptable workflow interruptions
that could adversely impact the fleet.
The NNPP proposes to recapitalize
the infrastructure for transferring,
preparing, examining, and packaging
naval spent nuclear fuel and other
irradiated materials, to ensure these
capabilities are maintained for the vital
NNPP mission of supporting the naval
nuclear-powered fleet. The
recapitalization is expected to be carried
out as two projects. The first project will
be the Spent Fuel Handling
Recapitalization Project; the second
project will be the Examination
Recapitalization Project. The Spent Fuel
Handling Recapitalization Project will
ensure that interfaces and exchanges
between handling and examination are
factored into detailed designs, to ensure
that both projects can be carried out in
an environmentally responsible and
cost-effective manner.
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42083
The proposed EIS will consider the
environmental effects related to siting
and construction of new facilities for
both of the Recapitalization Projects.
The NNPP proposes to evaluate three
siting combinations, along with a NoAction Alternative.
Alternative 1—Locate the Spent Fuel
Handling Recapitalization Project and
the Examination Recapitalization
Project at the NRF at the INL.
Alternative 2—Locate the Spent Fuel
Handling Recapitalization Project at the
NRF and the Examination
Recapitalization Project at the Advanced
Test Reactor Complex at the INL.
Alternative 3—Locate the Spent Fuel
Handling Recapitalization Project at the
NRF and the Examination
Recapitalization Project at the Materials
and Fuels Complex at the INL.
No-Action Alternative—Overhaul the
ECF. Overhauling includes continuing
to repair, maintain, refurbish, and
upgrade the ECF as necessary to provide
the needed long-term capabilities for
transferring, examining, preparing, and
packaging naval spent nuclear fuel.
Within each of these alternative sites,
there are a number of practical locations
for facility placement. These location
options will also be addressed in the
EIS. NNPP proposes to address the
issues listed below when considering
the potential impacts of the proposed
alternatives in the EIS. This list is
presented to facilitate public comment
during the scoping period and is not
intended to be comprehensive, or to
imply any predetermination of impacts.
Issues include:
• Potential impacts of emissions on
air and water quality.
• Potential impacts on plants,
animals, and their habitats, including
species that are listed by either State or
Federal government as threatened,
endangered, or of special concern.
• Potential impacts from postulated
accidents, as well as potential impacts
from acts of terrorism or sabotage.
• Potential effects on the public
health from exposure to hazardous
materials or radiological releases under
routine operations.
• Potential safety and health impacts
to workers.
• Impacts on cultural resources, such
as historic, archeological, and Native
American culturally important sites.
• Socioeconomic impacts to the
potentially affected communities.
• Compliance with applicable Federal
and state regulations.
• Potential disproportionately high
and adverse effects on low-income and
minority populations (environmental
justice).
• Cumulative impacts.
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42084
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 20, 2010 / Notices
NEPA implementing regulations
require an early and open process for
determining the scope of an EIS and for
identifying the significant issues related
to the proposed action. Accordingly,
NNPP invites Federal agencies; Tribal,
State, and local governments; and the
general public to comment on the scope
of the planned EIS including
identification of reasonable alternatives
and specific issues that should be
addressed. NNPP will hold three public
scoping meetings to provide information
on the Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling and
Examination Recapitalization Projects
and to solicit public concerns and
comments. Dates, times, and locations
for these meetings are as follows:
August 24, 2010
6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho
Falls, ID 83404.
August 25, 2010
6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Red Lion, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road,
Pocatello, ID 83201.
August 26, 2010
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6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Canyon Springs Red Lion, 1357 Blue
Lakes Blvd. North, Twin Falls, ID
83301.
Persons unable to attend these
meetings may view meeting information
by visiting the NNPP Web site https://
www.ecfrecapitalization.us. NNPP will
provide additional notification of the
meeting times and locations through
newspaper advertisements and other
appropriate media.
At each scoping meeting, NNPP plans
to hold an open house for the first hour
prior to beginning the formal portion of
the meeting to allow participants to
register to provide oral comments and
view informational materials. The
registration table will have an oral
comment registration form as well as a
sign-up sheet for those who do not wish
to give oral comments but who would
like to be included on the mailing list
to receive either printed or electronic
information about the project in the
future. The public may provide written
and/or oral comments at the scoping
meetings.
All public comments received during
the scoping meetings, as well as those
submitted as described above, will be
considered during the development of
the EIS.
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15:23 Jul 19, 2010
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Issued in Washington, DC, on July 12,
2010.
John M. McKenzie,
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2010–17523 Filed 7–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[Regional Docket Nos. V–2009–1, FRL–
9176–5]
Clean Air Act Operating Permit
Program; Petition for Objection to
State Operating Permit for JP Pulliam
Power Plant
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of final order on petition
to object to Clean Air Act (Act)
operating permit.
SUMMARY: This document announces
that the EPA Administrator has granted
a petition from the Sierra Club asking
EPA to object to a Title V operating
permit for the Wisconsin Public Service
Corporation’s, JP Pulliam Power Plant
(JP Pulliam) issued by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
(WDNR).
Sections 307(b) and 505(b)(2) of the
Act provide that a petitioner may ask for
judicial review of those portions of the
petition which EPA denies in the
United States Court of Appeals for the
appropriate circuit. Any petition for
review shall be filed within 60 days
from the date this notice appears in the
Federal Register, pursuant to section
307 of the Act. However, EPA did not
deny any portion of the petition that is
the subject of the response announced
today.
You may review copies of
the final order, the petition, and other
supporting information at the EPA
Region 5 Office, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. If
you wish to examine these documents,
you should make an appointment at
least 24 hours before visiting day.
Additionally, the final order for the JP
Pulliam Power Plant petition is
available electronically at: https://
www.epa.gov/region07/programs/artd/
air/title5/petitiondb/petitiondb.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pamela Blakley, Chief, Air Permits
Section, Air Programs Branch, Air and
Radiation Division, EPA, Region 5, 77
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604, telephone (312) 886–
4447.
ADDRESSES:
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The Act
affords EPA a 45-day period to review,
and object, as appropriate, to Title V
operating permits proposed by state
permitting authorities. Section 505(b)(2)
of the Act authorizes any person to
petition the EPA Administrator within
60 days after the expiration of the EPA
review period to object to a Title V
operating permit if EPA has not done so.
A petition must be based only on
objections to the permit that were raised
with reasonable specificity during the
public comment period provided by the
state, unless the petitioner demonstrates
that it was impracticable to raise issues
during the comment period, or the
grounds for the issues arose after this
period.
On June 25, 2009, EPA received a
petition from the Sierra Club requesting
that EPA object to the Title V operating
permit for JP Pulliam. The Petitioner
alleged that the permit is not in
compliance with the requirements of the
Act. Specifically, the Petitioner alleged
that: (1) The permit omits more
stringent applicable particulate matter
(PM) emission limits for certain boilers
because the units are: (a) Subject to the
lower limits established in a
preconstruction permit issued on
October 15, 2008, and/or (b) subject to
a State Implementation Plan provision
providing for a lower PM limit for units
modified after April 1972 because these
units were modified in the late 1980s;
(2) the permit omits the maximum
hourly heat input limits that are
applicable because they were contained
in a preconstruction permit application
submitted by the permittee and relied
upon by WDNR to issue a New Source
Review synthetic minor permit; and (3)
the permit’s PM monitoring for the
boilers and PM and visible emissions
monitoring for certain material handling
sources are deficient.
On June 28, 2010, the Administrator
issued an order granting the JP Pulliam
petition. The Order explains the reasons
behind EPA’s conclusion.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Date: July 9, 2010.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2010–17678 Filed 7–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42082-42084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17523]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Recapitalization of Infrastructure Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear
Fuel Handling and Examination at the Idaho National Laboratory
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement;
Notice of Public Meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of NEPA (40 CFR part 1500-1508), and the Department of
Energy (DOE) implementing procedures (10 CFR part 1021), the DOE Naval
Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) announces its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Recapitalization of Naval
Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling and Examination Facilities at the Idaho
National Laboratory (INL). The NNPP intends to prepare an EIS for the
recapitalization of infrastructure at the Expended Core Facility (ECF)
at the INL in Idaho. This action supports the receipt, handling,
examination, and packaging of naval spent nuclear fuel removed from
nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as from land-
based prototype reactors, and the examination of other irradiated
materials. Infrastructure recapitalization (e.g., new or improved
facilities and equipment) is needed to ensure continued naval nuclear-
powered operations and missions for at least the next 40 years. In
addition, the recapitalized infrastructure will support the Navy's
commitments, as identified in the 1995 Idaho Settlement Agreement
(amended in June 2008), among the State of Idaho, the DOE, and the
Navy. Three public scoping meetings will be held.
DATES: NNPP invites interested parties to comment on the proposed scope
of the EIS. NNPP will consider all comments received by September 3,
2010, and to the extent practical comments received after that date, in
the preparation of the EIS.
The public meetings will address the scope of the planned EIS. For
dates, times, and locations of public scoping meetings, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS may be submitted by
mailing to: Mr. Gregory F. Holden (08U-Naval Reactors), Naval Sea
Systems Command, 1240 Isaac Hull Avenue, SE., Stop 8036, Washington
Navy Yard, DC 20376-8036.
Comments provided by E-Mail should be submitted to
ecfrecapitalization@unnpp.gov and comments provided via phone should be
made by calling 1-866-369-4802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
project, contact Mr. Gregory F. Holden, as described above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP is responsible for all aspects of
U.S. Navy nuclear power and propulsion. These responsibilities include
design, maintenance, and safe operation of nuclear propulsion systems
throughout their operational life cycles. A crucial component of this
mission, naval spent nuclear fuel handling, occurs at the end of a
nuclear propulsion system's useful life. Once a naval nuclear core is
depleted, the NNPP is responsible for removal of the spent nuclear fuel
[[Page 42083]]
through a defueling or refueling operation. Both operations remove the
spent nuclear fuel from a reactor core, but a refueling operation also
involves installing new fuel into the reactor core, allowing the
nuclear-powered ship to be redeployed into the U.S. Navy fleet. After
the naval spent nuclear fuel has been removed from an aircraft carrier
or submarine, NNPP spent fuel handling includes the subsequent
transfer, preparation, and packaging required for dry storage pending
transportation of the fuel to a national geologic repository or interim
storage site.
A second component of the mission is to support the design and
maintenance of nuclear propulsion systems by providing for the
examination of naval spent nuclear fuel and irradiated materials. This
examination includes the receipt and unloading of the spent nuclear
fuel; preparation of irradiated materials for examination using various
visual, microscopic, and metallurgical techniques; and preparation of
small fuel and non-fuel test samples for insertion into test reactors,
where they are irradiated.
The NNPP ensures that naval spent nuclear fuel handling and
examination are performed in a safe and environmentally responsible
manner in accordance with 50 U.S.C. 2406, 2511 (codifying Executive
Order 12344). Nuclear fuel handling and examination are intricate and
intensive processes requiring a complex infrastructure. Naval spent
nuclear fuel handling includes the transfer of spent nuclear fuel
removed from a reactor to the ECF at the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF)
at the INL, where it is received, unloaded, prepared, and packaged for
disposal. Currently, naval spent nuclear fuel examination and the
examination of some irradiated specimens are performed at the ECF.
Examination of spent naval fuel and irradiated materials is essential
to the mission of the Navy for three reasons: to provide data on
current reactor performance, to validate models used to predict future
performance, and to support research to improve reactor design.
The NNPP is proposing to recapitalize the existing ECF
infrastructure at the INL. The purpose of the proposed action is to
ensure the continued availability of the infrastructure needed to
support the transfer, handling, examination, and packaging of naval
spent nuclear fuel removed from nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and
submarines, as well as from land-based prototype reactors, and the
examination of other irradiated materials, for at least the next 40
years. This action is needed because, although the ECF at the NRF,
where this work is currently supported, continues to be maintained and
operated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, a
significant portion of the ECF infrastructure has been in service for
over 50 years. Deterioration of the ECF infrastructure could
immediately and profoundly impact the NNPP mission, including the
NNPP's ability to support refueling and defueling of nuclear powered
submarines and aircraft carriers. The ECF capabilities to transfer,
prepare, examine, and package naval spent nuclear fuel, and other
irradiated materials are vital to the NNPP's mission of maintaining the
reliable operation of the naval nuclear-powered fleet and developing
militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants.
Consistent with the Record of Decision for the April 1995 DOE
Programmatic EIS for Spent Nuclear Fuel Management (DOE/EIS-0203-F),
naval spent nuclear fuel is shipped by rail from shipyards and
prototype facilities to NRF for examination and processing. After
processing, naval spent nuclear fuel is transferred into dry storage
containers and placed into temporary storage at NRF, prior to off-site
transfer consistent with the Record of Decision for the November 1996
Navy EIS for a Container System for Management of Naval Spent Nuclear
Fuel (DOE/EIS-0251). Ongoing efforts to sustain the infrastructure
needed to transfer, prepare, examine, and package naval spent nuclear
fuel will preserve these essential capabilities and ensure that the
NNPP high standards for protecting the public and the environment
continue to be met. Facility age, however, is expected to cause a
growing maintenance burden and increase the likelihood of unacceptable
workflow interruptions that could adversely impact the fleet.
The NNPP proposes to recapitalize the infrastructure for
transferring, preparing, examining, and packaging naval spent nuclear
fuel and other irradiated materials, to ensure these capabilities are
maintained for the vital NNPP mission of supporting the naval nuclear-
powered fleet. The recapitalization is expected to be carried out as
two projects. The first project will be the Spent Fuel Handling
Recapitalization Project; the second project will be the Examination
Recapitalization Project. The Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization
Project will ensure that interfaces and exchanges between handling and
examination are factored into detailed designs, to ensure that both
projects can be carried out in an environmentally responsible and cost-
effective manner.
The proposed EIS will consider the environmental effects related to
siting and construction of new facilities for both of the
Recapitalization Projects. The NNPP proposes to evaluate three siting
combinations, along with a No-Action Alternative.
Alternative 1--Locate the Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization
Project and the Examination Recapitalization Project at the NRF at the
INL.
Alternative 2--Locate the Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization
Project at the NRF and the Examination Recapitalization Project at the
Advanced Test Reactor Complex at the INL.
Alternative 3--Locate the Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization
Project at the NRF and the Examination Recapitalization Project at the
Materials and Fuels Complex at the INL.
No-Action Alternative--Overhaul the ECF. Overhauling includes
continuing to repair, maintain, refurbish, and upgrade the ECF as
necessary to provide the needed long-term capabilities for
transferring, examining, preparing, and packaging naval spent nuclear
fuel.
Within each of these alternative sites, there are a number of
practical locations for facility placement. These location options will
also be addressed in the EIS. NNPP proposes to address the issues
listed below when considering the potential impacts of the proposed
alternatives in the EIS. This list is presented to facilitate public
comment during the scoping period and is not intended to be
comprehensive, or to imply any predetermination of impacts. Issues
include:
Potential impacts of emissions on air and water quality.
Potential impacts on plants, animals, and their habitats,
including species that are listed by either State or Federal government
as threatened, endangered, or of special concern.
Potential impacts from postulated accidents, as well as
potential impacts from acts of terrorism or sabotage.
Potential effects on the public health from exposure to
hazardous materials or radiological releases under routine operations.
Potential safety and health impacts to workers.
Impacts on cultural resources, such as historic,
archeological, and Native American culturally important sites.
Socioeconomic impacts to the potentially affected
communities.
Compliance with applicable Federal and state regulations.
Potential disproportionately high and adverse effects on
low-income and minority populations (environmental justice).
Cumulative impacts.
[[Page 42084]]
NEPA implementing regulations require an early and open process for
determining the scope of an EIS and for identifying the significant
issues related to the proposed action. Accordingly, NNPP invites
Federal agencies; Tribal, State, and local governments; and the general
public to comment on the scope of the planned EIS including
identification of reasonable alternatives and specific issues that
should be addressed. NNPP will hold three public scoping meetings to
provide information on the Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling and Examination
Recapitalization Projects and to solicit public concerns and comments.
Dates, times, and locations for these meetings are as follows:
August 24, 2010
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83404.
August 25, 2010
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Red Lion, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID 83201.
August 26, 2010
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Canyon Springs Red Lion, 1357 Blue Lakes Blvd. North, Twin Falls,
ID 83301.
Persons unable to attend these meetings may view meeting
information by visiting the NNPP Web site https://www.ecfrecapitalization.us. NNPP will provide additional notification
of the meeting times and locations through newspaper advertisements and
other appropriate media.
At each scoping meeting, NNPP plans to hold an open house for the
first hour prior to beginning the formal portion of the meeting to
allow participants to register to provide oral comments and view
informational materials. The registration table will have an oral
comment registration form as well as a sign-up sheet for those who do
not wish to give oral comments but who would like to be included on the
mailing list to receive either printed or electronic information about
the project in the future. The public may provide written and/or oral
comments at the scoping meetings.
All public comments received during the scoping meetings, as well
as those submitted as described above, will be considered during the
development of the EIS.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 12, 2010.
John M. McKenzie,
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-17523 Filed 7-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
