[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]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P