[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56663-56664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28153]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration; Notice of Availability
of the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Oak Ridge
Y-12 Plant
AGENCY: Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a
separately organized agency within the Department of Energy (DOE),
announces the availability of the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact
Statement for the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant [Y-12 Final SWEIS] (DOE/EIS-
0309). The Y-12 Final SWEIS evaluates the potential environmental
impacts associated with the continued operations of the Y-12 Plant, as
well as with alternatives for modernizing Y-12 facilities to ensure its
capability to meet future nuclear weapon stockpile needs in the post-
Cold War era. The alternatives include construction and operation of
new facilities for two of Y-12's missions: Highly Enriched Uranium
(HEU) Materials Storage mission and Special Materials mission. The
preferred alternative is to construct and operate a new HEU Materials
Storage Facility and a new Special Materials Complex. The preferred
site for the HEU Materials Storage Facility is Site A (West Portal
Parking Lot). The preferred site for the Spcial Materials Complex
Facility is Site 1 (northwest of Building 9114 and on the north side of
Bear Creek Road).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Y-12 Final SWEIS may be obtained by mail (U.S.
Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Attn: Mr. Gary
Hartman, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831), by fax (1-865-576-1237),
by phone (1-865-576-0273), or electronically ([email protected]). The
Y-12 Final SWEIS is also available for review at the U.S. Department of
Energy Public Reading Room at 230 Warehouse Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the NNSA
NEPA process, please contact: Mr. James Mangeno, NEPA Compliance
Officer for NNSA, U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; or telephone 1-800-832-0885, ext.
68395. For general information on the DOE NEPA process, please contact:
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
(EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585, telephone 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-
800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNSA is responsible for providing the
Nation with nuclear weapons and ensuring that those nuclear weapons
remain safe, secure, and reliable. As one of the major production
facilities, the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has been DOE's primary site for
enriched uranium processing and storage, and one of the manufacturing
facilities for maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. In
recent years, the emphasis of the U.S. weapons program has shifted from
developing and producing new weapons to dismantlement and maintenance
of a smaller stockpile.
The Y-12 Final SWEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts
from continued operation of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, and the
construction and operation of new facilities for two of Y-12's
missions: HEU Materials Storage mission and Special Materials mission.
Alternatives considered for the HEU Materials Storage mission include
constructing and operating a new HEU Materials Facility at one of two
candidate sites, or expanding and operating Building 9215 (the
preferred site is Site A). Three candidate sites are evaluated for a
new Special Materials Complex for the Special Materials mission at Y-12
(the preferred site is Site 1). More specifically, the Y-12 Final SWEIS
analyzes potential impacts on land uses, transportation,
socioeconomics, geology and soils, hydrology, biological resources, air
quality/noise, site facilities and support activities, waste
management, and cultural resources. In addition, environmental justice,
radiological and chemical impacts during normal operations, and effects
of accidents on workers and the public are included in the assessment.
The preferred alternative is to construct and operate a new HEU
Materials Storage Facility at Site A and a new Special Materials
Complex at Site 1. A Record of Decision is expected to be issued no
sooner than 30 days from the date of this announcement.
[[Page 56664]]
Issued in Washington, DC this 5th day of November, 2001.
John Gordon,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of
Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-28153 Filed 11-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P