Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated From DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride, 58921-58923 [2016-20501]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices
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operation of SURTASS LFA sonar and
implementation of mitigation and
monitoring measures. The Draft SEIS/
SOEIS evaluates the environmental
impacts associated with two action
alternatives and a No-Action
Alternative. The primary difference
between the action alternatives is that
the Navy’s preferred alternative reduces
the annual permitted allowance of LFA
sonar transmissions from 432 hours
(Alternative 1) to 255 hours (Alternative
2) per ship. The Draft SEIS/SOEIS and
associated analyses will also be used to
support consultations associated with
required regulatory permits and
authorizations effective in 2017.
The Draft SEIS/SOEIS was distributed
to appropriate federal, state, and local
agencies and organizations, Native
Alaskan and Native Tribal governments
and organizations, and other interested
parties. The Draft SEIS/SOEIS is
available for public viewing and
downloading at the following project
Web site: https://www.surtass-lfaeis.com. Compact disc copies of the
Draft SEIS/SOEIS are available upon
request from: SURTASS LFA Sonar
SEIS/SOEIS Program Manager, 4350
Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA
22203–1632, Email: eisteam@surtasslfa-eis.com. Compact discs of the Draft
SEIS/OEIS are available for public
review at the following public libraries:
1. Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura
Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202;
2. Camden County Public Library, 1410
Hwy 40 E, Kingsland, GA 31548;
3. Ben May Main Library, 701 Government
Street, Mobile, AL 36602;
4. Meridian-Lauderdale County Public
Library, 2517 7th Street, Meridian, MS
39301;
5. New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola
Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112;
6. Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney
Street, Houston, TX 77002;
7. New Hanover County Public Library,
201 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401;
8. Anne Arundel County Public Library,
1410 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401;
9. Charleston County Public Library, 68
Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401;
10. Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch
Library, 111 W. Ocean View Avenue,
Norfolk, VA 23503;
11. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument
Square, Portland, ME 04101;
12. Providence Public Library, 150 Empire
Street, Providence, RI 02903;
13. Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston
Street, Boston, MA 02116;
14. The Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth
Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104;
15. Los Angeles Public Library, 630 W. 5th
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071;
16. San Francisco Public Library, 100
Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102;
17. Oregon State University, 250 Winter
Street NE., Salem, OR 97301;
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18. Alaska Resources Library and
Information Services, 3211 Providence Drive,
Anchorage, AK 99508;
19. Hawaii State Library, 478 South King
Street, Honolulu, HI 96813;
20. Nieves M. Flores Memorial Public
˚ ˜
Library, 254 Martyr Street, Hagatna, Guam
96910; and
21. The Feleti Barstow Public Library, Pago
Pago, American Samoa, 96799.
Written comments on the Draft SEIS/
SOEIS can be submitted by mail:
SURTASS LFA Sonar SEIS/SOEIS
Program Manager, 4350 Fairfax Drive,
Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22203–1632,
or by Email: eisteam@surtass-lfaeis.com. All written comments must be
postmarked by October 11, 2016 to
ensure that they become part of the
official record. All timely comments
will be addressed in the Final SEIS/
SOEIS. No public hearings or meetings
will be held.
Dated: August 18, 2016.
C. Pan,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
U.S. Navy, Alternate Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–20500 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for Disposition of Depleted
Uranium Oxide Conversion Product
Generated From DOE’s Inventory of
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride
U.S. Department of Energy.
Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) announces its intention to
prepare a Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS) for its proposal
to disposition depleted uranium oxide
(DUOX) conversion product from its
depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6)
conversion facilities at the Paducah,
Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, sites
at up to three offsite low-level waste
disposal facilities. The Draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for Disposition of Depleted
Uranium Oxide Conversion Product
Generated from DOE’s Inventory of
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/
EIS–0359–S1; DOE/EIS–0360–S1) will
analyze potential environmental
impacts from the proposed action to
identify a final disposition location or
locations for the DUOX conversion
product from both operating DUF6
conversion facilities.
The proposed scope of the draft SEIS
includes an analysis of potential
SUMMARY:
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58921
environmental impacts from activities
associated with the transportation to
and disposition of depleted uranium
oxide at three proposed disposition
location alternatives: the DOE-owned
low-level radioactive waste disposal
facility at the Nevada National Security
Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada; the
EnergySolutions, LLC (formerly known
as Envirocare of Utah, Inc.) low-level
waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah;
and the newly identified location at the
Waste Control Specialists, LLC (WCS)
low-level waste disposal facility in
Andrews, Texas.
ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the
project or requests to be placed on the
document distribution list can be sent
to: Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-Torres, National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Document Manager, Office of
Environmental Management, U.S.
Department of Energy, EM–4.22, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585; or to DUF6_
NEPA@em.doe.gov. Additional
information regarding the SEIS is
available at: https://www.energy.gov/em/
disposition-uranium-oxide-conversiondepleted-uranium-hexafluoride.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information on DOE’s DUF6
long-term management and disposal
program, please contact Ms. Jaffet
Ferrer-Torres, U.S. Department of
Energy at the above ADDRESSES.
For information on DOE’s NEPA
process, please contact Ms. Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0103;
Telephone: (202) 586–4600, or leave a
message at (800) 472–2756; or email at
askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The use of uranium as fuel for nuclear
power plants or for military applications
requires increasing the proportion of the
uranium-235 isotope found in natural
uranium. Industrial uranium
enrichment in the United States began
as part of atomic bomb development
during World War II. Uranium
enrichment for both civilian and
military uses was continued by the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission and its
successor agencies, including DOE.
Uranium enrichment by gaseous
diffusion was carried out at three
locations: the Paducah Site in Kentucky,
the Portsmouth Site in Ohio, and the
East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak
Ridge, Tennessee.
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DUF6 results from the uranium
enrichment process. The DUF6 that
remains after enrichment typically
contains 0.2 percent to 0.4 percent
uranium-235 and has been stored as a
solid in large metal cylinders at the
gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment
facilities. The DUF6 must be converted
into a more stable form for disposal. The
conversion process results in DUOX and
aqueous hydrogen fluoride 1 (HF). DOE’s
existing inventory has over 760,000
metric tons (MT) (1 MT = 1,000
kilograms, approximately 2,205 pounds)
of DUF6. Approximately 54,000 MT, or
7% of this total, has already been
converted at the end of calendar year
2015. DUF6 is stored as a solid in steel
cylinders that each hold approximately
10 to 14 MT of material. These cylinders
are stacked two layers high in outdoor
areas known as ‘‘yards.’’ The Paducah
Site has approximately 44,000 DUF6
cylinders, and the Portsmouth Site has
approximately 19,000 DUF6 cylinders,
for a total of about 63,000 cylinders. All
DUF6 cylinders produced at facilities in
Tennessee were previously transported
to the Portsmouth Site. Operating at
planned capacity, the conversion plants
would produce approximately 10,800
MT (11,900 tons) of DUOX annually at
Portsmouth and 14,300 MT (15,800
tons) of DUOX annually at Paducah. The
duration to convert the inventory of
DUF6 to DUOX is expected to be 18
years for the Portsmouth DUF6
inventory and 25 years for Paducah’s
larger DUF6 inventory.
Relationship to Existing NEPA Analyses
This SEIS represents the third phase
of an environmental review process
being used to evaluate and implement
the DUF6 long-term management
program. As a first step and pursuant to
Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) and DOE NEPA implementing
regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508
and 10 CFR part 1021, respectively,
DOE evaluated potential broad
management options for its DUF6
inventory in the Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement for
Alternative Strategies for the Long-Term
Management and Use of Depleted
Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6 PEIS)
(DOE/EIS–0269) issued in April 1999
(64 FR 19999; April 23, 1999). In the
DUF6 PEIS Record of Decision (ROD)
(64 FR 43358; August 10, 1999), DOE
decided to promptly convert the DUF6
inventory to a more stable uranium
oxide form and stated that it would use
the depleted uranium oxide as much as
possible and store the remaining
1 The HF produced during conversion will be
recycled into commercial product.
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depleted uranium oxide for potential
future uses or disposal, as necessary.
DOE did not select specific sites for the
conversion facilities or disposal at that
time, but reserved that decision for
subsequent NEPA review.
In June 2004, DOE issued two EISs for
construction and operation of DUF6
conversion facilities and other actions at
its Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth,
Ohio sites (69 FR 34161; June 18, 2004).
Both the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for Construction and
Operation of a Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the
Paducah, Kentucky Site (DOE/EIS–
0359) and the Final Environmental
Impact Statement for Construction and
Operation of a Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the
Portsmouth, Ohio Site (DOE/EIS–0360)
were prepared as a second phase of the
environmental review process to
evaluate and implement DOE’s DUF6
long-term management program. These
EISs evaluated the potential
environmental impacts of transportation
and disposition of depleted uranium
oxide at two potential off-site locations:
at the DOE-owned low-level radioactive
waste disposal facility at the Nevada
Test Site (now known as NNSS), and at
Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (now known as
EnergySolutions, LLC), a commercial
low-level waste disposal facility in
Clive, Utah. RODs were published for
both of these EISs on July 27, 2004 (69
FR 44649, 69 FR 44654). However, DOE
deferred a decision on the
transportation and disposition of the
conversion product and committed to
addressing that action at a later date.
In 2007, DOE prepared a draft
Supplement Analysis (SA), in
accordance with DOE NEPA
implementing regulations at 10 CFR
1021.314, in order to determine whether
there were substantial changes to the
proposal or significant new
circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns that require
preparation of a Supplemental EIS to
decide disposition locations committed
to in the 2004 RODs. DOE made the
Draft Supplement Analysis for
Location(s) to Dispose of Depleted
Uranium Oxide Conversion Product
Generated from DOE’s Inventory of
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/
EIS–0359–SA–1 and DOE/EIS–0360–
SA–1) publicly available on April 3,
2007 (72 FR 15869). The comments
received associated with the scope of
the draft SA suggested consideration of
WCS’s Andrews, Texas, site as a
reasonable alternative, which will be
considered in this SEIS. DOE
determined that more time was needed
to allow for resolution of regulatory
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questions at the disposal sites and did
not issue a final SA.
In August 2014, the WCS facility near
Andrews, Texas, was granted a license
amendment by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission that would allow disposal
of bulk uranium. As a result, DOE
assumes, for purposes of planning, that
WCS may be a new reasonable
alternative as a disposal site for
depleted uranium oxide conversion
product. After due consideration of the
existing DOE NEPA analyses
summarized above, and any changes in
the disposition activities currently being
considered, DOE determined in March
2016 that a Supplemental EIS is
warranted given that there are
substantial changes to the proposal (in
this case, a new alternative disposal site
is under consideration), or potentially
significant new circumstances or
information relevant to environmental
concerns given the time lapse since the
2004 EISs.
Purpose and Need for Agency Action
The purpose and need for this action
is to dispose of DUOx that results from
converting DOE’s DUF6 inventory to a
more stable chemical form. This need
follows directly from the decisions
presented in the 2004 RODs for
construction and operation of DUF6
conversion facilities and other NEPA
actions at its Paducah, Kentucky and
Portsmouth, Ohio sites, that deferred
DOE’s decision related to the
transportation to and disposal of
depleted uranium oxide at potential offsite facilities.
Alternatives Considered
The proposed scope of the draft SEIS
includes an analysis of the potential
impacts from three action alternatives
and the No Action alternative (in
accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14).
Under the No Action alternative,
transportation to and disposal of the
conversion product at an offsite lowlevel waste disposal facility would not
occur and refilled cylinders of DUOx
conversion product would remain at the
DUF6 conversion facility sites at DOE’s
Paducah and Portsmouth sites. The SEIS
will also analyze and compare the
potential impacts from three action
alternatives that include transportation
to and disposal of DUOx at three
proposed alternative locations,
including government-owned and
privately-owned facilities: (1) The DOEowned Area 5 waste disposal facility at
the NNSS; (2) the EnergySolutions LLC,
low-level waste disposal facility in
Clive, Utah; and (3) the newly identified
location at the WCS federal low-level
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices
waste disposal facility in Andrews,
Texas.
The SEIS analysis will include a
review of available environmental data
and information; comparative analyses
of potential environmental and human
health and safety impacts of DUOx
disposal at the three alternative
locations (including updated
information for the two offsite disposal
locations previously identified and
studied in the 2004 EISs); analyses of
the potential environmental impacts of
transporting DUOx by rail or truck to
each alternative site; and an evaluation
of the No Action alternative.
Identification of Environmental Issues
The SEIS will examine potential
public health and safety effects and
environmental impacts from the
proposed action. This notice is intended
to inform agencies and the public of
DOE’s proposal. Although the following
is not intended to be all inclusive or to
imply any predetermination of impacts,
these general categories of impacts will
be considered in the SEIS: Land use;
geology, soils, and geologic hazards,
including seismicity; water resources
(surface water and groundwater);
biological resources; protected,
threatened and endangered species,
including species of special concern;
human health and safety (both routine
operations and potential accidents); air
quality; noise; cultural and historic
resources; waste management;
environmental justice; and
socioeconomics.
Public Participation in the SEIS Process
A public scoping process is optional
for DOE Supplemental EISs (10 CFR
1021.311(f)), and there will be none for
this project. However, DOE will provide
opportunities for public review and
comment, including public hearings, on
the draft SEIS.
SEIS Preparation and Schedule
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
DOE expects to issue the draft SEIS in
2016.
Issued at Washington, DC, on August 19,
2016.
Frank Marcinowski,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental
Management.
[FR Doc. 2016–20501 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
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FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER16–2119–000]
Hartree Partners, LP; Supplemental
Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate
Filing Includes Request for Blanket
Section 204 Authorization
This is a supplemental notice in the
above-referenced proceeding of Hartree
Partners, LP’s application for marketbased rate authority, with an
accompanying rate tariff, noting that
such application includes a request for
blanket authorization, under 18 CFR
part 34, of future issuances of securities
and assumptions of liability.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest should file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426,
in accordance with Rules 211 and 214
of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Anyone filing a motion to
intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant.
Notice is hereby given that the
deadline for filing protests with regard
to the applicant’s request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability, is September 8,
2016.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with Internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above-referenced
proceeding are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system by
clicking on the appropriate link in the
above list. They are also available for
electronic review in the Commission’s
Public Reference Room in Washington,
DC. There is an eSubscription link on
the Web site that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
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58923
Dated: August 19, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–20435 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Combined Notice of Filings #1
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric corporate
filings:
Docket Numbers: EC16–117–000.
Applicants: Northern States Power
Company, a Wisconsin corporation.
Description: Second Supplement to
May 10, 2016 Application of Northern
States Power Company, a Wisconsin
corporation for Authorization under
FPA Section 203 to Acquire
Jurisdictional Assets.
Filed Date: 8/16/16.
Accession Number: 20160816–5184.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/6/16.
Docket Numbers: EC16–168–000.
Applicants: NRG Renew LLC, Four
Brothers Holdings, LLC, Granite
Mountain Renewables, LLC, Iron
Springs Renewables, LLC.
Description: Joint Application for
Approval Under Section 203 of the
Federal Power Act and Request for
Expedited Action of NRG Renew LLC, et
al.
Filed Date: 8/18/16.
Accession Number: 20160818–5339.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/8/16.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following exempt
wholesale generator filings:
Docket Numbers: EG16–136–000.
Applicants: Boulder Solar II, LLC.
Description: Notice of SelfCertification of Exempt Wholesale
Generator Status of Boulder Solar II,
LLC.
Filed Date: 8/19/16.
Accession Number: 20160819–5125.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/9/16.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER10–2980–007;
ER10–2983–007.
Applicants: Castleton Power, LLC,
Castleton Energy Services, LLC.
Description: Notice of Non-Material
Change in Status of Castleton Power,
LLC, et al.
Filed Date: 8/19/16.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58921-58923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20501]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product
Generated From DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intention to
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for its
proposal to disposition depleted uranium oxide (DUOX)
conversion product from its depleted uranium hexafluoride
(DUF6) conversion facilities at the Paducah, Kentucky, and
Portsmouth, Ohio, sites at up to three offsite low-level waste disposal
facilities. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for
Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated from
DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/EIS-0359-S1; DOE/
EIS-0360-S1) will analyze potential environmental impacts from the
proposed action to identify a final disposition location or locations
for the DUOX conversion product from both operating
DUF6 conversion facilities.
The proposed scope of the draft SEIS includes an analysis of
potential environmental impacts from activities associated with the
transportation to and disposition of depleted uranium oxide at three
proposed disposition location alternatives: the DOE-owned low-level
radioactive waste disposal facility at the Nevada National Security
Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada; the EnergySolutions, LLC (formerly
known as Envirocare of Utah, Inc.) low-level waste disposal facility in
Clive, Utah; and the newly identified location at the Waste Control
Specialists, LLC (WCS) low-level waste disposal facility in Andrews,
Texas.
ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the project or requests to be placed on
the document distribution list can be sent to: Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-
Torres, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager,
Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy, EM-4.22,
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; or to
DUF6_NEPA@em.doe.gov. Additional information regarding the SEIS is
available at: https://www.energy.gov/em/disposition-uranium-oxide-conversion-depleted-uranium-hexafluoride.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on DOE's
DUF6 long-term management and disposal program, please
contact Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-Torres, U.S. Department of Energy at the
above ADDRESSES.
For information on DOE's NEPA process, please contact Ms. Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585-0103; Telephone: (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-
2756; or email at askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The use of uranium as fuel for nuclear power plants or for military
applications requires increasing the proportion of the uranium-235
isotope found in natural uranium. Industrial uranium enrichment in the
United States began as part of atomic bomb development during World War
II. Uranium enrichment for both civilian and military uses was
continued by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and its successor
agencies, including DOE. Uranium enrichment by gaseous diffusion was
carried out at three locations: the Paducah Site in Kentucky, the
Portsmouth Site in Ohio, and the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak
Ridge, Tennessee.
[[Page 58922]]
DUF6 results from the uranium enrichment process. The
DUF6 that remains after enrichment typically contains 0.2
percent to 0.4 percent uranium-235 and has been stored as a solid in
large metal cylinders at the gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment
facilities. The DUF6 must be converted into a more stable
form for disposal. The conversion process results in DUOX
and aqueous hydrogen fluoride \1\ (HF). DOE's existing inventory has
over 760,000 metric tons (MT) (1 MT = 1,000 kilograms, approximately
2,205 pounds) of DUF6. Approximately 54,000 MT, or 7% of
this total, has already been converted at the end of calendar year
2015. DUF6 is stored as a solid in steel cylinders that each
hold approximately 10 to 14 MT of material. These cylinders are stacked
two layers high in outdoor areas known as ``yards.'' The Paducah Site
has approximately 44,000 DUF6 cylinders, and the Portsmouth
Site has approximately 19,000 DUF6 cylinders, for a total of
about 63,000 cylinders. All DUF6 cylinders produced at
facilities in Tennessee were previously transported to the Portsmouth
Site. Operating at planned capacity, the conversion plants would
produce approximately 10,800 MT (11,900 tons) of DUOX
annually at Portsmouth and 14,300 MT (15,800 tons) of DUOX
annually at Paducah. The duration to convert the inventory of
DUF6 to DUOX is expected to be 18 years for the
Portsmouth DUF6 inventory and 25 years for Paducah's larger
DUF6 inventory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The HF produced during conversion will be recycled into
commercial product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relationship to Existing NEPA Analyses
This SEIS represents the third phase of an environmental review
process being used to evaluate and implement the DUF6 long-
term management program. As a first step and pursuant to Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) and DOE NEPA implementing regulations at 40
CFR parts 1500-1508 and 10 CFR part 1021, respectively, DOE evaluated
potential broad management options for its DUF6 inventory in
the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative
Strategies for the Long-Term Management and Use of Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride (DUF6 PEIS) (DOE/EIS-0269) issued in April 1999
(64 FR 19999; April 23, 1999). In the DUF6 PEIS Record of
Decision (ROD) (64 FR 43358; August 10, 1999), DOE decided to promptly
convert the DUF6 inventory to a more stable uranium oxide
form and stated that it would use the depleted uranium oxide as much as
possible and store the remaining depleted uranium oxide for potential
future uses or disposal, as necessary. DOE did not select specific
sites for the conversion facilities or disposal at that time, but
reserved that decision for subsequent NEPA review.
In June 2004, DOE issued two EISs for construction and operation of
DUF6 conversion facilities and other actions at its Paducah,
Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio sites (69 FR 34161; June 18, 2004). Both
the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Construction and Operation
of a Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the Paducah,
Kentucky Site (DOE/EIS-0359) and the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for Construction and Operation of a Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the Portsmouth, Ohio Site (DOE/EIS-
0360) were prepared as a second phase of the environmental review
process to evaluate and implement DOE's DUF6 long-term
management program. These EISs evaluated the potential environmental
impacts of transportation and disposition of depleted uranium oxide at
two potential off-site locations: at the DOE-owned low-level
radioactive waste disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site (now known
as NNSS), and at Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (now known as
EnergySolutions, LLC), a commercial low-level waste disposal facility
in Clive, Utah. RODs were published for both of these EISs on July 27,
2004 (69 FR 44649, 69 FR 44654). However, DOE deferred a decision on
the transportation and disposition of the conversion product and
committed to addressing that action at a later date.
In 2007, DOE prepared a draft Supplement Analysis (SA), in
accordance with DOE NEPA implementing regulations at 10 CFR 1021.314,
in order to determine whether there were substantial changes to the
proposal or significant new circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns that require preparation of a Supplemental EIS
to decide disposition locations committed to in the 2004 RODs. DOE made
the Draft Supplement Analysis for Location(s) to Dispose of Depleted
Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated from DOE's Inventory of
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/EIS-0359-SA-1 and DOE/EIS-0360-SA-1)
publicly available on April 3, 2007 (72 FR 15869). The comments
received associated with the scope of the draft SA suggested
consideration of WCS's Andrews, Texas, site as a reasonable
alternative, which will be considered in this SEIS. DOE determined that
more time was needed to allow for resolution of regulatory questions at
the disposal sites and did not issue a final SA.
In August 2014, the WCS facility near Andrews, Texas, was granted a
license amendment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that would allow
disposal of bulk uranium. As a result, DOE assumes, for purposes of
planning, that WCS may be a new reasonable alternative as a disposal
site for depleted uranium oxide conversion product. After due
consideration of the existing DOE NEPA analyses summarized above, and
any changes in the disposition activities currently being considered,
DOE determined in March 2016 that a Supplemental EIS is warranted given
that there are substantial changes to the proposal (in this case, a new
alternative disposal site is under consideration), or potentially
significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental
concerns given the time lapse since the 2004 EISs.
Purpose and Need for Agency Action
The purpose and need for this action is to dispose of
DUOx that results from converting DOE's DUF6
inventory to a more stable chemical form. This need follows directly
from the decisions presented in the 2004 RODs for construction and
operation of DUF6 conversion facilities and other NEPA
actions at its Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio sites, that
deferred DOE's decision related to the transportation to and disposal
of depleted uranium oxide at potential off-site facilities.
Alternatives Considered
The proposed scope of the draft SEIS includes an analysis of the
potential impacts from three action alternatives and the No Action
alternative (in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14). Under the No Action
alternative, transportation to and disposal of the conversion product
at an offsite low-level waste disposal facility would not occur and
refilled cylinders of DUOx conversion product would remain
at the DUF6 conversion facility sites at DOE's Paducah and
Portsmouth sites. The SEIS will also analyze and compare the potential
impacts from three action alternatives that include transportation to
and disposal of DUOx at three proposed alternative
locations, including government-owned and privately-owned facilities:
(1) The DOE-owned Area 5 waste disposal facility at the NNSS; (2) the
EnergySolutions LLC, low-level waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah;
and (3) the newly identified location at the WCS federal low-level
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waste disposal facility in Andrews, Texas.
The SEIS analysis will include a review of available environmental
data and information; comparative analyses of potential environmental
and human health and safety impacts of DUOx disposal at the
three alternative locations (including updated information for the two
offsite disposal locations previously identified and studied in the
2004 EISs); analyses of the potential environmental impacts of
transporting DUOx by rail or truck to each alternative site;
and an evaluation of the No Action alternative.
Identification of Environmental Issues
The SEIS will examine potential public health and safety effects
and environmental impacts from the proposed action. This notice is
intended to inform agencies and the public of DOE's proposal. Although
the following is not intended to be all inclusive or to imply any
predetermination of impacts, these general categories of impacts will
be considered in the SEIS: Land use; geology, soils, and geologic
hazards, including seismicity; water resources (surface water and
groundwater); biological resources; protected, threatened and
endangered species, including species of special concern; human health
and safety (both routine operations and potential accidents); air
quality; noise; cultural and historic resources; waste management;
environmental justice; and socioeconomics.
Public Participation in the SEIS Process
A public scoping process is optional for DOE Supplemental EISs (10
CFR 1021.311(f)), and there will be none for this project. However, DOE
will provide opportunities for public review and comment, including
public hearings, on the draft SEIS.
SEIS Preparation and Schedule
DOE expects to issue the draft SEIS in 2016.
Issued at Washington, DC, on August 19, 2016.
Frank Marcinowski,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-20501 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
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