Record of Decision for the Continued Operation of the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada National Security Site and Off-Site Locations in the State of Nevada, 78421-78425 [2014-30594]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• National Nuclear Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78421-78425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30594]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Nuclear Security Administration


Record of Decision for the Continued Operation of the Department 
of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada National 
Security Site and Off-Site Locations in the State of Nevada

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

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security 
Administration (DOE/NNSA) is issuing this Record of Decision (ROD) for 
the continued management, operation, and activities of the Nevada 
National Security Site (NNSS) and Off-Site Locations in the State of 
Nevada pursuant to the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Continued Operation of the Department of Energy/National 
Nuclear Security Administration Nevada National Security Site and Off-
Site Locations in the State of Nevada, DOE/EIS-0426 (Final NNSS SWEIS) 
issued on February 22, 2013. In making its decision, DOE/NNSA 
considered potential environmental impacts of operations and 
activities, current and future mission needs, technical and security 
considerations, availability of resources, and public comments on the 
Draft and Final NNSS SWEIS. The Final NNSS SWEIS analyzes ongoing and 
reasonably foreseeable future operations and activities at the NNSS and 
other DOE/NNSA facilities in Nevada, including the Remote Sensing 
Laboratory (RSL) at Nellis Air Force Base (NAFB), the North Las Vegas 
Facility (NLVF), the Tonopah Test Range (TTR), and environmental 
restoration sites located on the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) 
(formerly the Nellis Air Force Range).
    DOE/NNSA has decided to implement the Preferred Alternative, which 
is identified in the Summary, Table S-1, and Chapter 3, Section 3.4, of 
the Final NNSS SWEIS. The capabilities, projects, and activities that 
comprise the elements of DOE/NNSA's decision, and the original 
alternative from which each is derived, are described in the 
``Decision'' section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this ROD, 
or other NNSS National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, 
contact Ms. Linda M. Cohn, SWEIS Document Manager, NNSA Nevada Field 
Office, U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box 98518, Las Vegas, Nevada 
89193-8518, (702) 295-0077. For information on the DOE NEPA process, 
contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 
472-2756. Additional information regarding DOE NEPA activities and 
access to many DOE NEPA documents, including the Final NNSS SWEIS, are 
available on the Internet through the DOE NEPA Web site at https://energy.gov/nepa.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    DOE/NNSA prepared the Draft and Final NNSS SWEIS and this ROD 
pursuant to the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and DOE's NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021).
    The DOE/NNSA missions and associated programs in Nevada are (1) the 
National Security/Defense Mission, which includes the Stockpile 
Stewardship and Management Program; Nuclear Emergency Response, 
Nonproliferation, and Counterterrorism Program; and Strategic 
Partnership Program (previously Work for Others); (2) the Environmental 
Management Mission, which includes the Waste Management and 
Environmental Restoration Programs; and (3) the Nondefense Mission, 
which includes the General Site Support and Infrastructure, 
Conservation and Renewable Energy, and Other Research and Development 
Programs. These missions and programs are carried out at the NNSS, RSL, 
NLVF, and NTTR/TTR. The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 
and Nye County, Nevada, were cooperating agencies in the preparation of 
the NNSS SWEIS. In addition, the Consolidated Group of Tribes and 
Organizations, which includes representatives from 16 culturally 
affiliated American Indian Tribes, participated in the preparation of 
this SWEIS by providing text in the document that gave their 
perspectives of the land and activities conducted and proposed by the 
Federal government.
    The NNSS occupies approximately 1,360 square miles of desert and 
mountain terrain in southern Nevada. It

[[Page 78422]]

is a multi-disciplinary, multi-purpose facility primarily engaged in 
work that supports national security, homeland security initiatives, 
waste management, environmental restoration, and defense and nondefense 
research and development programs for DOE/NNSA and other government 
entities.
    RSL is located on 35 acres at NAFB in North Las Vegas, Nevada. 
Radiological emergency response, the Aerial Measuring System, 
radiological sensor development and testing, Secure Systems 
Technologies, nuclear nonproliferation capabilities, and information 
and communication technologies are supported at RSL.
    NLVF, located on approximately 78 acres, comprises 29 buildings 
that include office buildings, a high bay, machine shop, laboratories, 
experimental facilities, and various other mission-support facilities.
    The TTR consists of a 280-square-mile area north of the NNSS on the 
U.S. Air Force NTTR. Activities conducted at TTR include flight-testing 
of gravity weapons (bombs); research, development, and evaluation of 
nuclear weapons components and delivery systems; and national security-
related work for other agencies and organizations. Environmental 
restoration activities are also conducted on the NTTR.
    DOE/NNSA analyzed various radioactive waste shipping routes through 
and around metropolitan Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Draft and Final NNSS 
SWEIS. DOE/NNSA has taken into consideration the comments and concerns 
expressed by state, county, and local government officials and the 
public during the review and comment period for the Draft and in 
preparation of the Final NNSS SWEIS. Shipments of low-level radioactive 
waste (LLW) and mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW) to the NNSS 
for disposal will continue to be done in accordance with commitments 
made to the State of Nevada and provisions of the NNSS waste acceptance 
criteria regarding routing and related matters associated with such 
shipments.

Alternatives Considered

    In the Draft and Final NNSS SWEIS, DOE/NNSA analyzed the potential 
environmental impacts of three alternatives: (1) No Action, (2) 
Expanded Operations, and (3) Reduced Operations. These alternatives 
considered current and reasonably foreseeable missions, programs, 
capabilities, and projects at the NNSS and the three offsite locations. 
Alternative descriptions are organized under three missions, each with 
two or more associated programs. Mission-related capabilities, 
projects, and activities are identified by program area for each of the 
alternatives. The three alternatives include similar types of programs, 
capabilities, projects, and activities, but differ primarily in their 
levels of operations and facilities requirements. The Final NNSS SWEIS 
identified a Preferred Alternative, which incorporates elements from 
the analyzed alternatives.
    The No Action Alternative reflects the use of existing capabilities 
to maintain operations at levels consistent with those experienced 
since 1996. The Expanded Operations Alternative differs from the No 
Action Alternative in that the levels of operations would be enhanced 
or accelerated; some new activities would be implemented; and new 
facilities would be constructed to support increased levels of 
operations and activities. In addition, under the Expanded Operations 
Alternative, DOE/NNSA would modify land use zones at the NNSS to better 
reflect the kinds of activities that would be undertaken in those 
zones. Under the Reduced Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA would conduct 
some activities at a level similar to that of the No Action 
Alternative, but for other activities, the levels of operations would 
be reduced or would cease altogether.
    All three alternatives include consideration of potential 
commercial solar power generation at the NNSS at varying levels of 
generating capacity (i.e., 240 megawatt [MW]-No Action, 1,000 MW-
Expanded Operations, and 100 MW-Reduced Operations). The Final NNSS 
SWEIS also indicated, and the Preferred Alternative incorporates, a 
number of conceptual or potential activities for which there is 
insufficient information available to conduct a project-specific NEPA 
review (marked with footnote ``a'' in Tables S-1 and 3-3 of the Final 
NNSS SWEIS). Because the solar power generation scenarios and other 
identified conceptual or potential activities have not yet been 
adequately addressed for purposes of NEPA, DOE/NNSA is not making any 
decision regarding them. When sufficient information becomes available 
regarding any one or more of these conceptual or potential activities, 
DOE/NNSA will conduct an appropriate NEPA review before making any 
decision(s).

Preferred Alternative

    At the time the Draft NNSS SWEIS was published, DOE/NNSA had not 
selected a Preferred Alternative. The Final NNSS SWEIS identified DOE/
NNSA's Preferred Alternative (described in the Summary, Table S-1 and 
Chapter 3, Section 3.4) as a hybrid alternative comprising mission-
supporting programs, capabilities, projects, and activities selected 
from among the three alternatives, based upon current and projected 
mission needs. In some cases, DOE/NNSA identified preferences from each 
of the three original alternatives within a single program area.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

    After considering the potential impacts to each resource area by 
alternative, DOE/NNSA identified the Reduced Operations Alternative as 
the environmentally preferable alternative. The operational level of 
this alternative would be reduced for most programs, and most 
activities would cease in the northwestern portion of the NNSS (Areas 
18, 19, 20, 29, and 30), with the exception of environmental 
restoration and monitoring, site security operations, military training 
and exercises, and maintenance of certain critical infrastructure 
systems. This reduced level of activities, as well as closure of some 
older and less efficient facilities, would result in lower levels of 
water, fuel, and electricity use; less physical disturbance of land; 
and reduced onsite generation of some types of wastes. The pace of 
environmental restoration activities, as well as other requirements for 
environmental monitoring and protection, would generally remain 
unchanged from current levels.

Environmental Impacts of Alternatives

    The NNSS SWEIS analyzed the potential impacts of each alternative 
on Land Use, Infrastructure and Energy, Transportation and Traffic, 
Socioeconomics, Geology and Soils, Hydrology (Groundwater and Surface 
Water), Biological Resources, Air Quality and Climate, Visual 
Resources, Cultural Resources, Waste Management, Human Health, and 
Environmental Justice. Under each alternative, the potential impacts 
are described in relation to the three major missions (National 
Security/Defense, Environmental Management, and Nondefense) and the 
DOE/NNSA facility with which they are associated (NNSS, RSL, NLVF, and 
TTR). DOE/NNSA also evaluated the potential impacts of each alternative 
as to irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources, and the 
relationship between short-term uses of the environment and the 
maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity. In addition, 
DOE/NNSA evaluated the impact of potential accidents during 
transportation of LLW on workers and surrounding

[[Page 78423]]

populations. These analyses and results are described in the Summary 
and Chapter 5 of the Final NNSS SWEIS. Table 3-4 of the Final NNSS 
SWEIS provides a summary of potential environmental impacts associated 
with the Preferred Alternative, as well as a means for comparing the 
potential impacts of the Preferred Alternative with each of the 
analyzed alternatives.

Comments on the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement

    DOE/NNSA distributed the Final NNSS SWEIS to Congressional members 
and committees; State and local governments; other Federal agencies; 
culturally affiliated American Indian Tribes; non-governmental 
organizations; and other stakeholders, including members of the public 
who requested direct distribution of the document. The Final NNSS SWEIS 
also was made available to the public via the Internet. Within 30 days 
following publication of the Final NNSS SWEIS in February 2013, DOE/
NNSA received comment letters from the Nuclear Project Office of the 
State of Nevada, Clark and Nye Counties, and the City of Las Vegas. 
Also within 30 days following the publication of the Final NNSS SWEIS, 
a fifth letter was received from the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA). DOE/NNSA has concluded that these letters do not identify 
a need for further NEPA analysis. The Appendix to this ROD summarizes 
DOE/NNSA's consideration of these letters.

Decision

    DOE/NNSA has decided to implement the Preferred Alternative, which 
is identified in the Summary, Table S-1, and Chapter 3, Section 3.4 of 
the Final NNSS SWEIS. The capabilities, projects, and activities that 
comprise the elements of DOE/NNSA's decision, and the original 
alternative from which each is derived, are described below.

National Security/Defense Mission Decisions

Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to maintain 
readiness to conduct underground nuclear tests but will not conduct 
such a test unless directed by the President in the interest of 
national security. DOE/NNSA will conduct up to 10 dynamic experiments 
(including sub-critical experiments at U1a) per year within any one or 
more of the following NNSS Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 
and 16; conduct up to 500 criticality operations (training and other 
activities) per year at the National Criticality Experiments Research 
Center at the Device Assembly Facility in Area 6 of the NNSS; conduct 
up to 600 plasma physics and fusion experiments each year at NLVF and 
up to 50 each year in Area 11 of the NNSS; conduct up to five post-shot 
drill-back operations at the NNSS; and disposition damaged U.S. nuclear 
weapons on an as-needed basis. (Appendix A, A.1.1.1)
    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will conduct up 
to 100 conventional explosives experiments per year within any one or 
more of the following NNSS Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, and 16, using up to 
120,000 pounds TNT-equivalent per experiment of explosive charges in 
support of both the Stockpile Stewardship and Work for Others Programs 
(up to 50 of these 100 experiments will be conducted at the Big 
Explosives Experimental Facility [BEEF] with a TNT-equivalent 
limitation of 70,000 pounds per experiment); establish a second firing 
table and high-energy x-ray capability at BEEF to support conventional 
explosives experiments; establish up to three areas at the NNSS for 
conducting explosive experiments with depleted uranium, and conduct up 
to 20 of these experiments per year; conduct up to 36 shock physics 
experiments per year at the NNSS using actinide targets at the Joint 
Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research facility in Area 27 of the 
NNSS and up to 24 such experiments per year using the Large-Bore Powder 
Gun at the U1a facility in Area 1 of the NNSS; test weapons components 
for quality assurance under the Limited Life Component Exchange 
Program; transfer special nuclear material, including nuclear weapon 
pits, to and from other locations in the DOE/NNSA complex for staging 
and use in experiments at the NNSS; and continue to conduct Stockpile 
Stewardship operations at the TTR (e.g., tests and experiments, 
including flight test operations for gravity weapons; ground/air-
launched rocket and missile operations; impact testing; passive testing 
of joint test assemblies and conventional weapons; and fuel-air 
explosives testing). Certain safeguards, security, and other 
administrative functions at the TTR may be turned over to the U.S. Air 
Force. (Appendix A, A.2.1.1)
    From the Reduced Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will decommission 
and disposition the Atlas Facility (a facility designed to support 
pulsed power experiments); conduct training for the Office of Secure 
Transportation up to four times per year at various locations on NNSS 
roads; and conduct Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program 
activities, including dynamic experiments, which will continue in any 
one or more of the following NNSS Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 
12, and 16, but will no longer be conducted in Areas 19 and 20. 
(Appendix A, A.3.1.1)

Nuclear Emergency Response, Nonproliferation, and Counterterrorism 
Programs

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to provide 
support for the Nuclear Emergency Support Team, the Federal 
Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center, the Accident Response 
Group, and the Radiological Assistance Program; conduct Aerial 
Measuring System activities from RSL at NAFB; conduct weapons of mass 
destruction (WMD) emergency responder training at various Nevada Field 
Office venues, as well as support the DOE Emergency Communications 
Network. (Appendix A, A.1.1.2)
    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to 
be prepared to disposition improvised nuclear devices and deploy the 
DOE/NNSA Disposition Forensic Program to the NNSS for training and 
exercises or for an actual event, as needed, and will additionally 
disposition radiological dispersion devices as needed. DOE/NNSA will 
continue to integrate existing activities and experimental facilities 
(primarily at NNSS) to support U.S. efforts to control the spread of 
WMDs, particularly nuclear WMDs, including arms control, 
nonproliferation activities, nuclear forensics, and counterterrorism 
capabilities. (Appendix A, A.2.1.2)

Strategic Partnership Program (Work for Others)

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will, on behalf of other 
agencies and organizations, continue to host treaty verification 
activities; conduct nonproliferation projects and research and 
development at the NNSS, including conventional weapons effects and 
other explosives experiments; support development of capabilities to 
detect and defeat military assets in deeply buried hardened targets; 
conduct up to 20 controlled chemical and biological simulant release 
experiments per year (each experiment will include multiple releases by 
a variety of means, including explosives); and continue to support 
training, research, and development of equipment, specialized 
munitions, and tactics related to counterterrorism. (Appendix A, 
A.1.1.3)

[[Page 78424]]

    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to 
conduct Work for Others Program activities in all approved zones on the 
NNSS, RSL, and NLVF, and redesignate land use at Area 15 of the NNSS 
from ``Reserved Zone'' to ``Research, Test, and Experiment Zone''; 
develop and construct new facilities to support counterterrorism 
training and research and development activities; continue to support 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's deep space power 
source development by conducting criticality experiments and emission 
sequestration experiments using surrogates for rocket motors; increase 
use of various aerial platforms (such as airplanes, unmanned aerial 
systems, and helicopters) for research and development, training, and 
exercises, including constructing additional hangars, shops, and 
buildings at existing airports at the NNSS; conduct up to 3 underground 
and 12 open-air radioactive tracer experiments per year; support 
increased research and development of active interrogation equipment, 
methods, and training; and conduct Work for Others Program activities 
at the TTR, including robotics testing, smart transportation-related 
testing, smoke obscuration operations, infrared tests, and rocket 
development. (Appendix A, A.2.1.3)

Environmental Management Mission Decisions

Waste Management Program

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to operate 
the Area 5 Hazardous Waste Storage Unit and store up to 170,000 cubic 
feet of onsite-generated hazardous waste as needed, pending offsite 
treatment or disposal; continue to operate the Area 11 Explosives 
Ordnance Disposal Unit (treating up to 41,000 pounds of explosives over 
the next 10 years); and continue to operate the Area 6 Hydrocarbon 
Landfill within permitted conditions. (Appendix A, A.1.2.1)
    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will dispose of 
up to 48,000,000 cubic feet of LLW and up to 4,000,000 cubic feet of 
MLLW at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC); store 
MLLW (received from both on- and off-site generators) at the Area 5 
RWMC pending treatment by macroencapsulation and microencapsulation 
(i.e., repackaging); and conduct sorting and segregating of MLLW, 
bench-scale mercury amalgamation of MLLW, and/or dispose of this waste 
at the Area 5 RWMC, as appropriate. In the future and as needed, DOE 
may use disposal space in Area 3, subject to detailed discussions with 
the State of Nevada. This space may be needed for disposal of LLW, 
large onsite remediation debris or soils from cleanup of DOE/NNSA sites 
within the State of Nevada and would be limited to in-state generated 
waste. DOE/NNSA will store up to 19,000 cubic feet of onsite-generated 
transuranic (TRU) waste at the TRU pad at the Area 5 RWMC pending 
offsite disposal. DOE/NNSA will continue to operate the Area 23 Solid 
Waste Disposal Site and the U10c Solid Waste Disposal Site, disposing 
of up to 8,500,000 cubic feet of sanitary solid waste expected to be 
generated at the NNSS. Subject to regulatory permitting, DOE/NNSA will 
construct new sanitary solid waste disposal facilities as needed in 
Area 23 and develop a new solid waste disposal facility in Area 25 to 
support environmental restoration activities. (Appendix A, A.2.2.1)

Environmental Restoration Program

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue, in 
compliance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order 
(FFACO) to identify, characterize, remediate, and decontaminate and 
decommission industrial sites as necessary; continue to monitor and 
remediate sites that are the responsibility of the Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency at the NNSS, in accordance with the FFACO; and 
continue to conduct the Borehole Management Program. (Appendix A, 
A.1.2.2)
    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will, as part of 
its Underground Test Area Activity, continue to monitor groundwater 
from existing wells, drill new groundwater characterization and 
monitoring wells, develop groundwater flow and transport models, and 
continue to evaluate closure strategies at an accelerated pace; and as 
part of its Soils Project, in compliance with the FFACO, identify and 
characterize areas with contaminated soils and perform corrective 
actions with potentially stricter cleanup standards (resulting in 
larger volumes of waste). (Appendix A, A.2.2.2)

Nondefense Mission Decisions

General Site Support and Infrastructure Program

    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to 
maintain and repair its infrastructure at the NNSS, RSL, NLVF, and the 
TTR; maintain the existing infrastructure, provide site security, and 
manage all applicable existing permits and agreements and will 
additionally construct a new, approximately 85,000-square-foot, 
consolidated security building in Area 23 of the NNSS and evaluate and 
either demolish or repurpose the existing security facilities; replace 
at the same operating voltage the existing NNSS 138-kilovolt electrical 
transmission system between Mercury Switching Center in Area 23 and 
Valley Substation in Area 2 to increase the capacity of the system from 
about 40 MW to 100 MW; and upgrade the telecommunication system on the 
NNSS to better integrate wired and wireless systems. (Appendix A, 
A.2.3.1)
    From the Reduced Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will maintain 
only critical infrastructure within NNSS Areas 18, 19, 20, 29, and 30 
(including certain communications facilities, electrical transmission 
lines and substations, and Well 8), maintaining roads within these 
areas only to provide access to the infrastructure and environmental 
restoration sites. (Appendix A, A.3.3.1)

Conservation and Renewable Energy Program

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to identify 
and implement conservation measures and renewable energy projects in 
accordance with applicable Executive Orders and DOE Orders in areas 
including energy efficiency, water conservation, transportation and 
fleet management, and high-performance and sustainable buildings. 
(Appendix A, A.1.3.2)
    From the Expanded Operations Alternative, DOE/NNSA will construct a 
photovoltaic solar power system up to 5 MW near the Area 6 Construction 
Facilities, which will provide electrical power for onsite consumption. 
(Appendix A, A.2.3.2)

Other Research and Development Programs

    From the No Action Alternative, DOE/NNSA will continue to support 
the DOE National Environmental Research Park Program and other non-DOE/
NNSA research and development activities in all areas of the NNSS. 
(Appendix A, A.1.3.3)

Basis for Decision

    In making its decision, DOE/NNSA considered potential environmental 
impacts of operations and activities, current and future mission needs, 
technical and security considerations, availability of resources, 
compatibility with current and future missions of the DOE/NNSA, and 
public comments on the Draft and Final NNSS SWEIS. In

[[Page 78425]]

doing so, DOE/NNSA considered mission requirements established by law; 
contemporary goals and objectives identified in site-level planning 
documents; as well as anticipated funding levels for DOE/NNSA and other 
users of the NNSS and offsite locations, such as the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security. Through the NNSS SWEIS, DOE/NNSA considered the 
potential environmental impacts that could result from the 
implementation of each proposed program, capability, project and 
activity, and how it might accomplish its underlying current and future 
mission requirements in a manner that minimizes adverse environmental 
impacts.

Mitigation Measures

    All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have 
been and will continue to be adopted and employed in the continued 
operation of the NNSS and other offsite DOE/NNSA facilities in the 
State of Nevada. DOE/NNSA will follow Federal environmental laws and 
DOE Orders and regulations, and utilize its Environmental Management 
System to ensure that environmental impacts are systematically 
identified, controlled, and monitored. Whenever possible, mitigation 
measures will be implemented to minimize those impacts. DOE/NNSA will 
implement mitigation strategies through habitat conservation measures 
such as revegetation; protection of cultural resources with early 
planning and avoidance; waste minimization and energy conservation; and 
greater inclusion of culturally affiliated American Indian Tribes in 
monitoring and conducting traditional ceremonies to benefit the health 
of the land. DOE/NNSA considers all of these measures to be viable 
means to mitigate adverse environmental impacts, and will apply the 
applicable strategies as specific programs, capabilities, projects, and 
activities are conducted.

    Issued at Washington, DC, this 15th day of December 2014.
Frank G. Klotz,
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, Administrator/National Nuclear 
Security Administration.

Appendix: Public Comments Received After the Publication of the Final 
NNSS SWEIS

    DOE/NNSA received four comment letters regarding the Final NNSS 
SWEIS. These letters were received from the State of Nevada Nuclear 
Project Office, Clark County, Nye County, and the City of Las Vegas. 
A letter from the EPA was also received after the completion of the 
NNSS SWEIS.
    DOE/NNSA considered all comments contained in these letters. 
DOE/NNSA determined that none of these comments identify or present 
new information that would warrant a supplement to the Final NNSS 
SWEIS or other additional NEPA analysis. Most of these comments are 
similar to, and in many cases the same as, comments submitted on the 
Draft NNSS SWEIS, to which DOE/NNSS responded in the Final NNSS 
SWEIS (Volume 3, Comment Response Document). Regarding 
transportation impact comments submitted by the State, county and 
local governments on the Final NNSS SWEIS, shipments of low-level 
radioactive waste (LLW) and mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW) 
to the NNSS for disposal will continue to be done in accordance with 
commitments made to the State of Nevada and provisions of the NNSS 
waste acceptance criteria regarding routing and related matters 
associated with such shipments. The discussion below summarizes 
comments from these letters not raised on the Draft NNSS SWEIS and 
presents DOE/NNSA's responses.
    Comment. The impacts of DOE/NNSA's Preferred Alternative, 
described in Section 3.4 of the Final NNSS SWEIS, were not 
adequately analyzed.
    Response. As addressed in Section 3.4 of the Final NNSS SWEIS, 
the Preferred Alternative is a hybrid composed of elements of the 
three alternatives that were examined in detail in the Draft NNSS 
SWEIS. DOE/NNSA determined, by resource area, that the potential 
environmental consequences of the Preferred Alternative would fall 
within the range of impacts reported in the NNSS SWEIS.
    Further, there would be no synergistic effects resulting in 
unique impacts stemming from the hybrid Preferred Alternative. The 
potential environmental impacts resulting from implementation of the 
Preferred Alternative are displayed in Table S-1 and 3-3 of the 
Final NNSS SWEIS, including activities for which there is 
insufficient information available to conduct a project-specific 
NEPA review.
    Comment. The Final NNSS SWEIS does not address the potential 
construction of a MLLW Treatment Facility at the NNSS.
    Response. Construction of a new MLLW treatment facility within 
the Area 5 RWMC is not envisioned at this time. If a need for such a 
facility is identified in the future, DOE/NNSA will complete the 
appropriate NEPA review.
    Comment. The Final NNSS SWEIS does not include estimates of 
criteria and hazardous air pollutants from rail and intermodal 
(train to truck) transportation in Tables 5-34, 5-39, and 5-42.
    Response. Tables 5-34, 5-39, and 5-42 present detailed data that 
include analytic results on criteria and hazardous air pollutants. 
In addition, Tables 5-35, 5-40 and 5-43 of the Final NNSS SWEIS 
present the data in a different format, including estimated 
emissions of criteria and hazardous air pollutants from both the 
all-truck transport scenario and the primarily-rail transport 
scenario (intermodal train to truck transport) that would occur 
under each of the alternatives.
    Comment. The Final NNSS SWEIS fails to evaluate impacts that 
would be associated with the proposed Greater-than-Class C Disposal 
Facility.
    Response. The cumulative impacts analysis (Section 6.2.1.1) of 
the Final NNSS SWEIS evaluated the potential environmental impacts 
associated with a Greater-than-Class C Radioactive Waste Disposal 
Facility at the NNSS should DOE select the NNSS site for such a 
facility. The data used were taken from the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) 
Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste (DOE/EIS-0375-D), 
issued in February 2011. Prior to selecting a site for the disposal 
of GTCC low-level radioactive waste and GTCC-like waste, DOE will 
complete the appropriate NEPA review.

[FR Doc. 2014-30594 Filed 12-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P