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[Federal Register: January 25, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 15)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3902-3903]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja10-42]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
Notice of Public Hearings on the Draft Tank Closure and Waste 
Management Environmental Impact Statement for the Hanford Site, 
Richland, WA

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Updated notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces public hearings on 
the Draft Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington (DOE/EIS-0391) 
(Draft TC&WM EIS or Draft EIS). A notice of public hearings on this 
Draft EIS was first published on January 8, 2010 (75 FR 1048); this 
notice announces additional public hearings and a date change to a 
previously announced hearing. This Draft EIS was prepared in accordance 
with the implementing regulations under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA). A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was 
published on October 30, 2009 (74 FR 56194), initiating a 140-day 
public comment period ending March 19, 2010. The State of Washington, 
Department of Ecology (Ecology) is a cooperating agency on this EIS.

DATES: During the public comment period for the Draft TC & WM EIS which 
ends March 19, 2010, DOE invites the public to submit written comments 
by any of the means listed under ADDRESSES below. In addition, oral as 
well as written comments may be provided at the public hearings to be 
held as listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by regular mail, fax, or 
e-mail as follows.
    Written comments may be sent to: Mary Beth Burandt, Office of River 
Protection, Document Manager, P.O. Box 1178, Richland, Washington 
99352, Attention: TC & WM EIS.
    Written comments or requests for information can be submitted at 
TC&WMEIS@saic.com, or by faxing to 888-785-2865. The Draft EIS is 
available on DOE's NEPA Web site at http://www.gc.energy.gov/nepa and 
the Hanford Web site at http://www.hanford.gov.
    Copies of this Draft EIS are available for review at:

    Hanford Site Public Reading Room, 2770 University Drive, CIC. Room 
101L, Richland, WA 99354, 509-372-7443; and the
    U.S. Department of Energy, FOIA Reading Room, 1G-033, Forrestal 
Bldg, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-5955.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the Hanford 
Site or this Draft EIS, contact Ms. Burandt at the above address. The 
following Web sites may also be accessed for additional information on 
the Hanford Site: http://www.hanford.gov/orp/ (Click on Public 
Involvement) or http://www.hanford.gov.
    General information on DOE's NEPA process is on the Department's 
NEPA Web site at http://www.gc.energy.gov/nepa or contact: Carol 
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585, e-mail AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov, telephone 202-586-4600; or leave a 
message at 800-472-2756.
    For general questions and information about the Washington State 
Department of Ecology, contact: Annette Carlson, Nuclear Waste Program, 
3100 Port of Benton Blvd., Richland, WA 99352 , telephone 509-372-7897, 
e-mail anca461@ecy.wa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Hanford Site is located in southeastern Washington State along 
the Columbia River, and is approximately 586 square miles in size. 
Hanford's mission included defense-related nuclear research, 
development, and weapons production activities from the early 1940s to 
approximately 1989. During that period, Hanford operated a plutonium 
production complex with nine nuclear reactors and associated processing 
facilities. These activities created a wide variety of chemical and 
radioactive wastes. Hanford's mission now is focused on the cleanup of 
those wastes and ultimate closure of Hanford.
    In support of Hanford's cleanup mission DOE, with Ecology as a 
cooperating agency, prepared the Draft TC & WM EIS in accordance with 
the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and the 
DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures at 10 CFR Part 1021. The Environmental 
Protection Agency issued a Notice of Availability of this Draft TC & WM 
EIS on October 30, 2009 (74 FR 56194), thereby initiating the public 
comment period for the Draft EIS.

II. Public Hearings

    During an open house, the first hour of each hearing, participants 
may register to speak and meet informally with representatives from DOE 
and Ecology. During the formal portion of each hearing, DOE and Ecology 
will make short opening presentations on the Draft EIS and describe the 
format for the hearing. The remaining time will be available for the 
public to comment. The Seattle meeting announced previously (75 FR 
1048) for February 11, 2010, has been moved to March 8, 2010. Three 
additional meetings have also been scheduled and they are provided as 
follows:

    La Grande, OR 97850, February 22, 2010, Eastern Oregon University, 
Hoke Union Building, 6 to 10 p.m.;

    Spokane, WA 99206, February 23, 2010, Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 
303 W. North River Drive, Spokane, WA 99206, 509-777-6393, 6 to 10 
p.m.;

    Eugene, OR 97401, March 1, 2010, Hilton Eugene and Conference 
Center, 66 East 6th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, 541-342-2000, 6 to 10 
p.m.;

    Seattle, WA 98109, Rescheduled from previous date of Feb 11, March 
8, 2010, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, 206-684-7200, 6 to 10 
p.m.

    DOE will consider and respond to all oral and written comments 
received at the public hearings or written comments postmarked by March 
19, 2010, in preparing the Final EIS. Late comments will be considered 
to the extent practicable.

III. Next Steps

    DOE intends to issue the Final Tank Closure and Waste Management 
EIS by March 2011. DOE will issue a Record of Decision no sooner than 
30 days after

[[Page 3903]]

the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a Notice of Availability 
of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, January 19, 2010.
William M. Levitan,
Director, Office of Environmental Compliance, Office of Environmental 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-1306 Filed 1-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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