Surplus Plutonium Disposition, 53350-53352 [2020-19023]
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53350
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 168 / Friday, August 28, 2020 / Notices
Sunshine Act Meetings
TIME AND DATE:
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2020.
This meeting was held via
teleconference.
STATUS: Closed. The Board invoked the
exemption described in 5 U.S.C.
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PLACE:
Dated: August 26, 2020.
Bruce Hamilton,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2020–19119 Filed 8–26–20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3670–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2020–SCC–0043]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment
Universal Form
Federal Student Aid (FSA),
Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing a new information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
September 28, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection request by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox.
SUMMARY:
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17:16 Aug 27, 2020
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For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Beth
Grebeldinger, 202–377–4018.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
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public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
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of information technology. Please note
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Title of Collection: Borrower Defense
to Loan Repayment Universal Form.
OMB Control Number: 1845–NEW.
Type of Review: A new information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or Households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 96,000.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 48,000.
Abstract: The Department of
Education (the Department) amends the
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
(Direct Loan) Program regulations
issued under the Higher Education Act
of 1965, as amended (HEA), to
implement changes made to the
regulations in § 685.206(e)—Borrower
responsibilities and defenses. These
final regulations are a result of
negotiated rulemaking and will add a
new requirement to the current
regulations. These final regulations
require the collection of this
information from borrowers who believe
they qualify for a borrower defense to
repayment discharge, as permitted
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SAFETY BOARD
PO 00000
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under Section 455(h) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended. The
regulations provide, among other things,
for the Secretary to discharge a
borrower’s Direct Loan based on the
loan in question being disbursed after
July 1, 2020. The Department is
attaching a list of elements that we are
proposing be included on a revised
Application for Borrower Defense to
Loan Repayment form (Universal
Borrower Defense Application). This
revised form will be based on the
current Universal Borrower Defense
Application, OMB control number
1845–0146, and will facilitate
processing claims from all borrowers
who believe that they have a valid
borrower defense claim.
Dated: August 25, 2020.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and
Clearance Governance and Strategy Division
Office of Chief Data Officer Office of Planning,
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2020–19029 Filed 8–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security
Administration
Surplus Plutonium Disposition
National Nuclear Security
Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Amended record of decision.
AGENCY:
The Department of Energy’s
National Nuclear Security
Administration (DOE/NNSA) is
announcing this amendment to the
April 2003 Amended Record of Decision
(AROD) for the Final Surplus Plutonium
Disposition Environmental Impact
Statement (Final SPD EIS) (DOE/EIS–
0283). In this AROD, DOE/NNSA is
announcing its decision to use the
dilute and dispose method to
disposition up to 7.1 MT of non-pit
plutonium as contact handled
transuranic (CH–TRU) waste at the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This
AROD changes the disposition pathway
for a portion of the 34 MT of surplus
plutonium DOE/NNSA previously
announced and decided in 2003 to
fabricate into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.
DOE/NNSA prepared a Supplement
Analysis (SA) for Disposition of
Additional Non-Pit Surplus Plutonium
(DOE/EIS–0283–SA–4, August 2020) to
inform this decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on NEPA for the Surplus
Plutonium Disposition Program, please
contact Mrs. Paloma E. Richard, Office
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 168 / Friday, August 28, 2020 / Notices
of Material Disposition NEPA Document
Manager, National Nuclear Security
Administration, telephone (202) 586–
2777, or by email to Paloma.Richard@
nnsa.doe.gov.
For information on DOE/NNSA’s
NEPA process, please contact Ms. Amy
Miller, NEPA Compliance Officer,
National Nuclear Security
Administration, Office of General
Counsel, Telephone (505) 845–5090, or
by email to amy.miller@nnsa.doe.gov.
This Amended ROD, the SA for
Disposition of Additional Non-Pit
Plutonium, and related documents are
available on the internet at https://
energy.gov/nepa.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 19, 2002, DOE/NNSA issued
a Federal Register notice that
announced an AROD (67 FR 19432) for
the SPD EIS (DOE/EIS–0283, November
1999). DOE/NNSA decided, among
other things, to cancel the
immobilization portion of the
plutonium disposition strategy. A
subsequent AROD (68 FR 20134) issued
in April 2003 concluded that DOE/
NNSA would dispose of 34 MT using
only the MOX Fuel Alternative.
In April 2015, DOE/NNSA issued the
Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SPD SEIS, DOE/EIS–0283–
S2). In the SPD SEIS, DOE/NNSA
evaluated the environmental impacts of
alternatives to disposition 13.1 metric
tons (MT) of surplus plutonium,
comprised of 7.1 MT of pit plutonium
and 6 MT of non-pit plutonium. None
of this material had a designated
disposition pathway. DOE/NNSA
analyzed the potential environmental
impacts for the No Action Alternative
and four action alternatives: (1)
Immobilization at Savannah River Site
(SRS) (Immobilization to Defense Waste
Processing Facility [DWPF] Alternative);
(2) fabrication into MOX fuel at SRS
with subsequent irradiation in one or
more domestic commercial nuclear
power reactors (MOX Fuel Alternative);
(3) vitrification with high-level
radioactive waste (HLW) at SRS (HCanyon/HB-Line and DWPF
Alternative); and, (4) disposal as CH–
TRU waste at WIPP, a geologic
repository for disposal of TRU waste
generated by atomic energy defense
activities (WIPP Disposal Alternative).
These alternatives are composed of a
combination of pit disassembly and
conversion options and plutonium
disposition alternatives.
On December 24, 2015 (80 FR 80348),
DOE/NNSA announced that its
preferred alternative for disposition of
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17:16 Aug 27, 2020
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the 6 MT of non-pit plutonium was
preparation at SRS near Aiken, South
Carolina, for disposal at WIPP near
Carlsbad, New Mexico, using the WIPP
Disposal Alternative (also known as the
dilute and dispose method or plutonium
downblending). DOE/NNSA did not
state a preferred alternative for
dispositioning the 7.1 MT of pit
plutonium or the options for pit
disassembly and conversion. In its April
5, 2016, ROD (81 FR 19588), DOE/
NNSA announced its decision to
implement the preferred alternative: to
use existing SRS facilities to prepare 6
MT of non-pit plutonium as CH–TRU
waste for disposal at WIPP. In the 2016
ROD, DOE/NNSA stated that it would
install and operate new gloveboxes in KArea or HB-Line to prepare surplus
plutonium for disposition. DOE/NNSA
resumed the process of preparing this
plutonium for disposition on September
30, 2016 in K-Area. At that time, DOE/
NNSA did not change its previous
decisions to disposition 34 MT of
surplus plutonium.
Supplement Analysis
In accordance with DOE Regulations
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at 10
CFR 1021.314, DOE/NNSA prepared an
SA to consider if the proposal to prepare
and dispose of additional non-pit
plutonium 1 (rather than the pit
plutonium described in the 2015 SPD
SEIS) using the WIPP Disposal
Alternative represented new
information relevant to environmental
concerns. In the SA, DOE/NNSA
reviewed the analysis found in the 2015
SPD SEIS for preparing 13.1 MT of
surplus plutonium for disposition using
the WIPP alternative.
Included in the SPD SEIS analysis
were 6 MT of non-pit plutonium and 7.1
MT of pit plutonium. For both sets of
material, plutonium must be in an oxide
form so it can be downblended with
adulterant to inhibit plutonium recovery
and meet the WIPP waste acceptance
criteria for CH–TRU waste. After
characterization and certification
activities of the downblended
plutonium, waste containers would be
staged, loaded into approved shipping
containers, and transported for disposal
at the WIPP facility. Aside from the
initial step of disassembling pits, the
remaining steps leading to disposal of
this material at the WIPP facility are the
1 The 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium that is the
subject of this decision is currently in non-pit form
and does not require pit disassembly. However,
some of this material may have been in the form
of pits prior to this decision being announced, and
disassembly for those pits was covered under prior
NEPA analysis (see 63 FR 44851; 73 FR 55833).
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
53351
same for both pit and non-pit
plutonium. The analysis in the SPD
SEIS was based on using either Los
Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
(PF–4 facility) or SRS (K-Area facilities)
for pit disassembly and oxide
conversion activities, and K-Area
facilities at SRS for downblending and
characterization, to achieve the
analyzed production rate. Given that the
process steps and facilities would be the
same as (or fewer than) those assessed
for processing 7.1 MT of pit plutonium,
DOE/NNSA concluded that the impacts
of the proposed preparation of an
additional 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium
for disposal as CH–TRU waste at WIPP
had been addressed in the 2015 SPD
SEIS, and that no additional NEPA
review was required.
Amended Decision
DOE/NNSA is amending its previous
decision (68 FR 20134). DOE/NNSA has
decided to dispose of an additional 7.1
MT of non-pit plutonium CH–TRU
waste at WIPP using the WIPP Disposal
Alternative, rather than using this nonpit plutonium to manufacture MOX
fuel. The process will be the same as
described for the 6 MT of non-pit
plutonium DOE/NNSA previously
decided (81 FR 19588) to dispose of at
WIPP using the WIPP Disposal
Alternative. Conversion to oxide may be
performed at either LANL or at SRS.
Using facilities in K-Area at SRS, DOE/
NNSA will prepare up to an additional
7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium, totaling
up to 13.1 MT of non-pit plutonium, for
disposal at WIPP.
The plutonium oxide containers will
be opened in K-Area gloveboxes.
Plutonium oxide will be repackaged
into suitable containers, mixed/blended
with adulterant, and loaded into a
criticality control overpack (CCO).2 The
adulterant will inhibit plutonium
recovery. To increase processing
capacity for downblending, DOE/NNSA
will rely on the existing single glovebox
and the installation and operation of
additional gloveboxes, which DOE/
NNSA analyzed for processing 6 MT in
the SPD SEIS. This will allow DOE/
NNSA to prepare more plutonium in a
shorter time for disposition, thereby
accelerating removal of plutonium from
the state of South Carolina. Loaded
CCOs will be characterized and staged
for WIPP disposal in E-Area or K-Area
at SRS using non-destructive assay,
digital radiography, and headspace gas
2 DOE/NNSA plans to move towards the use of
the CCO containers in lieu of the POC to maximize
the amount of plutonium that can be packaged in
each container, thereby reducing the number of
shipments and the number of disposal containers
emplaced at WIPP.
E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM
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53352
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 168 / Friday, August 28, 2020 / Notices
sampling. Waste packages containing
surplus plutonium CH–TRU waste that
have been characterized and confirmed
to meet the WIPP waste acceptance
criteria will be placed in the queue of
waste to be shipped to WIPP. The
packages will be shipped to WIPP in
approved shipping containers.
Basis for Decision
Implementing this decision will allow
DOE/NNSA to continue dispositioning
surplus weapons-usable plutonium in
furtherance of the policies of the United
States to ensure that such surplus
plutonium is no longer in a form
suitable for use in a nuclear weapon,
and to accelerate removal of defense
plutonium from the State of South
Carolina.
In making this decision, DOE/NNSA
considered potential environmental
impacts of construction and operations,
current and future mission needs,
availability of capabilities and
resources, technical and security
considerations, and the need to comply
with legislation regarding removal of
defense plutonium from South Carolina.
Using the WIPP Disposal Alternative to
disposition up to 7.1 MT of non-pit
plutonium allows DOE/NNSA to take
advantage of existing facilities,
infrastructure, and expertise at LANL,
SRS, and WIPP. The decision builds on
the existing capabilities, infrastructure,
and skilled workforce trained in safe
operation of nuclear facilities.
Downblending for disposal at WIPP is a
proven process that is ongoing for the 6
MT of surplus non-pit plutonium DOE/
NNSA decided to process through SRS
and dispose of using this method (81 FR
19588).
In addition, final disposition of this
7.1 MT of surplus plutonium will avoid
long-term impacts, risks, and costs
associated with continued secure
storage.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on August 21, 2020,
by Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Under
Secretary for Nuclear Security and
Administrator, NNSA, pursuant to
delegated authority from the Secretary
of Energy. That document with the
original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative
purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of
the Department of Energy. This
administrative process in no way alters
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17:16 Aug 27, 2020
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the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 25,
2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020–19023 Filed 8–27–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Dated: August 21, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[FR Doc. 2020–18919 Filed 8–27–20; 8:45 am]
Combined Notice of Filings
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Take notice that the Commission has
received the following Natural Gas
Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:
Docket Numbers: RP20–1108–000.
Applicants: Southern Natural Gas
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Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing: Fuel
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Filed Date: 8/20/20.
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Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing: GT&C
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Filed Date: 8/20/20.
Accession Number: 20200820–5046.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/1/20.
The filings are accessible in the
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PO 00000
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER20–2694–000]
Icon Energy LLC; Supplemental Notice
That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing
Includes Request for Blanket Section
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This is a supplemental notice in the
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accompanying rate tariff, noting that
such application includes a request for
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part 34, of future issuances of securities
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Any person desiring to intervene or to
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of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
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E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM
28AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 168 (Friday, August 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53350-53352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19023]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
Surplus Plutonium Disposition
AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Amended record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security
Administration (DOE/NNSA) is announcing this amendment to the April
2003 Amended Record of Decision (AROD) for the Final Surplus Plutonium
Disposition Environmental Impact Statement (Final SPD EIS) (DOE/EIS-
0283). In this AROD, DOE/NNSA is announcing its decision to use the
dilute and dispose method to disposition up to 7.1 MT of non-pit
plutonium as contact handled transuranic (CH-TRU) waste at the Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This AROD changes the disposition pathway
for a portion of the 34 MT of surplus plutonium DOE/NNSA previously
announced and decided in 2003 to fabricate into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.
DOE/NNSA prepared a Supplement Analysis (SA) for Disposition of
Additional Non-Pit Surplus Plutonium (DOE/EIS-0283-SA-4, August 2020)
to inform this decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on NEPA for the
Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program, please contact Mrs. Paloma E.
Richard, Office
[[Page 53351]]
of Material Disposition NEPA Document Manager, National Nuclear
Security Administration, telephone (202) 586-2777, or by email to
[email protected].
For information on DOE/NNSA's NEPA process, please contact Ms. Amy
Miller, NEPA Compliance Officer, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Office of General Counsel, Telephone (505) 845-5090, or
by email to [email protected]. This Amended ROD, the SA for
Disposition of Additional Non-Pit Plutonium, and related documents are
available on the internet at https://energy.gov/nepa.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 19, 2002, DOE/NNSA issued a Federal Register notice that
announced an AROD (67 FR 19432) for the SPD EIS (DOE/EIS-0283, November
1999). DOE/NNSA decided, among other things, to cancel the
immobilization portion of the plutonium disposition strategy. A
subsequent AROD (68 FR 20134) issued in April 2003 concluded that DOE/
NNSA would dispose of 34 MT using only the MOX Fuel Alternative.
In April 2015, DOE/NNSA issued the Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SPD SEIS, DOE/EIS-0283-
S2). In the SPD SEIS, DOE/NNSA evaluated the environmental impacts of
alternatives to disposition 13.1 metric tons (MT) of surplus plutonium,
comprised of 7.1 MT of pit plutonium and 6 MT of non-pit plutonium.
None of this material had a designated disposition pathway. DOE/NNSA
analyzed the potential environmental impacts for the No Action
Alternative and four action alternatives: (1) Immobilization at
Savannah River Site (SRS) (Immobilization to Defense Waste Processing
Facility [DWPF] Alternative); (2) fabrication into MOX fuel at SRS with
subsequent irradiation in one or more domestic commercial nuclear power
reactors (MOX Fuel Alternative); (3) vitrification with high-level
radioactive waste (HLW) at SRS (H-Canyon/HB-Line and DWPF Alternative);
and, (4) disposal as CH-TRU waste at WIPP, a geologic repository for
disposal of TRU waste generated by atomic energy defense activities
(WIPP Disposal Alternative). These alternatives are composed of a
combination of pit disassembly and conversion options and plutonium
disposition alternatives.
On December 24, 2015 (80 FR 80348), DOE/NNSA announced that its
preferred alternative for disposition of the 6 MT of non-pit plutonium
was preparation at SRS near Aiken, South Carolina, for disposal at WIPP
near Carlsbad, New Mexico, using the WIPP Disposal Alternative (also
known as the dilute and dispose method or plutonium downblending). DOE/
NNSA did not state a preferred alternative for dispositioning the 7.1
MT of pit plutonium or the options for pit disassembly and conversion.
In its April 5, 2016, ROD (81 FR 19588), DOE/NNSA announced its
decision to implement the preferred alternative: to use existing SRS
facilities to prepare 6 MT of non-pit plutonium as CH-TRU waste for
disposal at WIPP. In the 2016 ROD, DOE/NNSA stated that it would
install and operate new gloveboxes in K-Area or HB-Line to prepare
surplus plutonium for disposition. DOE/NNSA resumed the process of
preparing this plutonium for disposition on September 30, 2016 in K-
Area. At that time, DOE/NNSA did not change its previous decisions to
disposition 34 MT of surplus plutonium.
Supplement Analysis
In accordance with DOE Regulations implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at 10 CFR 1021.314, DOE/NNSA prepared
an SA to consider if the proposal to prepare and dispose of additional
non-pit plutonium \1\ (rather than the pit plutonium described in the
2015 SPD SEIS) using the WIPP Disposal Alternative represented new
information relevant to environmental concerns. In the SA, DOE/NNSA
reviewed the analysis found in the 2015 SPD SEIS for preparing 13.1 MT
of surplus plutonium for disposition using the WIPP alternative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium that is the subject of this
decision is currently in non-pit form and does not require pit
disassembly. However, some of this material may have been in the
form of pits prior to this decision being announced, and disassembly
for those pits was covered under prior NEPA analysis (see 63 FR
44851; 73 FR 55833).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Included in the SPD SEIS analysis were 6 MT of non-pit plutonium
and 7.1 MT of pit plutonium. For both sets of material, plutonium must
be in an oxide form so it can be downblended with adulterant to inhibit
plutonium recovery and meet the WIPP waste acceptance criteria for CH-
TRU waste. After characterization and certification activities of the
downblended plutonium, waste containers would be staged, loaded into
approved shipping containers, and transported for disposal at the WIPP
facility. Aside from the initial step of disassembling pits, the
remaining steps leading to disposal of this material at the WIPP
facility are the same for both pit and non-pit plutonium. The analysis
in the SPD SEIS was based on using either Los Alamos National
Laboratory (LANL) (PF-4 facility) or SRS (K-Area facilities) for pit
disassembly and oxide conversion activities, and K-Area facilities at
SRS for downblending and characterization, to achieve the analyzed
production rate. Given that the process steps and facilities would be
the same as (or fewer than) those assessed for processing 7.1 MT of pit
plutonium, DOE/NNSA concluded that the impacts of the proposed
preparation of an additional 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium for disposal
as CH-TRU waste at WIPP had been addressed in the 2015 SPD SEIS, and
that no additional NEPA review was required.
Amended Decision
DOE/NNSA is amending its previous decision (68 FR 20134). DOE/NNSA
has decided to dispose of an additional 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium CH-
TRU waste at WIPP using the WIPP Disposal Alternative, rather than
using this non-pit plutonium to manufacture MOX fuel. The process will
be the same as described for the 6 MT of non-pit plutonium DOE/NNSA
previously decided (81 FR 19588) to dispose of at WIPP using the WIPP
Disposal Alternative. Conversion to oxide may be performed at either
LANL or at SRS. Using facilities in K-Area at SRS, DOE/NNSA will
prepare up to an additional 7.1 MT of non-pit plutonium, totaling up to
13.1 MT of non-pit plutonium, for disposal at WIPP.
The plutonium oxide containers will be opened in K-Area gloveboxes.
Plutonium oxide will be repackaged into suitable containers, mixed/
blended with adulterant, and loaded into a criticality control overpack
(CCO).\2\ The adulterant will inhibit plutonium recovery. To increase
processing capacity for downblending, DOE/NNSA will rely on the
existing single glovebox and the installation and operation of
additional gloveboxes, which DOE/NNSA analyzed for processing 6 MT in
the SPD SEIS. This will allow DOE/NNSA to prepare more plutonium in a
shorter time for disposition, thereby accelerating removal of plutonium
from the state of South Carolina. Loaded CCOs will be characterized and
staged for WIPP disposal in E-Area or K-Area at SRS using non-
destructive assay, digital radiography, and headspace gas
[[Page 53352]]
sampling. Waste packages containing surplus plutonium CH-TRU waste that
have been characterized and confirmed to meet the WIPP waste acceptance
criteria will be placed in the queue of waste to be shipped to WIPP.
The packages will be shipped to WIPP in approved shipping containers.
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\2\ DOE/NNSA plans to move towards the use of the CCO containers
in lieu of the POC to maximize the amount of plutonium that can be
packaged in each container, thereby reducing the number of shipments
and the number of disposal containers emplaced at WIPP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis for Decision
Implementing this decision will allow DOE/NNSA to continue
dispositioning surplus weapons-usable plutonium in furtherance of the
policies of the United States to ensure that such surplus plutonium is
no longer in a form suitable for use in a nuclear weapon, and to
accelerate removal of defense plutonium from the State of South
Carolina.
In making this decision, DOE/NNSA considered potential
environmental impacts of construction and operations, current and
future mission needs, availability of capabilities and resources,
technical and security considerations, and the need to comply with
legislation regarding removal of defense plutonium from South Carolina.
Using the WIPP Disposal Alternative to disposition up to 7.1 MT of non-
pit plutonium allows DOE/NNSA to take advantage of existing facilities,
infrastructure, and expertise at LANL, SRS, and WIPP. The decision
builds on the existing capabilities, infrastructure, and skilled
workforce trained in safe operation of nuclear facilities. Downblending
for disposal at WIPP is a proven process that is ongoing for the 6 MT
of surplus non-pit plutonium DOE/NNSA decided to process through SRS
and dispose of using this method (81 FR 19588).
In addition, final disposition of this 7.1 MT of surplus plutonium
will avoid long-term impacts, risks, and costs associated with
continued secure storage.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 21,
2020, by Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security
and Administrator, NNSA, pursuant to delegated authority from the
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 25, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-19023 Filed 8-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P