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[Federal Register: February 25, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 38)]
[Notices]               
[Page 10574-10577]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe11-42]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level 
Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste, and Notice of Public Hearings

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of 
Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like 
Waste (EIS-0375D, Draft EIS) for public review and comment. The Low-
Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act (LLRWPAA) of 1985 makes 
the Federal Government responsible for the disposal of GTCC low-level 
radioactive waste (LLRW) that results from Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) and Agreement State licensed activities. DOE is the 
Federal agency responsible for the disposal of GTCC LLRW. In addition 
to GTCC LLRW, this Draft EIS also addresses DOE generated or -owned 
LLRW and potential non-defense-generated transuranic radioactive waste 
having characteristics similar to GTCC LLRW (referred to herein as 
``GTCC-like'' waste) and for which there may be no path to disposal.
    DOE prepared this Draft EIS in accordance with the regulations of 
the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) for 
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and DOE's 
NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021). The Draft EIS 
evaluates the potential human health and environmental impacts of 
alternatives for disposing of an estimated 12,000 cubic meters (m\3\) 
of waste, containing approximately 160 million curies of radioactivity. 
This includes GTCC LLRW as defined by the NRC in 10 CFR 72.3, i.e., 
``low-level radioactive waste that exceeds the concentration limits of 
radionuclides established for Class C waste in 10 CFR 61.55,'' as well 
as GTCC-like waste.
    DOE proposes to construct and operate a new facility or facilities, 
or use an existing facility or facilities, for the disposal of GTCC 
LLRW and GTCC-like waste. The Draft EIS evaluates alternative methods 
for disposal of these wastes at the following alternative locations: 
the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho; 
at and near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico; the Los 
Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico; the Nevada

[[Page 10575]]

National Security Site (formerly known as the Nevada Test Site) in 
Nevada; and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Draft EIS 
also evaluates generic commercial disposal sites in four regions of the 
U.S., and a ``No Action Alternative'' as required under NEPA. The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency is a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of this EIS.

DATES: DOE invites the public to submit oral and/or written comments on 
this Draft EIS during the public comment period, which extends through 
June 27, 2011. DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked by 
that date in preparing the Final EIS, and will consider late comments 
to the extent practicable. DOE will hold public hearings on the dates, 
times, and locations listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by U.S. 
mail to the following address: Mr. Arnold M. Edelman, EIS Document 
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, GTCC EIS, Cloverleaf Building, EM-
43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Comments may 
also be submitted electronically via the GTCC EIS Web site at http://www.gtcceis.anl.gov, where the Draft EIS can be found, or by electronic 
mail to gtcceis@anl.gov. The Draft EIS is also available on DOE's NEPA 
Web site at http://nepa.energy.gov/draft_environmental_impact_statements.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
Draft EIS, please contact Mr. Edelman at the mailing address or via the 
GTCC EIS Web site listed above. For information regarding the DOE NEPA 
process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-
4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 3(b)(1)(D) of the LLRWPAA assigned the Federal government 
responsibility for the disposal of GTCC LLRW that results from 
activities conducted under NRC and Agreement State licenses. The 
LLRWPAA also specified in Section 3(b)(2) that such waste be disposed 
of in a facility licensed by NRC. DOE is the Federal agency responsible 
for the disposal of GTCC LLRW. NRC, in 10 CFR 72.3, defines GTCC waste 
as LLRW that exceeds the concentration limits of radionuclides 
established for Class C waste in 10 CFR 61.55.
    This Draft EIS evaluates the range of reasonable alternatives for 
disposal of GTCC LLRW. It also evaluates alternatives for the disposal 
of LLRW and potential non-defense-generated transuranic radioactive 
waste generated or owned by DOE, which has characteristics similar to 
GTCC LLRW, and for which there may be no path to disposal. For the 
purposes of this Draft EIS, DOE is referring to this waste as GTCC-like 
waste. The NRC LLRW waste classification system in 10 CFR 61.55 does 
not apply to radioactive waste generated or owned by DOE and disposed 
of in DOE facilities. DOE evaluates GTCC-like waste in the Draft EIS 
because common approaches may be used to dispose of both GTCC LLRW and 
GTCC-like waste.
    DOE's proposed action is to construct and operate a new facility or 
facilities, or use an existing facility or facilities, for the disposal 
of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste. Accordingly, the Draft EIS evaluates 
the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
construction, operation, and performance of a facility or facilities 
for the disposal of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste.

Types and Estimated Quantities of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-Like Wastes

    The total inventory volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste 
evaluated in the Draft EIS is about 12,000 m\3\, and is estimated to 
contain approximately 160 million curies of radioactivity. Of this 
total, approximately 3,000 m\3\ and less than one million curies are 
estimated to be GTCC-like waste. Approximately ten percent of the total 
estimated inventory volume of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste is 
currently in storage, while approximately 90 percent is expected to be 
generated in the future.
    GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste, for purposes of the Draft EIS, are 
categorized into three waste types: activated metal, sealed sources, or 
Other Waste. Activated metal wastes are largely generated from the 
decommissioning of nuclear reactors. They include portions of the 
nuclear reactor vessel, such as the core shroud and core support plate. 
Activated Metal wastes represent approximately 17 percent of the total 
inventory volume and approximately 98 percent of the radioactivity from 
GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste. There are 104 operating commercial 
reactors in the U.S., an additional 18 that have been closed or 
decommissioned, and an estimated 33 new commercial reactors that may be 
constructed in the future. Most of the Activated Metal waste will not 
be generated for several decades, when the majority of the currently 
operating reactors are scheduled to undergo decommissioning.
    Sealed Sources are widely used for medical purposes, such as in 
equipment to diagnose and treat illnesses (particularly cancer), 
sterilize medical devices, and irradiate blood for transplant patients; 
and for industrial purposes, such as nondestructive testing of 
structures and industrial equipment and exploration of geologic 
formations for oil and gas. They are located in hospitals, 
universities, and industries throughout the U.S. Sealed sources 
represent approximately 25 percent of the total inventory volume and 
approximately one percent of the total radioactivity from GTCC LLRW and 
GTCC-like waste.
    Other Waste primarily includes contaminated equipment, debris, 
scrap metal, and decommissioning waste such as waste from the 
production of molybdenum-99, which is used in about 16 million medical 
procedures (e.g., to detect cancer) each year; the production of 
radioisotope power systems in support of space exploration and national 
security; and the environmental cleanup of the West Valley Site in New 
York (a former commercial facility for reprocessing of spent nuclear 
fuel from nuclear power reactors). Other Waste represents approximately 
58 percent of the total inventory volume and approximately one percent 
of the radioactivity from GTCC and GTCC-like wastes.

Disposal Alternatives Evaluated

    The Draft EIS evaluates the range of reasonable alternatives for 
the disposal of GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste including:
    1. Disposal in the WIPP geologic repository in New Mexico;
    2. Disposal in a new borehole disposal facility at the Hanford Site 
in Washington, the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho, the Los Alamos 
National Laboratory and WIPP Vicinity in New Mexico, and the Nevada 
National Security Site (formerly known as the Nevada Test Site) in 
Nevada; and
    3. Disposal in a new trench or vault disposal facility at the same 
sites identified in item 2 above and at the Savannah River Site in 
South Carolina.
    The Draft EIS also evaluates the potential environmental impacts of 
using a facility or facilities at generic commercial disposal sites in 
four regions of the U.S., should one or more commercial facilities be 
proposed in the future. In addition, the Draft EIS

[[Page 10576]]

analyzes the No Action Alternative, as required by NEPA.

Alternatives Considered but Not Evaluated

    DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) for this EIS (72 FR 40135, July 23, 
2007) identified Yucca Mountain in Nevada and the Oak Ridge Reservation 
(ORR) in Tennessee as locations to be evaluated for the potential 
disposal of GTCC wastes. DOE did not evaluate a repository at Yucca 
Mountain as an alternative in this Draft EIS because, since publication 
of the NOI, the Department determined that developing a permanent 
repository for high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca 
Mountain is not a workable option and that the project should be 
terminated. Creating a disposal site at Yucca Mountain only for GTCC 
waste is not a reasonable alternative. Therefore, disposal of GTCC LLRW 
and GTCC-like waste at Yucca Mountain is no longer a reasonable 
alternative. The Draft EIS also does not evaluate disposal of this 
waste at ORR. Reviews conducted by DOE's Low-Level Waste Disposal 
Facility Federal Review Group determined that the site is not 
appropriate for disposal of LLRW containing high concentrations of 
long-lived radionuclides such as those found in GTCC wastes.

Preferred Alternative

    DOE does not have a preferred alternative for the disposal of GTCC 
and GTCC-like waste, but does identify factors that DOE plans to 
consider in developing a preferred alternative or alternatives for 
inclusion in the Final EIS. These factors are discussed in the Summary 
and Chapter 2 of the Draft EIS and include waste type characteristics 
(e.g., radionuclide inventory and waste form stability), disposal 
method considerations (e.g., protection of an inadvertent intruder and 
operational experience), and disposal location considerations (e.g., 
potential human health impacts, tribal concerns, laws and other 
requirements). The preferred alternative could be a combination of two 
or more alternatives, which could include the No Action Alternative for 
a portion of the waste. DOE invites public comments on these factors 
and any additional factors that should be considered in the selection 
of a preferred alternative and why.

Public Hearings

    DOE invites the public to present oral and/or written comments 
during public hearings on the Draft EIS. Participants may register to 
speak at the hearing or via the GTCC Web site. Speakers will be 
recognized in order as registered. Speakers may be asked to limit their 
oral comments to a certain time limit to be decided at the beginning of 
each of the public hearings based on the number of registered speakers. 
Speakers may be given an opportunity to take the floor a second time 
after all those who wish to speak have been given an opportunity to do 
so. During the first hour, the public may review informational 
materials provided by DOE and speak informally with DOE 
representatives. This will be followed by the formal hearing, which 
will be opened with a brief DOE presentation about the Draft EIS and a 
review of the hearing procedures. A court reporter will record all oral 
comments, which later will be publicly available. In addition to the 
dates, times, and locations of all the hearings listed below, further 
information about the hearings will also be available on the GTCC Web 
site and provided in local print media seven days in advance of the 
hearing.
    Public hearings will be held at the following locations:

South Carolina

North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Avenue, North Augusta, SC 
29841, April 19, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

New Mexico

Pecos River Village Conference Center, Carousel House, 711 Muscatel 
Avenue, Carlsbad, NM 88220, April 26, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco Road NE., Albuquerque, NM, 
April 27, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Cities of Gold Hotel Conference Center, 10-B Cities of Gold Road, Santa 
Fe, NM 87506, April 28, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Nevada

Desert Research Institute--Frank Rodgers Building, 755 C. East Flamingo 
Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, May 9, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Idaho

Shiloh Inn Suites Hotel, 780 Lindsay Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, 
May 11, 2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Washington

Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, May 17, 2011, 
5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Oregon

Doubletree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232, May 19, 
2011, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Washington, DC

Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005, May 25, 
2011, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Public Reading Rooms and Libraries

    Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review at the 
locations listed below:

District of Columbia

U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Act Public Reading 
Room, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1G-033, Washington, DC 20585, 
(202) 586-5955.

Idaho

University Place, TAB Building, U.S. Department of Energy Public 
Reading Room, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, (208) 
526-0833.

Nevada

Nevada Site Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, 755 
East Flamingo Road, Room 103, Las Vegas, NV 89119, (702) 794-5106.

Amargosa Valley Library, 829 E. Farm Road, HCR 69 Box 401-T, Amargosa, 
NV 89020, (775) 372-5340.

Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, (702) 
507-3400.

Indian Springs Library, 715 Gretta Lane, P.O. Box 629, Indian Springs, 
NV 89018, (702) 879-3845.

Las Vegas Library, 833 N. Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89101, 
(702) 507-3500.
Pahrump Community Library, 701 S. East Street, Pahrump, NV 89048, (775) 
727-5930.

Tonopah Public Library, 167 S. Central Street, Tonopah, NV 89049, (775) 
482-3374.

New Mexico

DOE FOIA Reading Room, Government Information/Zimmerman Library, 
University of New Mexico, MSC05 3020, 1 University of New Mexico, 
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, (505) 277-7180.

Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy, WIPP Information 
Center, 4021 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220, (575) 234-7348 
or (800) 336-9477.

Carlsbad Public Library, 101 South Halagueno Street, Carlsbad, NM 
88220, (575) 885-6776.

[[Page 10577]]

Eunice Public Library, 1039 10th Street, Eunice, NM 88231, (575) 394-
2336.

Espa[ntilde]ola Public Library, 313 N Paseo de O[ntilde]ate, 
Espa[ntilde]ola, NM 87532, (505) 747-6087.

Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544, (505) 
662-8250.

Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 
(505) 955-6780.

Santa Fe Public Library, Oliver La Farge Branch, 1730 Llano Street, 
Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 955-4860.

New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507, 
(505) 476-9717.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Reading Room, P.O. Box 1663, 
Mail Stop M9991, Los Alamos, NM 87545, Phone: (505) 667-0216.

Oregon

Portland State University, Government Information, Branford Price 
Millar Library, 1875 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, (503) 725-
5874.

South Carolina

University of South Carolina-Aiken, Gregg-Graniteville Library, 471 
University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801, (803) 641-3320.

South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29211, 
(803) 734-8026.

Washington

U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Consolidated 
Information Center, 2770 University Drive, Room 101L, Richland, WA 
99352, (509) 372-7443.

University of Washington, Suzzallo-Allen Library, Government 
Publications Division, Seattle, WA 98195, (206) 543-1937.

Gonzaga University, Foley Center Library, 101-L 502 East Boone Avenue, 
Spokane, WA 99258, (509) 313-5931.

    Individual commentors' names and addresses (including e-mail 
addresses) received as part of oral presentations at the public 
hearings or comment documents on this Draft EIS normally are part of 
the public record. DOE plans to reproduce comment documents in their 
entirety in the Final EIS, as appropriate, and to post all comment 
documents received in their entirety on the website for this EIS at the 
close of the public comment period. Any person wishing to have his/her 
name, address, or other identifying information withheld from the 
public record of comment documents must state this request prominently 
at the beginning of any comment document. DOE will honor the request to 
the extent allowable by law. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses will be included in the public record and open to public 
inspection in their entirety.

Next Steps

    Following the end of the public comment period, DOE will consider 
public comments on the Draft EIS in preparing the Final EIS. After 
issuing the Final EIS, DOE will consider the environmental impact(s) 
presented in the Final EIS, along with other appropriate information in 
proposing its decision(s) related to the disposal of GTCC and GTCC-like 
wastes. DOE will not issue a Record of Decision until its required 
Report to Congress has been provided and appropriate action has been 
taken by Congress in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2011.
Christine Gelles,
Director, Office of Disposal Operations, Office of Environmental 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-4151 Filed 2-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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