[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46613-46614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22382]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice Extending the Public Scoping Period for the Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement on the Disposition of Scrap Metals and 
Announcement of Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the extension of the 
public scoping period and additional public scoping meetings for the 
programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) that DOE is 
preparing on the policy alternatives for the disposition of DOE scrap 
metals that may have residual surface radioactivity.

DATES: The scoping period on the PEIS is extended 60 days until 
November 9, 2001. DOE invites Federal agencies, Native American tribes, 
state and local governments, and members of the public to comment on 
the scope of this PEIS. DOE will consider all comments received by the 
close of the scoping period and will consider comments received after 
that date to the extent practicable. DOE will conduct additional public 
scoping meetings to assist in defining the appropriate scope of the 
PEIS, including the alternatives and significant environmental issues 
to be considered. DOE will hold additional meetings in the following 
locations:
    Meeting: Ken Edwards Community Center, 1527 Fourth Street, Santa 
Monica, California 90401. October 8, 2001, 8-10 P.M.
    Meeting: Simi Valley City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, 
California 93063. October 9, 2001, 8-10 P.M.
    Meeting: Zuhrah Shrine Center, 2540 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota 55404. October 16, 2001, 2-5 P.M., 8-10 P.M.
    Meeting: American Conference Centers, 780 Third Avenue, C2, New 
York, NY 10017. October 18, 2001, 2-5 P.M. 8-10 P.M.
    At each scoping meeting, the public will have the opportunity to 
ask questions and to comment orally or in

[[Page 46614]]

writing on the scope of the PEIS, including the alternatives and issues 
that DOE should consider. Also, at these meetings, DOE plans to provide 
background information on the program and the PEIS preparation 
schedule.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the PEIS may be mailed to the 
address below or sent by facsimile or electronic mail. Written comments 
may be mailed to the following address. Kenneth G. Picha, Jr., Office 
of Technical Program Integration, EM-22, Attn: Metals Disposition PEIS, 
Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0113, Telephone: (301)-
903-7199.
    Otherwise, send comments via facsimile to Metals Disposition PEIS 
at 301-903-9770 or send electronic mail to 
[email protected] or the web site at www.em.doe.gov/smpeis. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To request further information about this 
PEIS, the public scoping meetings, or to be placed on the PEIS 
distribution list, use any of the methods listed under ADDRESSES above. 
For background documents in hard copy related to this PEIS contact the 
DOE Center for Environmental Management Information at 800-736-3282. 
For general information concerning the DOE National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) process, contact: Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office 
of NEPA Policy and Compliance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119, Telephone: 202-
586-4600, Voice Mail: 800-472-2756, Facsimile: 202-586-7031.

Additional NEPA information is also available on the DOE web site: 
http//tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/ 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE generates surplus and scrap material 
during the normal course of activities, and attempts to recycle as much 
as possible consistent with common industrial practice. DOE is also 
guided by several Executive Orders that provide direction to Federal 
Agencies on recycling practices to avoid unnecessary energy consumption 
and use of raw materials for the development of new products. Much of 
this material consists of scrap metal that may contain residual surface 
radioactivity. On July 12, 2001, DOE issued a Notice of Intent (66 FR 
36562) to prepare a PEIS on the DOE policy alternatives for the 
disposition of scrap metals that may contain residual surface 
radioactivity.
    As originally announced in the Notice of Intent, DOE has conducted 
public scoping meetings on the PEIS in the following locations: North 
Augusta, South Carolina; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Oakland, California; 
Richland, Washington; Cincinnati, Ohio; and, Washington, DC. The 
original public scoping period was to continue until September 10, 
2001. However, in response to public comments and to ensure that the 
public has ample opportunity to provide comments, DOE is extending the 
public scoping period by 60 days and scheduling additional meetings as 
specified under DATES, above. The schedule for completion of the Draft 
PEIS will be delayed until March, 2002, and the Final PEIS until 
August, 2002. Further information on this proceeding is contained in 
the Notice of Intent.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 30, 2001.
Steven V. Cary,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 01-22382 Filed 9-5-01; 8:45 am]
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