Environmental Impact Statement for the Recapitalization of Infrastructure Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling at the Idaho National Laboratory, 35331-35334 [2015-15140]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 2015 / Notices
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DATES: July 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
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and Director, Office of Science and
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Eric S. Lander, President, Broad
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Additional information and the agenda,
including any changes that arise, will be
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posted at the PCAST Web site at:
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Please note that because PCAST
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all public comments and/or
presentations will be treated as public
documents and will be made available
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Meeting Accommodations:
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Predith at least ten business days prior
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Issued in Washington, DC on June 11,
2015.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–15278 Filed 6–17–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Recapitalization of Infrastructure
Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel
Handling at the Idaho National
Laboratory
Department of Energy.
Notice of availability and public
hearings.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) Naval Nuclear Propulsion
Program (NNPP) announces the
availability of the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for the
Recapitalization of Infrastructure
Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel
Handling at the Idaho National
Laboratory (DOE/EIS–0453–D) for
public review and comment, as well as
the locations, dates and times for public
hearings. The Draft EIS evaluates the
potential environmental impacts
associated with recapitalizing the
infrastructure needed to ensure the
long-term capability of the NNPP to
support naval spent nuclear fuel
handling for at least the next 40 years.
DATES: The NNPP invites interested
parties to comment on the Draft EIS
during the public comment period
which ends August 10, 2015. NNPP will
consider all comments received or
postmarked during the comment period
in preparing the Final EIS. NNPP will
consider any comments postmarked
after the comment period to the extent
practicable.
The NNPP will hold three public
hearings on the Draft EIS. Locations,
dates and times are provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION portion of
this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft EIS are
available in public reading rooms and
libraries as indicated in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION portion of
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 2015 / Notices
this notice. The Draft EIS is also
available for review at
www.ecfrecapitalization.us and on the
DOE’s NEPA Web site at https://
energy.gov/nepa.
Written comments on the EIS may be
submitted by mailing to: Erik Anderson,
Department of Navy, Naval Sea Systems
Command, 1240 Isaac Hull Avenue SE.,
Stop 8036, Washington Navy Yard, DC
20376–8036.
Comments provided by electronic
mail (email) should be submitted to:
ecfrecapitalization@unnpp.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information about this Draft EIS,
contact Mr. Erik Anderson, as described
above.
For information regarding the DOE
NEPA process, please 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, Telephone (202)
586–4600, or leave a message at (800)
472–2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP
prepared this Draft EIS in accordance
with 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 parts 1500–1508), and
the DOE NEPA implementing
procedures (10 CFR part 1021). The
NNPP is committed to manage naval
spent nuclear fuel in a manner that is
consistent with the Department of
Energy (DOE) Programmatic Spent
Nuclear Fuel Management and Idaho
National Engineering Laboratory
Environmental Restoration and Waste
Management Programs Final
Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/
EIS–0203–F), and to comply with the
Settlement Agreement, as amended in
2008, among the State of Idaho, the
DOE, and the Navy concerning the
management of naval spent nuclear fuel.
Consistent with the Record of Decision
for DOE/EIS–0203–F, naval spent
nuclear fuel is shipped by rail from
shipyards and prototype facilities to the
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for
processing. To allow the NNPP to
continue to unload, transfer, prepare,
and package naval spent nuclear fuel for
disposal, three alternatives are
evaluated in the Draft EIS: No Action
Alternative, Overhaul Alternative, and
New Facility Alternative.
Background
The mission of the NNPP, also know
as the Naval Reactors Program, is to
provide the U.S. with safe, effective, and
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affordable naval nuclear propulsion
plants and to ensure their continued
safe and reliable operation through
lifetime support, research and
development, design, construction,
specification, certification, testing,
maintenance, and disposal. A crucial
component of this mission, naval spent
nuclear fuel handling, occurs at the end
of a nuclear propulsion system’s useful
life or when naval nuclear fuel has been
depleted. The NNPP is responsible for
removal of the naval spent nuclear fuel
through a defueling or refueling
operation. Both operations remove the
naval spent nuclear fuel from the
reactor, but a refueling operation also
involves installing new fuel, allowing
the nuclear-powered ship to be
redeployed into the U.S. Navy fleet.
Once the naval spent nuclear fuel has
been removed from an aircraft carrier,
submarine, or prototype, it is sent to the
Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) for
examination and further naval spent
nuclear fuel handling including
transferring, preparing, and packaging
for transfer to an interim storage facility
or geologic repository.
The NNPP ensures that naval spent
nuclear fuel handling is performed in a
safe and environmentally responsible
manner in accordance with 50 U.S.C.
2406, 2511 (codifying Executive Order
12344). Nuclear fuel handling is an
intricate and intensive process requiring
a complex infrastructure.
Proposed Action
NNPP is proposing to recapitalize the
current naval spent nuclear fuel
handling capabilities provided by the
Expended Core Facility (ECF) located at
the NRF on the INL. The purpose of the
proposed action is to provide the
infrastructure necessary to support the
naval nuclear reactor defueling and
refueling schedules required to meet the
operational needs of the U.S. Navy. The
proposed action is needed because
significant upgrades are necessary to
ECF infrastructure and water pools to
continue safe and environmentally
responsible naval spent nuclear fuel
handling until at least 2060.
The transfer, preparation, and
packaging of naval spent nuclear fuel
are vital to the NNPP’s mission of
maintaining the reliable operation of the
naval nuclear fleet and developing
effective nuclear propulsion plants.
Although ECF continues to be
maintained and operated in a safe and
environmentally responsible manner,
the ECF structures, systems, and
equipment necessary to accomplish the
work of naval spent nuclear fuel
handling need significant upgrades to
continue safe and environmentally
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responsible naval spent nuclear fuel
handling until at least 2060. Efforts are
ongoing to sustain this infrastructure,
preserve these essential capabilities, and
ensure that the high NNPP standards for
protecting the environment continue to
be met. However, major portions of this
infrastructure have been in service for
over 50 years.
Alternatives
Consistent with the Record of
Decision for on DOE/EIS–0203–F, naval
spent nuclear fuel would continue to be
shipped by rail from shipyards and
prototypes to NRF for processing. To
allow the NNPP to continue unload,
transfer, prepare, and package naval
spent nuclear fuel for disposal, three
alternatives were identified and
analyzed in this Draft EIS.
1. No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative involves
maintaining ECF without a change to
the present course of action or
management of the facility. The current
naval spent nuclear fuel handling
infrastructure would continue to be
used while the NNPP performs only
preventative and corrective
maintenance. The No Action Alternative
does not meet the purpose for the
proposed action because it would not
provide the infrastructure necessary to
support the naval nuclear reactor
defueling and refueling schedules
required to meet the operational needs
of the U.S. Navy. The No Action
Alternative does not meet the NNPP’s
need because significant upgrades are
necessary to the ECF infrastructure to
continue safe and environmentally
responsible naval spent nuclear fuel
handling until at least 2060. As
currently configured, the ECF
infrastructure cannot support use of the
new M–290 shipping containers.
Significant changes in configuration of
the facility and spent fuel handling
processing locations in the water pool
would be required to support unloading
fuel from the new M–290 shipping
containers. In addition, over the next 45
years, preventative and corrective
maintenance without significant
upgrades and refurbishments may not
be sufficient sustain the proper
functioning of ECF structures, systems,
and components. Upgrades and
refurbishments needed to support use of
the new M–290 shipping containers and
continue safe and environmentally
responsible operations would not meet
the definition of the No Action
Alternative; therefore, these actions are
represented by the Overhaul
Alternative.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 2015 / Notices
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The implementation of the No Action
Alternative (i.e., failure to perform
upgrades and refurbishments), in
combination with the NNPP
commitment to only operate in a safe
and environmentally responsible
manner, may result in ECF eventually
being unavailable for handling naval
spent nuclear fuel. If the NNPP naval
spent nuclear fuel handling
infrastructure were to become
unavailable, the inability to transfer,
prepare, and package naval spent
nuclear fuel could immediately and
profoundly impact the NNPP’s mission
and national security needs to refuel
and defuel nuclear-powered submarines
and aircraft carriers. In addition, the
U.S. Navy could not ensure its ability to
meet the requirements of the Settlement
Agreement and its 2008 addendum.
Since the No Action Alternative does
not meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action, it is considered to be
an unreasonable alternative; however,
the No Action Alternative is included in
the Draft EIS as required by CEQ
regulations.
2. Overhaul Alternative
The Overhaul Alternative involves
continuing to use the aging
infrastructure at ECF, while incurring
increasing costs to provide the required
refurbishments and workaround actions
necessary to ensure uninterrupted
aircraft carrier and submarine refuelings
and defuelings. Under the Overhaul
Alternative, the NNPP would operate
ECF in a safe and environmentally
responsible manner by continuing to
maintain ECF while implementing
major refurbishment projects for the
ECF infrastructure and water pools. This
would entail:
D Short-term actions necessary to keep
the infrastructure in safe working order,
including regular upkeep and sufficient
to sustain the proper functioning of
structures, systems, and components
(e.g., the ongoing work currently
performed in ECF to inspect and repair
deteriorating water pool concrete
coatings).
D Facility, process, and equipment
reconfigurations needed for specific
capabilities required in the future.
These actions involve installation of
new equipment and processes, and
relocation of existing equipment and
processes, within the current facility to
provide a new capability (e.g.,
modification of ECF and reconfiguration
of the water pool as necessary to handle
M–290 shipping containers).
D Major refurbishment actions
necessary to sustain the life of the
infrastructure (e.g., to the extent
practicable, overhaul the water pools to
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bring them up to current design and
construction standards).
Refurbishment activities would take
place in parallel with ECF operations for
the majority of the Overhaul Alternative
time period. The first 33 years of the 45
years (i.e., the refurbishment period)
would include refurbishment and
operations activities being conducted in
parallel. During certain refurbishment
phases, operations could be limited due
to the nature of the refurbishment
activities (e.g., operations would not
continue in water pools that are under
repair). There would then be a 12-year
period where only operational activities
would take place in ECF (i.e., the postrefurbishment operational period).
Failure to implement this overhaul in
advance of infrastructure deterioration
would impact the ability of ECF to
operate for several years. Further,
overhaul actions would necessitate
operational interruptions for extended
periods of time.
3. New Facility Alternative
A New Facility Alternative would
acquire capital assets to recapitalize
naval spent nuclear fuel handling
capabilities. While a new facility
requires new process and infrastructure
assets, the design could leverage use of
the newer, existing ECF support
facilities and would leverage use of
newer equipment designs. The facility
would be designed with the flexibility
to integrate future identified mission
needs.
Under the current budget and funding
levels for the New Facility Alternative,
it is anticipated that construction
activities would occur over
approximately a 3-year period.
Construction of the New Facility
Alternative would occur in parallel with
ECF operations. An approximately two
year period would follow the
construction of the New Facility
Alternative when new equipment would
be installed and tested, and training
would be provided to qualify the
operations workforce.
A new facility would include all
current naval spent nuclear fuel
handling operations conducted at ECF.
In addition, it would include the
capability to unload naval spent nuclear
fuel from M–290 shipping containers in
the water pool and handle aircraft
carrier naval spent nuclear fuel
assemblies without prior disassembly
for preparation and packaging for
disposal. Such capability does not
currently exist within the ECF water
pools, mainly due to insufficient
available footprint in areas of the water
pool with the required depth of water.
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35333
The NNPP will continue to operate
ECF during new facility construction,
during a transition period, and after the
new facility is operational for
examination work. To keep the ECF
infrastructure in a safe working order
during these time periods, some limited
upgrades and refurbishments may be
necessary. Details are not currently
available regarding which specific
actions will be taken; therefore, they are
not explicitly analyzed as part of the
New Facility Alternative. The
environmental impacts from these
upgrades and refurbishments are
considered to be bounded by the
environmental impacts described in the
Refurbishment Period of the Overhaul
Alternative.
Public Reading Rooms and Libraries
The Draft EIS is available for review
at the following reading rooms:
Idaho Operations Office, Department
of Energy, Public Reading Room, 2251
N. Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83402,
Telephone: (208) 526–1185.
Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W.
Broadway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402,
Telephone: (208) 612–8460.
Shoshone-Bannock Library, Bannock
and Pima Streets, P.O. Box 306, Fort
Hall, ID 83203, Telephone: (208) 238–
3882.
Eli M. Oboler Library, Idaho State
University, 850 South 9th Avenue,
Pocatello, ID 83209, Telephone: (208)
282–2958.
Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth
Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83301,
Telephone: (208) 733–2964.
Marshall Public Library, 113 South
Garfield, Pocatello, ID 83204,
Telephone: (208) 232–1263.
Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol,
Boise, ID 83702, Telephone: (208) 972–
8200.
Idaho Commission for Libraries, 325
W. State Street, Boise, ID 83702,
Telephone: (208) 334–2150.
Latah County, Free Library District,
110 S. Jefferson, Moscow, ID 83843,
Telephone: (208) 882–3925.
Public Hearings and Invitation To
Comment
The NNPP invites Federal agencies;
Tribal, State, and local governments;
and the general public to comment on
the Draft EIS. The NNPP will consider
all comments received by August 10,
2015, and to the extent practical
comments received after that date in the
preparation of the Final EIS. NNPP will
hold three public hearings on the Draft
EIS:
• August 4, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m., Residence Inn, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• August 5, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m., Red Lion Hotel, Pocatello, Idaho
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 2015 / Notices
• August 6, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m., La Quinta Inn, Twin Falls, Idaho
NNPP will provide additional
notification of the hearing times and
locations through newspaper
advertisements and other appropriate
media.
At each hearing, NNPP will hold an
open house for the first hour prior to
beginning the formal portion of the
hearing to allow participants to view
informational materials, ask questions of
NNPP representatives, and register to
provide oral comments. The registration
table will have a registration form to
indicate mailing list preferences for
future communications about the
project and whether oral comments will
be given. The public may provide
written and/or oral comments at the
hearings. Speakers may be asked to limit
their oral comments to a certain time
limit to be decided at the beginning of
each of the public hearings so as to
ensure that as many people as possible
have the opportunity to speak.
Persons unable to attend these
hearings may view informational
materials by visiting the NNPP Web site
www.ecfrecapitalization.us.
Written comments on the Draft EIS
also may be submitted to the addresses
shown above under ADDRESSES.
Issued in Washington, DC on 15 June 2015.
John M. McKenzie,
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2015–15140 Filed 6–18–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP15–495–000]
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Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC;
Notice of Application
Take notice that on May 20, 2015,
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC
(Columbia) 5151 San Felipe, Suite 2500,
Houston, Texas 77056, filed an
application pursuant to sections 7(b)
and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA)
and the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (Commission) regulations
seeking authorization to abandon
approximately 33 miles of Line 138, an
existing multi-diameter pipeline located
in Fayette and Somerset Counties,
Pennsylvania, Preston County, West
Virginia, and Garrett County, Maryland.
Columbia also proposes to construct: (1)
Approximately 150 feet of 2-inch
diameter pipe from its Line 1804 and
Line 10240 in Somerset County,
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Pennsylvania, to the right-of-way of
Line 138; and (2) an additional 3,300
feet of 2-inch diameter pipe along the
right-of-way of Line 138 to the Columbia
of Pennsylvania measuring station in
Somerset County, Pennsylvania, all as
more fully described in the application
which is on file with the Commission
and open to public inspection. The
filing may also be viewed on the web at
https://www.ferc.gov using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket
number excluding the last three digits in
the docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, contact FERC
at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202)
502–8659.
Any questions regarding this
application should be directed to Tyler
Brown, Senior Counsel, Columbia Gas
Transmission, LLC, 5151 San Felipe
Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77056, or call
(713) 386–3797.
To ensure continued firm
transportation for an existing customer,
Columbia must construct the proposed
3,450 feet of pipeline extending from
Columbia’s Line 1804 and Line 10240 to
replace the 33 miles of Line 138 to be
abandoned. Columbia states that no
other firm transportation customers
exist on the Line 138 section proposed
to be abandoned.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9,
within 90 days of this Notice the
Commission staff will either: complete
its environmental assessment (EA) and
place it into the Commission’s public
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or
issue a Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review. If a Notice of
Schedule for Environmental Review is
issued, it will indicate, among other
milestones, the anticipated date for the
Commission staff’s issuance of the final
environmental impact statement (FEIS)
or EA for this proposal. The filing of the
EA in the Commission’s public record
for this proceeding or the issuance of a
Notice of Schedule for Environmental
Review will serve to notify federal and
state agencies of the timing for the
completion of all necessary reviews, and
the subsequent need to complete all
federal authorizations within 90 days of
the date of issuance of the Commission
staff’s FEIS or EA.
There are two ways to become
involved in the Commission’s review of
this project. First, any person wishing to
obtain legal status by becoming a party
to the proceedings for this project
should, on or before the comment date
stated below file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426,
a motion to intervene in accordance
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with the requirements of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211)
and the Regulations under the NGA (18
CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
status will be placed on the service list
maintained by the Secretary of the
Commission and will receive copies of
all documents filed by the applicant and
by all other parties. A party must submit
7 copies of filings made in the
proceeding with the Commission and
must mail a copy to the applicant and
to every other party. Only parties to the
proceeding can ask for court review of
Commission orders in the proceeding.
However, a person does not have to
intervene in order to have comments
considered. The second way to
participate is by filing with the
Secretary of the Commission, as soon as
possible, an original and two copies of
comments in support of or in opposition
to this project. The Commission will
consider these comments in
determining the appropriate action to be
taken, but the filing of a comment alone
will not serve to make the filer a party
to the proceeding. The Commission’s
rules require that persons filing
comments in opposition to the project
provide copies of their protests only to
the party or parties directly involved in
the protest.
Persons who wish to comment only
on the environmental review of this
project should submit an original and
two copies of their comments to the
Secretary of the Commission.
Environmental commentors will be
placed on the Commission’s
environmental mailing list, will receive
copies of the environmental documents,
and will be notified of meetings
associated with the Commission’s
environmental review process.
Environmental commentors will not be
required to serve copies of filed
documents on all other parties.
However, the non-party commentors
will not receive copies of all documents
filed by other parties or issued by the
Commission (except for the mailing of
environmental documents issued by the
Commission) and will not have the right
to seek court review of the
Commission’s final order.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings of comments, protests
and interventions in lieu of paper using
the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://
www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file
electronically should submit an original
and 5 copies of the protest or
intervention to the Federal Energy
regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on June 25, 2015
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35331-35334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15140]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Environmental Impact Statement for the Recapitalization of
Infrastructure Supporting Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling at the
Idaho National Laboratory
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Naval Nuclear Propulsion
Program (NNPP) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for the Recapitalization of Infrastructure Supporting
Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Handling at the Idaho National Laboratory
(DOE/EIS-0453-D) for public review and comment, as well as the
locations, dates and times for public hearings. The Draft EIS evaluates
the potential environmental impacts associated with recapitalizing the
infrastructure needed to ensure the long-term capability of the NNPP to
support naval spent nuclear fuel handling for at least the next 40
years.
DATES: The NNPP invites interested parties to comment on the Draft EIS
during the public comment period which ends August 10, 2015. NNPP will
consider all comments received or postmarked during the comment period
in preparing the Final EIS. NNPP will consider any comments postmarked
after the comment period to the extent practicable.
The NNPP will hold three public hearings on the Draft EIS.
Locations, dates and times are provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION portion of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft EIS are available in public reading
rooms and libraries as indicated in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
portion of
[[Page 35332]]
this notice. The Draft EIS is also available for review at
www.ecfrecapitalization.us and on the DOE's NEPA Web site at https://energy.gov/nepa.
Written comments on the EIS may be submitted by mailing to: Erik
Anderson, Department of Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1240 Isaac
Hull Avenue SE., Stop 8036, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-8036.
Comments provided by electronic mail (email) should be submitted
to: ecfrecapitalization@unnpp.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
Draft EIS, contact Mr. Erik Anderson, as described above.
For information regarding the DOE NEPA process, please 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, Telephone (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at
(800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP prepared this Draft EIS in
accordance with 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 parts 1500-1508), and the DOE NEPA implementing procedures (10
CFR part 1021). The NNPP is committed to manage naval spent nuclear
fuel in a manner that is consistent with the Department of Energy (DOE)
Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel Management and Idaho National
Engineering Laboratory Environmental Restoration and Waste Management
Programs Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0203-F), and to
comply with the Settlement Agreement, as amended in 2008, among the
State of Idaho, the DOE, and the Navy concerning the management of
naval spent nuclear fuel. Consistent with the Record of Decision for
DOE/EIS-0203-F, naval spent nuclear fuel is shipped by rail from
shipyards and prototype facilities to the Idaho National Laboratory
(INL) for processing. To allow the NNPP to continue to unload,
transfer, prepare, and package naval spent nuclear fuel for disposal,
three alternatives are evaluated in the Draft EIS: No Action
Alternative, Overhaul Alternative, and New Facility Alternative.
Background
The mission of the NNPP, also know as the Naval Reactors Program,
is to provide the U.S. with safe, effective, and affordable naval
nuclear propulsion plants and to ensure their continued safe and
reliable operation through lifetime support, research and development,
design, construction, specification, certification, testing,
maintenance, and disposal. A crucial component of this mission, naval
spent nuclear fuel handling, occurs at the end of a nuclear propulsion
system's useful life or when naval nuclear fuel has been depleted. The
NNPP is responsible for removal of the naval spent nuclear fuel through
a defueling or refueling operation. Both operations remove the naval
spent nuclear fuel from the reactor, but a refueling operation also
involves installing new fuel, allowing the nuclear-powered ship to be
redeployed into the U.S. Navy fleet. Once the naval spent nuclear fuel
has been removed from an aircraft carrier, submarine, or prototype, it
is sent to the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) for examination and
further naval spent nuclear fuel handling including transferring,
preparing, and packaging for transfer to an interim storage facility or
geologic repository.
The NNPP ensures that naval spent nuclear fuel handling is
performed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner in
accordance with 50 U.S.C. 2406, 2511 (codifying Executive Order 12344).
Nuclear fuel handling is an intricate and intensive process requiring a
complex infrastructure.
Proposed Action
NNPP is proposing to recapitalize the current naval spent nuclear
fuel handling capabilities provided by the Expended Core Facility (ECF)
located at the NRF on the INL. The purpose of the proposed action is to
provide the infrastructure necessary to support the naval nuclear
reactor defueling and refueling schedules required to meet the
operational needs of the U.S. Navy. The proposed action is needed
because significant upgrades are necessary to ECF infrastructure and
water pools to continue safe and environmentally responsible naval
spent nuclear fuel handling until at least 2060.
The transfer, preparation, and packaging of naval spent nuclear
fuel are vital to the NNPP's mission of maintaining the reliable
operation of the naval nuclear fleet and developing effective nuclear
propulsion plants. Although ECF continues to be maintained and operated
in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, the ECF structures,
systems, and equipment necessary to accomplish the work of naval spent
nuclear fuel handling need significant upgrades to continue safe and
environmentally responsible naval spent nuclear fuel handling until at
least 2060. Efforts are ongoing to sustain this infrastructure,
preserve these essential capabilities, and ensure that the high NNPP
standards for protecting the environment continue to be met. However,
major portions of this infrastructure have been in service for over 50
years.
Alternatives
Consistent with the Record of Decision for on DOE/EIS-0203-F, naval
spent nuclear fuel would continue to be shipped by rail from shipyards
and prototypes to NRF for processing. To allow the NNPP to continue
unload, transfer, prepare, and package naval spent nuclear fuel for
disposal, three alternatives were identified and analyzed in this Draft
EIS.
1. No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative involves maintaining ECF without a change
to the present course of action or management of the facility. The
current naval spent nuclear fuel handling infrastructure would continue
to be used while the NNPP performs only preventative and corrective
maintenance. The No Action Alternative does not meet the purpose for
the proposed action because it would not provide the infrastructure
necessary to support the naval nuclear reactor defueling and refueling
schedules required to meet the operational needs of the U.S. Navy. The
No Action Alternative does not meet the NNPP's need because significant
upgrades are necessary to the ECF infrastructure to continue safe and
environmentally responsible naval spent nuclear fuel handling until at
least 2060. As currently configured, the ECF infrastructure cannot
support use of the new M-290 shipping containers. Significant changes
in configuration of the facility and spent fuel handling processing
locations in the water pool would be required to support unloading fuel
from the new M-290 shipping containers. In addition, over the next 45
years, preventative and corrective maintenance without significant
upgrades and refurbishments may not be sufficient sustain the proper
functioning of ECF structures, systems, and components. Upgrades and
refurbishments needed to support use of the new M-290 shipping
containers and continue safe and environmentally responsible operations
would not meet the definition of the No Action Alternative; therefore,
these actions are represented by the Overhaul Alternative.
[[Page 35333]]
The implementation of the No Action Alternative (i.e., failure to
perform upgrades and refurbishments), in combination with the NNPP
commitment to only operate in a safe and environmentally responsible
manner, may result in ECF eventually being unavailable for handling
naval spent nuclear fuel. If the NNPP naval spent nuclear fuel handling
infrastructure were to become unavailable, the inability to transfer,
prepare, and package naval spent nuclear fuel could immediately and
profoundly impact the NNPP's mission and national security needs to
refuel and defuel nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. In
addition, the U.S. Navy could not ensure its ability to meet the
requirements of the Settlement Agreement and its 2008 addendum.
Since the No Action Alternative does not meet the purpose and need
for the proposed action, it is considered to be an unreasonable
alternative; however, the No Action Alternative is included in the
Draft EIS as required by CEQ regulations.
2. Overhaul Alternative
The Overhaul Alternative involves continuing to use the aging
infrastructure at ECF, while incurring increasing costs to provide the
required refurbishments and workaround actions necessary to ensure
uninterrupted aircraft carrier and submarine refuelings and defuelings.
Under the Overhaul Alternative, the NNPP would operate ECF in a safe
and environmentally responsible manner by continuing to maintain ECF
while implementing major refurbishment projects for the ECF
infrastructure and water pools. This would entail:
[ssquf] Short-term actions necessary to keep the infrastructure in
safe working order, including regular upkeep and sufficient to sustain
the proper functioning of structures, systems, and components (e.g.,
the ongoing work currently performed in ECF to inspect and repair
deteriorating water pool concrete coatings).
[ssquf] Facility, process, and equipment reconfigurations needed
for specific capabilities required in the future. These actions involve
installation of new equipment and processes, and relocation of existing
equipment and processes, within the current facility to provide a new
capability (e.g., modification of ECF and reconfiguration of the water
pool as necessary to handle M-290 shipping containers).
[ssquf] Major refurbishment actions necessary to sustain the life
of the infrastructure (e.g., to the extent practicable, overhaul the
water pools to bring them up to current design and construction
standards).
Refurbishment activities would take place in parallel with ECF
operations for the majority of the Overhaul Alternative time period.
The first 33 years of the 45 years (i.e., the refurbishment period)
would include refurbishment and operations activities being conducted
in parallel. During certain refurbishment phases, operations could be
limited due to the nature of the refurbishment activities (e.g.,
operations would not continue in water pools that are under repair).
There would then be a 12-year period where only operational activities
would take place in ECF (i.e., the post-refurbishment operational
period).
Failure to implement this overhaul in advance of infrastructure
deterioration would impact the ability of ECF to operate for several
years. Further, overhaul actions would necessitate operational
interruptions for extended periods of time.
3. New Facility Alternative
A New Facility Alternative would acquire capital assets to
recapitalize naval spent nuclear fuel handling capabilities. While a
new facility requires new process and infrastructure assets, the design
could leverage use of the newer, existing ECF support facilities and
would leverage use of newer equipment designs. The facility would be
designed with the flexibility to integrate future identified mission
needs.
Under the current budget and funding levels for the New Facility
Alternative, it is anticipated that construction activities would occur
over approximately a 3-year period.
Construction of the New Facility Alternative would occur in
parallel with ECF operations. An approximately two year period would
follow the construction of the New Facility Alternative when new
equipment would be installed and tested, and training would be provided
to qualify the operations workforce.
A new facility would include all current naval spent nuclear fuel
handling operations conducted at ECF. In addition, it would include the
capability to unload naval spent nuclear fuel from M-290 shipping
containers in the water pool and handle aircraft carrier naval spent
nuclear fuel assemblies without prior disassembly for preparation and
packaging for disposal. Such capability does not currently exist within
the ECF water pools, mainly due to insufficient available footprint in
areas of the water pool with the required depth of water.
The NNPP will continue to operate ECF during new facility
construction, during a transition period, and after the new facility is
operational for examination work. To keep the ECF infrastructure in a
safe working order during these time periods, some limited upgrades and
refurbishments may be necessary. Details are not currently available
regarding which specific actions will be taken; therefore, they are not
explicitly analyzed as part of the New Facility Alternative. The
environmental impacts from these upgrades and refurbishments are
considered to be bounded by the environmental impacts described in the
Refurbishment Period of the Overhaul Alternative.
Public Reading Rooms and Libraries
The Draft EIS is available for review at the following reading
rooms:
Idaho Operations Office, Department of Energy, Public Reading Room,
2251 N. Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Telephone: (208) 526-1185.
Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W. Broadway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402,
Telephone: (208) 612-8460.
Shoshone-Bannock Library, Bannock and Pima Streets, P.O. Box 306,
Fort Hall, ID 83203, Telephone: (208) 238-3882.
Eli M. Oboler Library, Idaho State University, 850 South 9th
Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209, Telephone: (208) 282-2958.
Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID
83301, Telephone: (208) 733-2964.
Marshall Public Library, 113 South Garfield, Pocatello, ID 83204,
Telephone: (208) 232-1263.
Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol, Boise, ID 83702, Telephone:
(208) 972-8200.
Idaho Commission for Libraries, 325 W. State Street, Boise, ID
83702, Telephone: (208) 334-2150.
Latah County, Free Library District, 110 S. Jefferson, Moscow, ID
83843, Telephone: (208) 882-3925.
Public Hearings and Invitation To Comment
The NNPP invites Federal agencies; Tribal, State, and local
governments; and the general public to comment on the Draft EIS. The
NNPP will consider all comments received by August 10, 2015, and to the
extent practical comments received after that date in the preparation
of the Final EIS. NNPP will hold three public hearings on the Draft
EIS:
August 4, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Residence Inn,
Idaho Falls, Idaho
August 5, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Red Lion Hotel,
Pocatello, Idaho
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August 6, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., La Quinta Inn,
Twin Falls, Idaho
NNPP will provide additional notification of the hearing times and
locations through newspaper advertisements and other appropriate media.
At each hearing, NNPP will hold an open house for the first hour
prior to beginning the formal portion of the hearing to allow
participants to view informational materials, ask questions of NNPP
representatives, and register to provide oral comments. The
registration table will have a registration form to indicate mailing
list preferences for future communications about the project and
whether oral comments will be given. The public may provide written
and/or oral comments at the hearings. Speakers may be asked to limit
their oral comments to a certain time limit to be decided at the
beginning of each of the public hearings so as to ensure that as many
people as possible have the opportunity to speak.
Persons unable to attend these hearings may view informational
materials by visiting the NNPP Web site www.ecfrecapitalization.us.
Written comments on the Draft EIS also may be submitted to the
addresses shown above under ADDRESSES.
Issued in Washington, DC on 15 June 2015.
John M. McKenzie,
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-15140 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
