Draft Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of Savannah River Site Contaminated Process Equipment, 72217-72220 [2021-27558]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72217-72220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27558]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Draft Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of 
Savannah River Site Contaminated Process Equipment

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of its Draft Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of

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Savannah River Site Contaminated Process Equipment (DOE/EA-2154) (Draft 
Savannah River Site (SRS) Contaminated Process Equipment Environmental 
Assessment (EA)). The Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA 
evaluates the potential impacts from a proposed action to dispose of 
certain SRS contaminated process equipment at a commercial low-level 
radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility outside of South Carolina, 
licensed by either the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or an 
Agreement State pursuant to NRC's regulations for land disposal of 
radioactive waste. The proposed disposal of the SRS contaminated 
process equipment is being analyzed consistent with the Department's 
interpretation of the statutory term ``high-level radioactive waste'' 
(HLW) as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), 
and Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (NWPA).

DATES: The 45-day public comment period extends from the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register through February 4, 
2022, in consideration of the end of calendar year 2021 holidays. DOE 
will hold an informational webinar on January 11, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET. 
See section V, ``Public Participation,'' for further information on the 
public comment process and the informational webinar.

ADDRESSES: Please direct written comments or questions on the Draft SRS 
Contaminated Process Equipment EA using one of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Please submit comments in 
Microsoft\TM\ Word or PDF file format and avoid the use of encryption.
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make 
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of 
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For this EA, DOE is suspending receipt 
of public comments via postal mail and hand delivery/courier. If a 
commenter finds that this change poses an undue hardship, please 
contact James Joyce at (202) 586-5000 to discuss the need for 
alternative arrangements.
    The Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA is available at: 
https://www.energy.gov/em/downloads/draft-environmental-assessment-commercial-disposal-srs-contaminated-process-equipment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Joyce, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Environmental Management, at 
[email protected] or (202) 586-5000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    SRS occupies approximately 310 square miles primarily in Aiken and 
Barnwell counties in South Carolina. Over the years, a primary SRS 
mission has been the production of special radioactive isotopes to 
support national defense programs, including reprocessing of spent 
nuclear fuel and target materials. More recently, the SRS mission has 
emphasized waste management, environmental restoration, and the 
decontamination and decommissioning of facilities that are no longer 
needed for SRS's traditional defense activities. SRS generated large 
quantities of liquid radioactive waste as a result of reprocessing 
activities associated with its nuclear materials production mission.
    The SRS process equipment has been utilized during the on-site 
storage and treatment of the reprocessing waste, which results in the 
equipment's contamination. This Draft SRS Contaminated Process 
Equipment EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the commercial disposal of SRS process equipment contaminated with 
reprocessing waste. Portions of the Tank 28F salt sampling drill 
string, glass bubblers, and glass pumps are comprised of hazardous 
components (e.g., lead) or are contaminated with hazardous 
constituents. Because there are no permitted facilities at SRS for the 
disposal of mixed LLW, this contaminated process equipment cannot be 
disposed of on-site.
    The Tank 28F salt sampling drill string was used to collect 
reprocessing waste samples from the waste storage tank in F-Area. The 
Tank 28F salt sampling drill string consists of steel piping measuring 
2.25 inches in outer diameter by 41 feet long, contaminated with 
reprocessing waste (supernatant) from Tank 28F. Contaminants include a 
mixture of radionuclides (e.g., cesium-137 and plutonium-238). The Tank 
28F drill string is currently stored in a large container in a high-
radiation area south of the H-Area Tank Farm until a disposal path can 
be established.
    The glass bubblers are used to increase the efficiency of the SRS 
Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) melter operations, where high-
activity tank waste is vitrified into glass under high temperature. 
Each glass bubbler is made up of a \3/4\-inch Inconel pipe, which is 
inserted into the DWPF melter and through which an inert gas is 
introduced to increase melter efficiency. During operations, 
approximately three feet of the lower portion of the bubbler is 
submerged in the melt pool and becomes contaminated with various 
radionuclides (e.g., cesium-137 and plutonium-238). The total length of 
each complete bubbler assembly is between 8.8 feet and 9.4 feet, as 
there are four design lengths based on the bubbler location in the 
melter. SRS currently has approximately 60 contaminated bubblers in 
storage and is expected to generate four contaminated glass bubblers 
every six months until DWPF operations are completed in the 2034 
timeframe. Based on the glass bubbler replacement rate of eight 
bubblers annually, DOE projects a need to dispose of approximately 172 
bubblers by the forecasted end of DWPF operations. The bubblers are 
currently stored inside the DWPF canyon building.
    The glass pumps were previously used to support melter efficiency 
but have been replaced by the glass bubblers and therefore are no 
longer generated at SRS. Each glass pump includes a section of Inconel 
pipe, measuring approximately 3.625 inches in outer diameter; only the 
lower portion (two feet) of which was in the melt pool and contains 
contaminated glass. The overall glass pump is about 11 feet long. There 
are approximately 10 glass pumps in storage at SRS requiring disposal. 
Similar to the glass bubblers, the glass pumps are currently stored 
inside the DWPF canyon building.
    This Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA will be the second 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis proposing to apply 
the high-level radioactive waste interpretation (HLWI) to a particular 
waste stream. In August 2020, DOE completed its first NEPA analysis 
(Commercial Disposal of DWPF Recycle Wastewater Environmental 
Assessment, DOE/EA-2115) analyzing a proposed application of the 
HLWI.\1\ This was implemented in accordance with the June 10, 2019, 
Supplemental Notice Concerning U.S. Department of Energy Interpretation 
of High-Level Radioactive Waste (Supplemental Notice), 84 FR 26835, in 
which DOE provided its interpretation of the statutory term HLW as 
defined in the AEA \2\ and NWPA.\3\
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    \1\ NEPA documents and technical documents for the commercial 
disposal of DWPF recycle wastewater from SRS under the HLWI can be 
found at: https://www.energy.gov/em/program-scope/high-level-radioactive-waste-hlw-interpretation.
    \2\ 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.
    \3\ 42 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.

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    In early 2021, various stakeholders submitted both supportive and 
non-supportive letters to the Secretary of Energy regarding the HLWI. 
The Secretary is committed to implementing the Department's 
environmental cleanup programs in a manner that is consistent with the 
law and that makes evidence-based decisions guided by the best 
available science and data. The Department assessed the HLWI in light 
of this commitment; please see separate Federal Register Notice, 
Assessment of Department of Energy's Interpretation of the Definition 
of High-Level Radioactive Waste, which is being published in the 
Federal Register concurrently with this notice, documenting the 
Department's assessment and affirming the Department's interpretation 
of the statutory term ``high-level radioactive waste'' as defined in 
the AEA and the NWPA.

II. Purpose and Need for Action

    There is no current disposal pathway for the SRS contaminated 
process equipment. The purpose and need for DOE's action is to identify 
a disposal pathway for the SRS contaminated process equipment to 
mitigate on-site storage constraints, improve worker safety, and 
support accelerated completion of the environmental cleanup mission at 
SRS.

III. Proposed Action and Alternatives

    Under the proposed action, DOE would dispose of the SRS 
contaminated process equipment (Tank 28F salt sampling drill string, 
glass bubblers, and glass pumps) at a commercial LLW disposal facility 
outside of South Carolina licensed by either the NRC or an Agreement 
State under 10 CFR part 61. Prior to a disposal decision, DOE would 
characterize the contaminated process equipment to verify with the 
licensed offsite commercial LLW disposal facility whether the waste 
meets DOE's HLWI Criterion 1 for disposal as non-HLW, in accordance 
with DOE Manual 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual. DOE would 
demonstrate compliance with the waste acceptance criteria and all other 
requirements of the disposal facility, including any applicable 
regulatory requirements for management of the waste prior to disposal 
and applicable U.S. Department of Transportation and NRC requirements 
for packaging and transportation from SRS to the commercial disposal 
facility. DOE has identified two reasonable action alternatives for the 
proposed action:
     Alternative 1--If determined to be Class B or Class C 
LLW,\4\ DOE would stabilize and package the waste at SRS and ship the 
waste packages to Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS) in Andrews 
County, Texas, for disposal.\5\ Implementation would be dependent upon 
the waste meeting the facility's waste acceptance criteria, among other 
requirements.
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    \4\ In its 10 CFR part 61 regulations, NRC has identified 
classes of LLW--Class A, B, or C--for which near-surface disposal is 
safe for public health and the environment. This waste 
classification regime is based on the concentration levels of a 
combination of specified short-lived and long-lived radionuclides in 
a waste stream, with Class C LLW having the highest concentration 
levels.
    \5\ Because the SRS contaminated process equipment would most 
likely result in Class B or Class C LLW, this has been identified as 
the first alternative.
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     Alternative 2--If determined to be Class A LLW, DOE would 
stabilize and package the waste at SRS and ship the waste packages to 
either EnergySolutions \6\ in Clive, Utah, or WCS in Andrews County, 
Texas, for disposal. Implementation would be dependent upon the waste 
meeting the facility's waste acceptance criteria, among other 
requirements.
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    \6\ EnergySolutions is currently licensed to only dispose of 
Class A LLW and mixed LLW; WCS is licensed to dispose of Class A, 
Class B, and Class C LLW and mixed LLW.
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    The EA also evaluates a No-Action Alternative under which the 
contaminated process equipment would remain in storage at SRS until 
another disposal path was identified.

IV. NEPA Process

    Comments on the Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA 
received during the public comment period will be considered during 
preparation of the Final SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA. 
Following the public comment period--and based on the Final SRS 
Contaminated Process Equipment EA and consideration of all comments 
received--DOE will either issue a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) or announce its intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS). If DOE determines that a FONSI is appropriate, both 
the Final EA and FONSI will be made available to the public. If DOE 
determines that an EIS is needed, either during preparation of the 
Final SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA or after completing the EA, 
DOE would issue in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare 
an EIS.
    Consultations with other agencies (e.g., State Historic 
Preservation Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) were not required 
or undertaken in connection with the Draft SRS Contaminated Process 
Equipment EA because the Proposed Action would not impact cultural 
resources, historic properties, or threatened or endangered species. 
The following regulatory agencies were notified of the preparation of 
this Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA: U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency; NRC; Idaho Department of Environmental Quality; 
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection; New York State Energy 
Research and Development Authority; South Carolina Department of Health 
and Environmental Control; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; 
Utah Department of Environmental Quality; and Washington State 
Department of Ecology.

V. Public Participation

    Submission of Public Comments: DOE will accept comments on the 
Draft SRS Contaminated Process Equipment EA no later than the date 
provided in the DATES section at the beginning of this notice. 
Interested parties may submit comments using any of the methods 
described in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this notice. 
Because your comments will be made public, you are solely responsible 
for ensuring that your comments do not include any Confidential 
Business Information that you or a third party may not wish to be 
posted.
    Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email two well-marked copies: One copy of the document marked 
confidential including all the information believed to be confidential, 
and one copy of the document marked non-confidential with the 
information believed to be confidential deleted. It is DOE's policy 
that all comments will be included in the public docket, without change 
and as received, including any personal information provided in the 
comments (except information deemed to be exempt from public 
disclosure).
    Informational Webinar: The time and date of the webinar are listed 
in the DATES section at the beginning of this notice. This webinar, 
which will provide an overview of the Draft SRS Contaminated Process 
Equipment EA, can be accessed at: https://doe.webex.com/doe/j.php?MTID=m60ab8e647f04ce33ab25e3cf7e5b60ea.
    No registration is required. Participants are responsible for 
ensuring their systems are compatible with the webinar software.

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Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December 
15, 2021, by John A. Mullis II, Acting Associate Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Management, pursuant to delegated authority from the 
Secretary of Energy. This 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 at Washington, DC, on December 16, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-27558 Filed 12-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P