17794 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 1997 / Notices

change in the basin radioactivity levels.

Currently, a steady increase in basin

radioactivity levels always follows

shutdown of the RBOF filtration system.

This increase is due to the constant

release of fission products by failed fuel

in the basin. DOE believes that the

source of this radioactivity is the TRR

fuel, because the average RBOF water

radioactivity levels more than doubled

when the TRR spent fuel was placed in

storage in the early 1990s.

Environmental Analysis

The CEQ regulations for

implementing NEPA, 40 CFR 1502.9(c),

direct federal agencies to prepare a

supplement to an EIS when an agency

‘‘makes substantial changes in the

proposed action that are relevant to

environmental concerns, or there are

significant new circumstances or

information relevant to environmental

concerns and bearing on the proposed

action or its impacts.’’ The DOE

regulations for compliance with NEPA,

10 CFR 1021.314, direct that when it is

unclear whether or not a supplemental

EIS is required, the Department is to

prepare a supplement analysis.

This Supplement Analysis (Analysis)

evaluates new information regarding the

condition of TRR spent fuel. In addition,

this Analysis compares this new

information with the IMNM EIS’

evaluation of failed TRR spent fuel.

In the IMNM EIS, DOE evaluated the

impacts of several stabilization

alternatives (i.e., Processing to Metal,

Processing to Oxide, Improving Storage,

Processing and Storage for Vitrification

in the Defense Waste Processing

Facility, and Vitrification in F-Canyon)

and a ‘‘No Action’’ alternative. For each

alternative, the IMNM EIS estimated the

potential impacts of stabilizing all of the

TRR spent nuclear fuel (both failed fuel

and that believed to be intact), including

normal operations, waste generation,

potential accidents, and cumulative

impacts. In each case, the potential

impacts for each stabilization alternative

were estimated based on the entire SRS

inventory of TRR spent fuel. As a result,

the potential impact of stabilizing all the

TRR spent fuel by Processing to Metal,

as well as the potential impacts from the

other alternatives, was analyzed and

documented in the IMNM EIS.

Since discovering that additional TRR

fuel has failed, DOE has re-evaluated the

stabilization alternatives in the IMNM

EIS to ensure that the analysis remains

valid. In the IMNM EIS, DOE concluded

that these alternatives would take from

four to nine years to implement

completely for the TRR spent nuclear

fuel, while the preferred alternative of

processing TRR spent fuel to a metal

could be implemented more quickly.

DOE believes that the estimates of time

to implement TRR spent nuclear fuel

stabilization alternatives in the IMNM

EIS are still accurate. DOE expects that

stabilization of the remaining TRR spent

fuel in RBOF could be completed in 6

to 12 months.

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, DOE finds

that stabilizing the TRR fuel by the

Processing to Metal alternative in the

IMNM EIS will result in neither

significantly greater environmental

impacts than analyzed in the IMNM EIS

nor a substantial change in the proposed

action relevant to environmental

concerns. Stabilizing all the TRR fuel by

processing it to a metal is consistent

with the goals of the proposed action in

the IMNM EIS. Furthermore, stabilizing

all the TRR fuel by processing it to a

metal is consistent with the stabilization

action selected in the December 12,

1995, ROD, which clearly allowed for

the stabilization of additional TRR spent

fuel. Consequently, DOE has concluded

that the stabilization of the remaining

TRR fuel does not require the

preparation of a supplemental EIS.

[FR Doc. 97–9340 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Defense Programs; Inertial

Fusion Science in Support of Stockpile

Stewardship Grant Program

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation

availability.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

Office of Defense Programs hereby

announces its interest in receiving grant

applications for performance of

unclassified innovative research in high

energy-density science relevant to

inertial fusion within the stockpile

stewardship program.

The objectives of this new Inertial

Fusion Science in Support of Stockpile

Stewardship Financial Assistance

Program are to (1) increase U.S. efforts

in high-energy-density science relevant

to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF)

through funding of small research

projects at universities and other private

sector institutions; (2) promote

interactions between such investigators

and scientists at the Department of

Energy weapons laboratories, and; (3)

assist in training scientists in areas of

long-term research relevant to stockpile

stewardship.

Subject to the availability of

appropriated funds, the Office of Inertial

Fusion and the NIF Project intends to

provide up to $2 million in FY98 for

multiple grant awards under this

Inertial Fusion Science in Support of

Stockpile Stewardship Financial

Assistance Program. Applicants will

compete for one-to three-year grant

awards through open competition with

peer review.

The solicitation document invites

applications from all segments of the

U.S. private sector (non-federal). Any

U.S. university or other institution of

higher education or other non-profit or

for-profit organization, non-federal

agency or entity will be eligible for a

grant award under this new financial

assistance program. Non-U.S. citizens at

U.S. institutions are eligible.

Investigators at foreign institutions may

not apply as a principal investigator, but

may receive funding as a coinvestigator. DOE must be notified of

any foreign nationals involved in the

funded work, and there may be some

restrictions on their participation at

certain facilities and conferences.

DATES: A solicitation will be available

on or about April 11, 1997.

Preapplications referencing DE-FG03–

97DP00167, should be submitted by

May 1, 1997. Full applications under

this notice should be received by 4:30

pm Eastern Standard Time, June 30,

1997. Initial grant awards under this

new financial assistance program are

planned for about November 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation

document will be available on or about

April 11, 1997 on the Internet by

accessing the ICF grant program home

page (http://www3.dp.doe.gov/ifnif/

grants.htm) or by accessing the DOE/

OAK home page (http://

www.oak.doe.gov/procure/

proclmain.html). Prospective

applicants may also submit a written

request including a self-addressed

stamped envelope and an MS-DOS

formatted high density 31⁄2’’, virus free

diskette to the contracting officer for a

diskette copy of the solicitation (U.S.

Dept. of Energy, Oakland Operations

Office, 1301 Clay Street 700N, Oakland,

CA 94612–5208, Attn: Bill O’Neal).

Completed applications referencing

Solicitation Notice DE-PS03–97DP00167

must be submitted to: Office of Inertial

Fusion, DP–18, U.S. Department of

Energy, 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD, 20874–1290, Attn.:

Grant Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann

Satsangi, 301–903–8059,

ann.satsangi@dp.doe.gov or Bill O’Neal

510–637–1880, bill.o’neal@oak.doe.gov
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 1997 / Notices 17795

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Evaluation Process

Applications will undergo several

stages of review: administrative review,

stewardship/ICF review, and scientific/

technical review. The administrative

review assures that the application is

complete, has been signed by an

authorized official, and is consistent

with national security and export laws.

The stewardship relevance review will

be performed by a panel consisting of

representatives from the three weapons

laboratories who will evaluate whether

applications fall within the scope of the

grant program. Independent scientific/

technical peer reviewers will evaluate

applications on their merit, will score

them against an established set of

criteria. The DOE selection official will

be Christopher J. Keane, Associate

Director, Office of Inertial Fusion and

the NIF Project.

Scientific / Technical Merit Evaluation

Criteria

The following evaluation criteria are

listed in relative order of importance.

(1) Scientific/technical merit and

significance of the research.

(2) The feasibility of plans for carrying

out the proposed research considering

such factors as appropriateness of the

proposed method or approach, facility

compatibility, other commitments,

competition, and timing.

(3) Impact on stewardship mission.

(4) Adequacy of proposed resources

and interest of the applicant institution.

(5) Research performance, capability

and future promise of the

investigator(s).

(6) Reasonableness and

appropriateness of proposed budget.

Representative Research Areas

Under this solicitation, DOE will

consider applications for unclassified

research in inertial fusion science that is

relevant to stockpile stewardship. Both

theoretical and experimental proposals

are encouraged. Examples of areas of

research (and some subfields) eligible

for support under this financial

assistance program are:

Hydrodynamics—fluid instabilities,

behavior of complex systems;

Radiative properties and atomic

physics—dense plasma behavior,

plasma spectroscopy, radiative transfer,

opacity;

Plasma physics—interpenetrating

plasmas, plasma streaming in magnetic

fields, laser-plasma instabilities, beamplasma interactions, high-energydensity plasmas;

Material properties—equation of state,

extreme high temperature and high

pressure regimes, material/radiation

interactions;

Development of Diagnostics—particle

(neutron and charged particle),

spectroscopic (e.g. x-ray);

Computational Physics—radiationhydrodynamics codes, materialradiation interactions new modeling

techniques.

Facility Use

For applicants who propose the use of

facilities at one of the ICF laboratories,

arrangements will need to be made with

the specific laboratory. Potential

applicants should contact the

appropriate laboratory directly to

discuss any facility-related concerns

and to determine the laboratory’s

procedures and schedule for submittal

of a facility use proposal. The

laboratory’s review of facility use

proposals for acceptability will take

place prior to the DOE selection.

Preapplication

Potential applicants are encouraged to

submit a preapplication consisting of

one to five pages of narrative describing

the research objectives and methods of

accomplishment. The purpose of the

preapplication is (1) to provide some

feedback to applicants on the relevance

of their ideas to the program, and (2) to

give DOE an idea of the number of full

applications to expect. A preapplication

should include cover-page information

and a brief (1 to 5 page) project

description. The cover page should

include: a statement that the document

is a preapplication; principal

investigator’s (PI) name, telephone

number, fax number, and e-mail

address; name and address of PI’s

organization; and title of the project.

The project description should include

the following, as appropriate: a

description of the proposed research; a

statement of its importance; an

explanation of methodology and

equipment needs, including ICF facility

use; anticipated results; a project

schedule with estimated completion

date; cost-share and total project cost

information. Confidential or proprietary

information is discouraged, but any

such information must be clearly

marked. Attachments or enclosures

submitted with the preapplication will

not be reviewed.

Preapplications will be reviewed

relative to the goals of the grant program

and the DOE will respond with a letter

informing the applicant whether or not

the proposed work is within the bounds

of the program. Preapplications are not

required, but are encouraged.

Preapplications referencing DE–FG03–

97DP00167, should be submitted by

May 1, 1997 to: Office of Inertial, DP–

18, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901

Germantown Road, Germantown, MD

20874–1290, Attn.: Grant Program, or

submitted electronically to:

ann.satsangi@dp.doe.gov.

(The Catalogue of Federal Assistance number

for this program is 81.112.)

Issued in Oakland, California, on April 2,

1997.

Anthony A. Pino,

Director, Program Acquisition and Assistance

Division.

[FR Doc. 97–9339 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP97–323–000]

Columbia Gas Transmission

Corporation; Notice of Request Under

Blanket Authorization

April 7, 1997.

Take notice that on April 1, 1997,

Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation

(Columbia), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue,

S.E., Charleston, West Virginia 25314–

1599, filed in the above docket, a

request pursuant to Sections 157.205,

157.212 and 157.216 of the

Commission’s Regulations under the

Natural Gas Act (N.A.) (18 CFR 157.205,

157.212 and 157.216) and Columbia’s

authorization in Docket No. CP83–76–

000, for authorization to relocate two

existing points of delivery to New York

State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) to a single

location, to abandon by sale to NYSEG

18.2 miles of 6-inch and 8-inch pipeline

and appurtenances located in

Cattaraugus, Delaware and Tioga

Counties, New York, and to abandon by

retirement 0.6 mile of 6-inch and 8-inch

pipeline located in Cattaraugus County,

New York, all as more fully set forth in

the request which is on file with the

Commission and open to public

inspection.

Any person or the Commission’s staff

may, within 45 days after issuance of

the instant notice by the Commission,

file pursuant to Rule 214 of the

Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to

intervene or notice of intervention and

pursuant to Section 157.205 of the

Regulations under the Natural Gas Act

(18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the

request. If no protest is filed within the

time allowed therefor, the proposed

activity is deemed to be authorized

effective on the day after the time

allowed for filing a protest. If a protest