Department of Energy March 5, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT, P.L. 109-58) required the Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) from its current 727 million-barrel capacity to 1 billion barrels. In order to fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the expansion project, DOE prepared the environmental impact statement (EIS) Site Selection for the Expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (DOE/EIS-0385). In the Record of Decision (ROD), published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007, DOE announced its selection of Richton, Mississippi, as the location of a new SPR facility as part of the expansion project. The site was selected for its large and undeveloped salt dome, enhanced oil distribution capabilities, and inland location that is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of hurricanes. Since selecting the Richton site, DOE has engaged in further consultations with Federal and Mississippi state agencies and is now considering different locations from those addressed in DOE/EIS-0385 for certain facilities associated with the Richton SPR expansion site. This Notice announces DOE's intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) in accordance with NEPA, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts 1500- 1508), and the DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR part 1021). Some of the potential new locations may be in floodplains or wetlands. DOE hereby gives notice that it will include in the SEIS a floodplain assessment and a wetland assessment prepared in accordance with the DOE Regulations for Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements (10 CFR part 1022). DOE invites interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in identifying alternatives, significant environmental issues, and the appropriate scope of the SEIS.

This notice is being issued under the authority of Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2160). The Department is providing notice of a proposed ``subsequent arrangement'' under the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Norway for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. This subsequent arrangement concerns a request for a three-year extension of the current programmatic approval for retransfer of U.S.- obligated irradiated fuel rods between Studsvik Nuclear AB, Sweden and the Institutt for Energiteknikk, Norway. The rods are being transferred for irradiation service, tests and examination, and will be returned to Sweden for further test and disposal. The total shipping amounts will be the same as allowed under the current approvala maximum of 30,000 grams uranium, 400 grams U-235 and 400 grams plutonium in all shipments combined, with a maximum of 100 grams of plutonium per shipment. The original programmatic consent was approved in June 2006 (published in the Federal Register June 13, 2006). A one-year extension was approved in January 2007 (published in the Federal Register January 23, 2007). If approved, the third extension, for three years, will extend to 2011. All transactions will be subject to U.S.-Euratom Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. In accordance with Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, we have determined that this subsequent arrangement will not be inimical to the common defense and security. This subsequent arrangement will take effect no sooner than 15 days after the date of publication of this notice.