[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3432-3436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1494]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Idaho High-level Waste and Facilities Disposition Draft 
Environment Impact Statement

AGENCY:  U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of 
the Idaho High-level Waste and Facilities Disposition Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review and comment. 
This Draft EIS has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
the National Environment Policy Act of 1969 as amended (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
implementing NEPA, 40

[[Page 3433]]

CFR Parts 1500-1508; and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR Part 
1021. The State of Idaho is a Cooperating Agency in the preparation of 
this Draft EIS and will continue to be involved in the review and 
preparation of the Final EIS.
    This Draft EIS evaluates five waste processing alternatives and six 
facilities disposition alternatives for high-level radioactive (HLW) 
waste and liquid mixed transuranic waste stored at DOE's Idaho National 
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Currently, there are 
approximately 4,200 cubic meters of HLW stored in bins as a dry 
granular calcine and approximately 1.4 million gallons of liquid mixed 
transuranic waste stored in underground tanks.
    Neither DOE nor the State of Idaho has identified a preferred 
alternative. After considering information in this Draft EIS and other 
relevant information, DOE and the State will enter into discussions 
concerning the preferred alternative. If DOE and the State reached 
agreement, the Final EIS will identify the agreed-upon preferred 
alternative; if not, the Final EIS will set forth both the State's and 
DOE's respective choices for the preferred alternative.
    The public is invited to comment on the Draft EIS during a 60-day 
public comment period, which starts on the date of this Notice and ends 
on March 20, 2000. All comments received during the public comment 
period will be considered in preparing the Final EIS. Late comments 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES:  Requests for information about this Draft EIS should be 
directed to: Thomas L. Wichmann, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, 850 Energy Drive, MS 1108, Idaho 
Falls, ID 83401-1563, (208) 526-0535.
    Copies of the document can be requested by telephone at 1-888-918-
5100.
    Written comments on the Draft EIS can be mailed to Thomas L. 
Wichmann, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho 
Operations Office, 850 Energy Drive, MS 1108, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-
1563, Attention: Public Comments, Idaho, HLW & FD EIS, or submitted by 
fax to: 208-526-1184, or submitted electronically to: http://www.jason.com/hlwfdeis.
    Oral comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted only during the 
public hearings scheduled for the dates and locations provided in the 
DATES section of this Notice.
    For information on the DOE National Environmental Policy Act 
process, contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy 
and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600 or leave a message at 
1-800-472-2756.
    Copies of the Draft EIS and supporting technical reports are 
available for review at the addresses listed in the ``Availability of 
the Draft EIS'' section of this Notice.

DATES:  The public is invited to submit written and/or oral comments on 
the Draft EIS. Comments may also be submitted electronically to http://www.jason.com/hlwfdeis. Example topics on which DOE welcomes comments 
include: the technical adequacy of the document; what additional 
alternatives/options should be analyzed; which alternatives/options DOE 
should select upon completion of the document; and what criteria DOE 
should use in making these selections. DOE's responses to all comments 
received during the public comment period will be presented in the 
Final EIS. The comment period on this Draft EIS begins on the date of 
this Notice and ends on March 20, 2000. Comments postmarked after that 
date will be considered to the extent practicable. DOE expects to issue 
the Final EIS in mid-2000.
    DOE will hold a series of 7 public hearings according to the 
schedule below. The session format will provide for collection of 
written and oral comments and will enable the public to discuss issues 
and concerns with DOE managers. Participants who wish to present oral 
comments at the hearings are asked to registger in advance by calling 
the toll-free number: 1-888-918-5100. Requests to speak that have not 
been submitted prior to the hearings will be handled in the order in 
which they are received during the hearings.

                                           Schedule of Public Hearings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Meeting
            Cities                             Dates                       Meeting times            locations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Idaho Falls, ID...............  February 7, 2000..................  7:00 pm...................  Shilo Inn.
Pocatello, ID.................  February 8, 2000..................  6:00 pm...................  Idaho State
                                                                                                 University
                                                                                                 Student Union.
Jackson, WY...................  February 9, 2000..................  6:00 pm...................  Snow King Lodge.
Twin Falls, ID................  February 15, 2000.................  6:00 pm...................  College of
                                                                                                 Southern ID
                                                                                                 Taylor
                                                                                                 Building.
Boise, ID.....................  February 17, 2000.................  6:00 pm...................  The Grove Hotel.
Portland, OR..................  February 22, 2000.................  6:00 pm...................  Doubletree Lloyd
                                                                                                 Center.
Pasco, WA.....................  February 24, 2000.................  6:00 pm...................  Doubletree Pasco
                                                                                                 Hotel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open house will be held one hour prior to meeting times.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    From 1952 to 1991, DOE and its predecessor agencies reprocessed 
spent nuclear reactor fuel at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant, 
located on the Snake River Plain in the desert of Southeast Idaho. This 
facility, now known as the Idaho Nuclear Technology Engineering Center 
(INTEC), is part of the INEEL nuclear research complex that has served 
the nation through both peaceful and defense-related missions.
    Reprocessing operations at INTEC produced mixed HLW (i.e., HLW 
containing hazardous characteristics or components that are regulated 
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) HLW from the first 
extraction cycle of the operation. Subsequent treatment processes and 
decontamination activities generated liquid mixed transuranic waste. 
This waste is much less radioactive than the mixed HLW.
    All of the liquid mixed HLW was converted to calcine (a dry 
granular substance) over several years. This conversion was completed 
in 1998. Stored in large, robust bin sets, the mixed HLW calcine is a 
more stable waste form that poses less environmental risk than liquid 
radioactive waste stored in underground tanks. However, the mixed HLW 
calcine does not meet planned HLW disposal repository waste acceptance 
criteria, and further treatment would be necessary to convert the mixed 
HLW calcine to a form that would be acceptable for disposal in such a 
repository. At present, approximately 4,200 cubic meters of mixed HLW 
calcine is stored in the bin sets.

[[Page 3434]]

    Since spent nuclear fuel reprocessing was discontinued in 1991, DOE 
has continued to accumulate liquid mixed transuranic waste in 
underground tanks from decontamination and other ongoing operations. At 
present, approximately 1.4 million gallons of liquid mixed transuranic 
waste is stored in eleven underground tanks.
    In a 1995 Settlement Agreement, DOE and the State of Idaho agreed 
that the underground tanks would be emptied down to the residual heels 
by 2012, and that by a target date of 2035, all of the mixed HWL would 
be treated and made ready for shipment out of Idaho. DOE intends to 
continue to manage these wastes according to regulatory requirements, 
in a manner that helps to ensure the protection of human health and the 
environment.
    To meet its commitments and objectives, DOE needs to decide:
    <bullet> How to treat INTEC mixed HLW so that it can be transported 
out of Idaho to a storage facility or repository.
    <bullet> How to treat and where to dispose of other radioactive 
wastes that are associated with the HLW management program at INTEC.
    <bullet> How to close associated HWL-related facilities.
    On September 19, 1997, DOE issued a Notice of Intent (62 FR 49209) 
to prepare the Idaho High-level Waste and Facilities Disposition 
Environmental Impact Statement. The public scoping period announced in 
the Notice of Intent extended from September 19, 1997, to November 24, 
1997. During this period, DOE held public scoping workshops in Idaho 
Falls and Boise, Idaho. DOE also sponsored open houses, set up and 
staffed booths and displays at shopping malls throughout southern 
Idaho, made presentations to schools and civic groups, and provided 
individual briefings to government and Tribal officials, local interest 
groups, site employees, and the INEEL Citizens Advisory Board. DOE 
received more than 900 comments during the public scoping period and 
used these comments to refine the proposed action and the alternatives. 
The proposed action and alternatives analyzed in this Draft EIS are 
described in the following two sections.

Proposed Action

    DOE has identified the following proposed actions to support the 
needed decisions.
    <bullet> Develop appropriate technologies and construct facilities 
necessary to manage INTEC mixed HLW and mixed liquid transuranic waste.
    <bullet> Treat the mixed HLW calcine so that it will be suitable 
for disposal in a repository.
    <bullet> Treat and dispose of the sodium-bearing, liquid mixed 
transuranic waste.
    <bullet> Provide for the disposition of the INTEC HLW management 
facilities when their missions are completed.

Alternatives Analyzed

    DOE analyzed the potential impacts of implementing five waste 
processing and six facilities disposition alternatives over the period 
2000 through 2095. Each alternative has a specific time line for 
implementation and completion. For residual contamination or waste 
disposal, DOE analyzed potential impacts over 10,000 years.
    Waste Processing Alternatives address HLW treatment technologies, 
pretreatment requirements for the liquid mixed transuranic waste, and 
storage and disposal options for treated wastes. These alternatives are 
listed and briefly described below.
    <bullet> No Action Alternative--This alternative serves as a basis 
for comparing other alternatives. DOE would not continue to calcine 
liquid mixed transuranic waste, but would continue to reduce the volume 
of this waste via evaporation until all of the available underground 
tanks are full. The liquid mixed transuranic waste would remain in the 
tanks indefinitely, and the mixed HLW calcine would remain in the bins 
indefinitely. Maintenance to protect workers and the environment would 
continue, but there would be no major upgrades.
    <bullet> Continued Current Operations Alternative--The calcining 
facility would be upgraded and would continue processing the liquid 
mixed transuranic wastes to empty the underground tanks to material 
left in the tanks after initial reprocessing. Residual material in the 
tanks would be treated; transuranic waste would be shipped to the Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant for disposal, and low-level waste would be 
grouted for disposal at INEEL. The mixed HLW calcine would remain in 
the bin sets indefinitely.
    <bullet> Separations Alternative--Three options were analyzed for 
chemically separating the waste into fractions that would be disposed 
of according to their waste classification. These options are as 
follows.
    The Full Separations Option would retrieve and dissolve the mixed 
HLW calcine from the bin sets and would chemically separate the most 
highly radioactive and long-lived radiosotopes from both mixed HLW 
calcine and the liquid mixed transuranic waste. The most highly 
radioactive wastes would be prepared for disposal in a HLW repository. 
The process stream remaining, after separating out the mixed HLW 
fraction, would be managed as mixed low-level waste, suitable for 
disposal in a near-surface landfill at INEEL or an offsite disposal 
facility.
    The Planning Basis Option reflects previously announced DOE 
decisions and agreements with the State of Idaho regarding the 
management of mixed HLW and liquid mixed transuranic waste. This option 
is similar to the Full Separations Option except that, prior to 
separation, the liquid mixed tansuranic waste would be calcined and 
stored in the bin sets along with the mixed HLW. Under this option, the 
low-level waste fraction would be grouted for disposal offsite.
    The Transuranic Separations Option would retrieve and dissolve the 
mixed HLW calcine and chemically treat the dissolved calcine and the 
liquid mixed transuranic waste, including the residual material 
remaining in the tanks. This treatment process would result in waste 
streams that could be managed as transuranic waste and as low-level 
waste. A HLW fraction would not result. The transuranic waste would be 
packaged and shipped to the Waste Isolation Plant for disposal, and the 
low-level waste would be grouted for disposal at INEEL or at an offsite 
disposal facility.
    <bullet> Non-Separations Alternative--The mixed HLW and liquid 
mixed transuranic waste would be processed into immobilized forms. 
Transuranic waste generated as a result of these processes would be 
packaged and shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for disposal, 
and low-level wastes would be grouted for disposal in a near-surface 
landfill at INEEL or offsite. These treatment options are as follows.
    The Hot Isostatic Waste Option would calcine the liquid mixed 
transuranic waste and add the calcine to the mixed HLW calcine in the 
bin sets. All calcine would then be retrieved and converted to an 
impervious, glass-ceramic waste form. Implementing this option would 
require a determination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
that the final form of the HLW would be suitable for disposal in a HLW 
repository.
    The Direct Cement Waste Option is similar to the Hot Isostatic 
Waste Option except that all of the calcine would be converted to a 
cement-like solid. Implementing this option would require a 
determination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the 
final form of the HLW would be suitable for disposal in a HLW 
repository.

[[Page 3435]]

    The Early Vitrification Option would directly process both the 
mixed HLW calcine and the liquid mixed transuranic waste into a glass-
like solid. The resulting HLW glass would be suitable for disposal in a 
repository; the mixed transuranic waste would be shipped to the Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant.
    <bullet> Minimum INEEL Processing Alternative--The mixed HLW 
calcine would be retrieved, packaged for transportation, and shipped to 
DOE's Hanford Site in Richland, WA. The calcine would be separated into 
high-radioactivity and low-radioactivity fractions. The high-
radioactivity fraction would be processed to a glass form suitable for 
disposal in a repository and either shipped directly to an offsite 
facility or returned to INEEL to await shipment to a HLW repository. 
Likewise, the low-radioactivity fraction would be prepared for disposal 
in a near-surface landfill at INEEL or an offsite facility.
    Facilities Disposition Alternatives were developed and analyzed to 
address the final risk component of the proposed actions and close HLW 
treatment and associated management facilities when their missions are 
completed. These alternatives are listed and briefly described below.
    <bullet> No Action Alternative--DOE would not close its HLW 
facilities at INEEL, but would maintain the facilities to ensure the 
safety and health of workers and the public until 2095. After that 
time, for purposes of analysis, DOE assumed that institutional controls 
such as surveillance and maintenance would not continue.
    <bullet> Clean Closure Alternative--All of the hazardous wastes and 
radiological contaminants, including contaminated equipment, would be 
removed from the facility or treated so that any remaining hazardous 
and radiological contaminants would be indistinguishable from 
background concentrations.
    <bullet> Performance-based Closure Alternative--Closure methods 
would be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on risk, in 
accordance with risk-based criteria. Most above-ground structures would 
be razed and most underground structures would be decontaminated and 
left in place. Any remaining facilities would be decontaminated to 
comply with applicable requirements for protecting the health of 
workers and the public.
    <bullet> Closure to Landfill Standards Alternative--Facilities 
would be closed in accordance with State of Idaho and Federal 
requirements specified in regulations for closure of landfills.
    <bullet> Performance-based Closure with Class A Grout Alternative--
Facilities would be closed as described for the Performance-based 
Closure alternative, except that the tanks or bin sets would be used to 
dispose of Class A Type low-level waste.
    <bullet> Performance-based Closure with Class C Grout Alternative--
Facilities would be closed as described for the Performance-based 
Closure alternative, except that the tanks or bin sets would be used to 
dispose of Class C Type low-level waste.

Preferred Alternative

    Neither DOE nor the State of Idaho has identified a preferred 
alternative for either the waste processing or the facilities 
disposition alternatives. After considering information in this Draft 
EIS, including public comments and other relevant information, DOE and 
the State will enter into discussions concerning the preferred 
alternative. If DOE and the State reach agreement, the Final EIS will 
identify the agreed-upon preferred alternative; if not, the Final EIS 
will set forth both the State's and DOE's respective choices for the 
preferred alternatives.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    Copies of this Draft EIS have been distributed to Federal, State, 
and local officials, as well as agencies, organizations and individuals 
who may be interested or affected. This Draft EIS is available on the 
Internet at: http://tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/docs/docs.htm. Additional 
copies can be requested by telephone at 1-888-918-5100. Copies of the 
Draft EIS and supporting technical reports are also available for 
public review at the locations listed below.
    In December 1999, the National Research Council issued a study that 
DOE had requested of the technical options for treating high-level 
waste at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. 
Copies of the study, entitled Alternative High-level Waste Treatments 
at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, are 
also available at the locations listed below. DOE will consider the 
study and all comments received during the public comment period in 
preparing the Final EIS.

Colorado

U.S. Department of Energy, Rocky Flats Operations Office, Public 
Reading Room, Front Range College Library, 3705 112th Avenue, 
Westminister, CO 80030, Telephone: (303) 469-4435

Idaho

Boise Outreach Office, INEEL-Boise City National Bank, 895 West Idaho 
Street, Boise, ID 83706, Telephone: (208) 334-9572
Boise Public Library, 715 Capital Boulevard, Boise, ID 83706, 
Telephone: (208) 384-4023
Boise State University Library, Albertson Library, 1910 University 
Drive, Boise, ID 83705, Telephone: (208) 426-3903
Shoshone-Bannock Library, Bannock and Pima Streets, P.O. Box 306, Fort 
Hall, ID 83203, Telephone: (208) 238-3882
INEEL Technical Library, DOE Public Reading Room, 2525 N. Fremont 
Place, University Place, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Telephone: (208) 526-
9162
Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 Broadway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, 
Telephone: (208) 529-1450
Lewis-Clark State College, The Library, 500 8th Ave., Lewiston, ID 
83501, Telephone: (208) 799-5272
University of Idaho Library, Rayburn Street, Moscow, ID 83844, 
Telephone: (208) 885-6344
Idaho State University Public Library, 741 South 7th Ave., Pocatello, 
ID 83209, Telephone: (208) 236-3152
Twin Falls Public Library, 434 2nd Street East, Twin Falls, ID 83301, 
(208) 733-2964

Montana

Mansfield Library, Government Documents Collection, University of 
Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, Telephone: (406) 243-6860

Nevada

U.S. Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, Public Reading 
Room, 2621 Losee Rd., B-3 Building, North Las Vegas, NV 89030, 
Telephone: (702) 295-0731

New Mexico

US DOE Public Document Collection, University of New Mexico Government 
Information Department, Zimmerman Library, Albuquerque, NM 87131, 
Telephone: (505) 277-5441

Oregon

U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration Reading 
Room, 905 Northeast 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232, Telephone: (503) 
725-4617

Utah

Marriott Library, Public Document Collection, University of Utah, 295 
S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, Telephone: (801) 581-8394

[[Page 3436]]

Washington

U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, Washington State 
University, WSU Tri-Cities Branch Campus, 100 Sprout Road, Richlands, 
WA 99352, Telephone: (509) 376-8583

Wyoming

Teton County Public Library, 125 Virginian Lane, Jackson, WY 83001, 
Telephone: (307) 733-2164
Wyoming State Library, Government Documents Collection, 2301 Capitol 
Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002, Telephone: (307) 777-6333

District of Columbia

DOE Forrestal Building, Freedom of Information Reading Room, 1000 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-6020

    Issued in Washington, DC, January 14, 2000.
Mark W. Frei,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Project Completion, Environmental 
Management.
[FR Doc. 00-1494 Filed 1-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M