[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 54245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22964]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Department of Energy Draft Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride
Materials Use Roadmap
AGENCY: Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a draft Roadmap that
it intends to use to guide any future research and development (R&D)
activities for the materials associated with its depleted uranium
hexafluoride (DUF6) inventory and certain other depleted
uranium. On August 2, 1999, DOE issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for
Long-Term Management and Use of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride. This ROD
indicated that DOE has decided to promptly convert the DUF6
inventory to a more chemically stable form. DOE is committed to
conducting a program to effect this conversion as rapidly as is
practical. In addition, DOE plans a parallel effort to conduct
appropriate R&D to assure the most effective disposition of the
converted depleted uranium product. This activity will include
appropriate investments in the exploration of potential beneficial use
of the DU and other materials resulting from the conversion of the
DUF6, i.e., fluorine and empty carbon steel storage
cylinders, to achieve cost savings to the Government, contrasted to
simply disposing of the materials. However, the Government will also
carry out research activities necessary to assure the direct disposal
of these materials if cost-effective and realistic beneficial uses are
not found.
The Roadmap characterizes and analyzes paths for the eventual
disposition of these materials, identifies the barriers that exist for
those paths, and proposes research, development, and other activities
in order to eliminate such barriers. The Roadmap also addresses other
surplus depleted uranium, primarily in the form of DU trioxide and DU
tetrafluoride.
DOE invites all interested parties to review the draft Roadmap and
to submit comments. The draft Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Materials
Use Roadmap is available for downloading via the Internet at
www.nuclear.gov.
DATES: Comments on the draft Roadmap will be accepted during a public
comment period that ends on October 20, 2000. DOE will consider
comments received after this date to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments, requests for further information, or
requests for copies of the document may be submitted over the Internet
by sending them to [email protected]. Please annotate the
message subject as dealing with the DUF6 Materials Use
Roadmap. Anyone without Internet access can request a hard copy of the
Roadmap and/or submit comments by sending a fax with name and address
to (301) 903-4905 or sending a card or letter to the Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride Management Program (NE-30), U.S. Department of Energy,
19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert R. Price, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, 19901
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874. Telephone 301/903-9527,
Facsimile 301/903-4905.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 6, 1999, DOE issued the Final Plan for the Conversion of
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride as required by Public Law 105-204. In
that final plan, DOE committed to develop a Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride Materials Use Roadmap in order to establish a corporate
plan for the application of DUF6 and DUF6-derived
materials that will focus on potential Governmental uses of
DUF6 but will also incorporate limited analysis of
established uses of DUF6-derived materials in the private
sector. This commitment supports the preferred alternative presented in
the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative
Strategies for the Long-Term Management and Use of Depleted Uranium
Hexafluoride, DOE/EIS-0269, namely, to begin conversion of the
DUF6 inventory as soon as possible, either to uranium oxide,
uranium metal, or a combination of both, while allowing for future uses
of as much of this inventory as possible.
Issued in Washington, DC, August 31, 2000.
William D. Magwood IV,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 00-22964 Filed 9-6-00; 8:45 am]
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