Department of Energy December 12, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability for public review and comment of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating from Radiological Areas. On September 28, 2011, the Secretary of Energy approved a recommendation, contingent on the completion of the appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, to delegate authority to manage radiological clearance and release of scrap metal from radiological areas to each Under Secretary for sites under his or her cognizance, in accordance with the processes contained in DOE Order 458.1 (which replaces the order previously governing release procedures). This Draft PEA for the Recycling of Scrap Metals Originating from Radiological Areas analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with resuming the clearance of scrap metal, originating from DOE radiological areas, for recycling pursuant to improved procedures designed to assure that clearance for release is limited to metals meeting stringent criteria. This Draft PEA also analyzes the reasonable alternatives to this proposal. Metals with volumetric radiological contamination, and scrap metals resulting from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), are not included in the scope of this PEA.