Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices 53039 

Federal, state, and tribal entities. 

Significant impacts may include 

economic impacts to the communities of 

Delta Junction and Fairbanks, 

recreational and military use of 

airspace, including currently restricted 

airspace, utilities and infrastructure, 

and hazardous and toxic materials and 

waste. 

Following the 30-day scoping period, 

and after consideration of comments 

received during scoping, the Army will 

prepare a Draft LEIS. The U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency will 

announce the availability of the Draft 

LEIS in the Federal Register. The Army 

will also announce the release of the 

Draft LEIS in local media outlets, 

kicking off a public comment period 

during which it will hold public 

meetings. In accordance with 40 CFR 

1506.8 a Final LEIS is not required for 

the legislative EIS process, and it will 

not be prepared for this action. Public 

comments on the Draft LEIS will be 

submitted as part of the legislative 

proposal. 

Federal, state, and local agencies, 

Alaska Native tribes, Alaska Native 

tribal organizations, and the public are 

invited to be involved in the scoping 

process for the preparation of this LEIS 

by participating in a scoping meeting 

and submitting written comments. To 

assist the Army in the development of 

this LEIS, the Army encourages 

submission of comments on potential 

alternatives, potential environmental 

impacts, information, and analyses 

relevant to the proposed action. Written 

comments must be sent within 30 days 

of publication of this Notice of Intent in 

the Federal Register. In the interest of 

public health, scoping meetings will be 

held in a virtual environment and the 

date(s) will be posted online at https:// 

home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fortwainwright/NEPA. Date(s) and time(s) 

for the public meeting will also be 

advertised in local area newspapers. 

The Draft LEIS is anticipated to be 

published in summer 2022. The 

decision for this action will be made by 

Congress. 

James W. Satterwhite Jr., 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20661 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5061–AP–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

Notice of Availability of Draft 

Construction and Demonstration of a 

Prototype Mobile Microreactor 

Environmental Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Strategic Capabilities Office 

(SCO), Office of the Secretary, 

Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Notice of availability and public 

hearings; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The DoD, acting through SCO 

and with the United States (U.S.) 

Department of Energy (DOE) serving as 

a cooperating agency, announces the 

availability of the Draft Construction 

and Demonstration of a Prototype 

Mobile Microreactor Environmental 

Impact Statement. SCO is also 

announcing a public comment period 

and public hearings on the Draft EIS. 

SCO prepared the Draft EIS to evaluate 

the potential environmental impacts of 

alternatives for constructing and 

operating a prototype mobile 

microreactor capable of producing 1 to 

5 megawatts of electrical power (MWe). 

DATES: Comments are due by November 

8, 2021. 

Public hearings: 

1. October 20, 2021, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 

p.m. Mountain time, Fort Hall, ID 

(livestreamed) 

2. October 20, 2021, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 

p.m. Mountain time, Fort Hall, ID 

(livestreamed) 

ADDRESSES: You may submit written 

comments on the Draft EIS by any of the 

following methods: 

Mail: Mobile Microreactor EIS 

Comment, c/o Leidos, 2109 Air Park Rd 

SE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM 87106. 

Email: PELE_NEPA@sco.mil. 

Online: https://www.mobilemicro

reactoreis.com. 

The Draft EIS is available for review 

online at the website listed above. Send 

requests to be placed on the Draft EIS 

distribution list to receive future 

updates to the email listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Jeff Waksman, Program Manager; Mail: 

Strategic Capabilities Office, 1155 

Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 

20301–1155; Email: PELE_NEPA@

sco.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The DoD consumes around 30 

terawatt hours of electricity per year and 

more than 10 million gallons of fuel per 

day. Additionally, military operational 

projections predict that energy demand 

will continue to increase significantly 

over the next few years. Prioritizing 

climate change considerations in 

national security will require 

explorations of energy-generating 

resources that create a sustainable 

climate pathway. Energy delivery and 

management continues to be a critical 

defensive risk. The challenge is to 

develop more sustainable methods to 

provide reliable, abundant, and 

continuous energy. Inherent dangers, 

logistical complexities, and 

overwhelming costs of sustaining power 

demands at Forward Operating Bases, 

Remote Operating Bases, and 

Expeditionary Bases using diesel 

generators continue to constrain 

operations and fundamental strategic 

planning. Additionally, technologies 

currently under development, such as 

unmanned aerial vehicles, new radar 

systems, new weapon systems, and the 

electrification of the non-tactical vehicle 

fleet, will require even greater energy 

demands. The Defense Science Board, 

commissioned by the DoD, 

recommended further engineering 

development and prototyping of very 

small modular reactors with an output 

less than 10 MWe. Before this 

technology can be deployed, a prototype 

mobile microreactor must be tested to 

ensure it can meet DoD specifications 

and requirements. 

A related Notice of Intent to Prepare 

an EIS for Construction and 

Demonstration of a Prototype Advanced 

Mobile Nuclear Microreactor was 

previously published in the Federal 

Register, 85 FR 12274 (March 2, 2020). 

On March 22, 2021, SCO announced 

two teams—led by BWXT Advanced 

Technologies, LLC, Lynchburg, Virginia, 

and X-energy, LLC, Rockville, 

Maryland—would proceed with 

development of a final design for a 

mobile microreactor under Project Pele. 

The two teams were selected from a 

preliminary design competition, and 

each continues design development 

independently. After a final design 

review in early 2022 and completion of 

this EIS under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, as amended, one of the two 

companies may be selected to build and 

demonstrate a mobile microreactor. 

Alternatives 

SCO evaluated a range of reasonable 

alternatives for the Proposed Action 

(mobile microreactor construction and 

demonstration) in this EIS, including a 

No Action Alternative that serves as a 

basis for comparison with the action 

alternatives. The Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL Site) was identified as 

the preferred location for the Proposed 

53040 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices 

Action based on siting requirements for 

the mobile microreactor. Other sites, 

including the Oak Ridge National 

Laboratory (ORNL) did not meet all of 

the siting criteria. Specifically, these 

sites either lacked sufficient supporting 

infrastructure or lacked an independent 

electrical distribution system capable of 

scheduling and operation independent 

of and isolated from the local 

commercial utility grid. 

Proposed Action 

The Proposed Action in the Draft EIS 

consists of constructing and 

demonstrating a prototype mobile 

microreactor at the INL site that would 

be capable of producing 1 to 5 MWe. 

The mobile microreactor is expected to 

be a small, advanced gas-cooled reactor 

using high-assay low-enriched uranium 

(HALEU) tristructural isotropic (TRISO) 

fuel. TRISO fuel is encapsulated and has 

been demonstrated to be capable of 

withstanding temperatures up to 1,800 

degrees Celsius (°C), allowing for a 

reactor design that relies primarily on 

simple passive features and inherent 

physics to ensure safety. 

Mobile microreactor fuel loading, 

final assembly, and demonstration 

would be performed at the INL Site 

using DOE technical expertise and 

facilities at the Materials and Fuels 

Complex (MFC) and Critical 

Infrastructure Test Range Complex 

(CITRC). Reactor fuel would be 

produced from DOE stockpiles of highly 

enriched uranium (HEU) located at 

DOE’s Y–12 plant in Oak Ridge, 

Tennessee that would be converted to 

an oxide form at the Nuclear Fuel 

Services (a subsidiary of BWXT) facility 

in Erwin, Tennessee, and down blended 

to HALEU and fabricated into TRISO 

fuel at the BWXT facility in Lynchburg, 

Virginia. 

Demonstration Activities at the INL Site 

The Project Pele activities to be 

performed at the CITRC and MFC 

facilities on the INL Site, would involve 

demonstration that the proposed mobile 

microreactor could produce reliable 

electric power onto an electrical grid 

that is separate from the public utility 

grid and that the mobile microreactor 

can be safely disassembled and moved. 

At the end of an approximately 3-year 

demonstration, current plans are that 

the mobile microreactor would be shut 

down and placed into a safe storage 

mode at the INL Site. 

The mobile microreactor would arrive 

at the INL Site for installation at MFC 

without reactor fuel. The possible 

locations to perform the fueling of the 

mobile microreactor are either the 

Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) 

or the Hot Fuel Examination Facility 

(HFEF). Final assembly of the mobile 

microreactor modules would be 

performed at the site of the initial 

startup testing. The initial startup 

testing of the mobile microreactor could 

be performed at the Demonstration of 

Operation Microreactor Experiments 

(DOME) facilities in the Experimental 

Breeder Reactor II (EBR II) building. 

Improvements to the DOME are 

planned in support of other programs at 

the INL Site. These improvements to the 

DOME, while not a part of Project Pele, 

are necessary for the DOME to be 

capable of supporting the initial startup 

testing phase of the mobile microreactor 

demonstration. Should these 

improvements not be made in time to 

support Project Pele schedule, final 

assembly and startup testing would be 

performed at CITRC. At either location, 

final assembly entails connecting the 

mobile microreactor modules. The 

modules within the CONEX containers 

would be attached via cables, conduit, 

and pipes that would have been 

transported with the mobile 

microreactor to the INL Site. During this 

phase of the demonstration, the mobile 

microreactor would not be connected to 

an electrical distribution grid. Startup 

testing would be performed to verify 

that the mobile microreactor would 

perform as designed. The startup and 

initial testing phase is anticipated to 

take 6 months to complete. 

Disassembly and transport would 

occur between the startup testing phase 

and the operational testing phase at 

CITRC regardless of where startup 

testing would be performed. In either 

case, the disassembly and transport 

would provide proof-of-concept of the 

mobility of the mobile microreactor. The 

mobile microreactor would be 

disassembled at the startup testing site 

with minimal temporary laydown 

requirements. The mobile microreactor 

would be placed in a safe shutdown 

mode in which decay heat would be 

removed via the passive heat removal 

systems. This phase is anticipated to 

take around 5 weeks to complete. 

Mobile Microreactor Activities at CITRC 

CITRC is part of the INL’s 61-mile 

138-kilovolt (kV) power loop electric 

test bed and supports critical 

infrastructure research and testing. 

CITRC includes a configurable and 

controllable substation and a 13.8-kV 

distribution network. Four test pads are 

located at CITRC within the CITRC 

distribution grid. Some testing connects 

multiple test pads using the CITRC 

microgrid distribution infrastructure. 

These graveled/paved test pads furnish 

areas to place test equipment (e.g., 

transformers, circuit breakers, switches). 

Test pads also serve as parking areas for 

personnel performing setup and testing. 

Preparation of the CITRC site would be 

performed over the course of up to 6 

months prior to the arrival of the mobile 

microreactor at the site. Preparation 

would involve construction of a 200- 

foot by 200-foot concrete pad about 8 

inches thick to create a level surface for 

the CONEX containers. 

Upon arrival at CITRC test pad area B, 

C, or D, the mobile microreactor would 

be offloaded from the transports to the 

new concrete pad at the test pad area 

and the mobile microreactor modules 

reconnected. The temporary shielding, 

consisting of concrete T-walls, steelreinforced concrete roof panels, 

concrete wall blocks, steel bladders for 

water shielding, and HESCO® bags, 

would be installed. The completed 

shielding structure would be about 

5,000 square feet and up to 30 feet tall 

around the microreactor module. A 

limited version of the startup tests 

performed at DOME (or CITRC) would 

be performed to verify that no modules 

were damaged during transport. 

At CITRC, the mobile microreactor 

system would be connected to the 

CITRC microgrid which is separate and 

distinct from the INL/commercially 

supplied electrical grid. Diesel 

generators and load banks would be 

attached to the microgrid. The 

generators and load banks would apply 

realistic loads and supplies to the 

microgrid to test the mobile 

microreactor in a realistic setting. 

Additional pads would be used to house 

the load banks and diesel generators to 

simulate a microgrid (electrical power 

loads for the mobile microreactor) 

during testing. 

At-power testing, performed 

according to test procedures yet to be 

developed, would verify the ability of 

the mobile microreactor to operate at its 

rated power level for an extended 

period under normal, off-normal (but 

expected), and upset (not expected but 

anticipated) conditions. Transient tests 

performed would demonstrate mobile 

microreactor features, not push it to 

damage conditions. Transient testing 

would demonstrate upset conditions 

that would last at most a couple of days 

but more likely hours. In addition, the 

CITRC site would require a mobile 

office trailer that could contain a 

restroom, potable water, donning/ 

doffing facilities, equipment storage, 

charging stations, etc. The mobile 

microreactor operations phase at CITRC 

is anticipated to take around 2.5 years 

to complete. 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices 53041 

Temporary Storage 

After operational testing, the mobile 

microreactor would be disassembled 

and placed in temporary storage, 

awaiting eventual disposition. There are 

two options for temporary storage of the 

mobile microreactor system (within 

their CONEX containers) at the INL Site: 

the RSWF receiving area (MFC–771) and 

ORSA (MFC–797). A reinforced 

concrete pad would be constructed at 

either of the temporary storage 

locations, and minor upgrades in 

fencing and instrumentation would be 

required if stored at ORSA. 

Post-Irradiation Examination and 

Disposition 

After the mobile microreactor’s useful 

life is complete and after a period of 

temporary storage, all of the materials 

would be disposed. The mobile 

microreactor components would be 

disposed of through the appropriate 

waste streams. It is anticipated that the 

mobile microreactor would be 

deconstructed and parts and/or fuel 

removed to aggregate like-class wastes. 

After deconstruction, irradiated 

materials would be safely stored with 

other similar DOE-irradiated materials 

and experiments at MFC, most likely in 

the HFEF or the RSWF. Ultimate 

disposal of the irradiated materials that 

have been declared waste would occur 

along with similar DOE-owned 

irradiated materials and experiments 

currently at MFC. 

Public Hearings 

SCO will host two public hearings 

regarding the Draft EIS. Meetings will be 

held in-person with simultaneous 

livestream over the internet. A toll-free 

number will be available for 

commenters not at the in-person 

meeting. Interested parties are invited to 

join either or both of the public 

hearings, each with identical 

presentation content, planned to be held 

at the Shoshone Bannock Hotel and 

Event Center, 777 Bannock Trail, Fort 

Hall, Idaho 83203. An American Sign 

Language interpreter will be present. A 

recording of the public hearings will be 

made available to the public at the 

online website listed above. Individuals 

attending the hearings in person will be 

required to wear appropriate face 

coverings and to follow social 

distancing guidelines. Ongoing health 

concerns as a result of the evolving 

COVID–19 restrictions could result in 

changes or cancellation of the in person 

public hearings. Further public 

announcements will be made in the 

event of a postponement or cancellation. 

In the event of cancellation of the inperson hearings, the online virtual 

hearings would still occur on the 

scheduled dates and at the scheduled 

times. 

The hearings will begin with a 

presentation providing an overview of 

the project, information on the NEPA 

process, and highlights of the Draft EIS 

content and analysis. Following the 

presentation, individuals participating 

both in-person and remotely will be 

offered an opportunity to provide oral 

comments on the Draft EIS. The 

hearings will conclude after two hours 

or when there are no additional 

commenters, whichever occurs first. 

Public comments will be addressed in 

the Final EIS. You may pre-register to 

comment by sending an email to PELE_

NEPA@sco.mil. A court reporter will be 

present to transcribe all comments. 

Dated: September 17, 2021. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20546 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES 

SAFETY BOARD 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

TIME AND DATE: 1 p.m., September 30, 

2020. 

PLACE: This meeting will be held via 

teleconference. 

STATUS: Closed. During the closed 

meeting, the Board Members will 

discuss issues dealing with potential 

Recommendations to the Secretary of 

Energy. The Board invoked the 

Exemption to close a meeting described 

in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3) and 10 CFR 

1704.4(c). The Board determined that it 

was necessary to close the meeting since 

conducting an open meeting is likely to 

disclose matters that are specifically 

exempted from disclosure by statute. In 

this case, the deliberations pertain to 

potential Board Recommendations 

which, under 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) and 

(h)(3), may not be made publicly 

available until after they have been 

received by the Secretary of Energy or 

the President, respectively. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The meeting 

will proceed in accordance with the 

closed meeting agenda that is posted on 

the Board’s public website at 

www.dnfsb.gov. Technical staff may 

present information to the Board. The 

Board Members are expected to conduct 

deliberations regarding potential 

Recommendations to the Secretary of 

Energy. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Tara Tadlock, Associate Director for 

Board Operations, Defense Nuclear 

Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana 

Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 

20004–2901, (800) 788–4016. This is a 

toll-free number. 

Dated: September 22, 2021. 

Joyce Connery, 

Chair. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20910 Filed 9–22–21; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3670–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[Docket No.: ED–2021–SCC–0139] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Comment Request; 

Eligibility of Students at Institutions of 

Higher Education for Funds Under the 

CARES Act 

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary 

Education (OPE), Department of 

Education (ED). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 

proposing an extension without change 

of a currently approved collection. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before 

November 23, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the 

documents related to the information 

collection listed in this notice, please 

use http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching the Docket ID number ED– 

2021–SCC–0139. Comments submitted 

in response to this notice should be 

submitted electronically through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov by selecting the 

Docket ID number or via postal mail, 

commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 

If the regulations.gov site is not 

available to the public for any reason, 

ED will temporarily accept comments at 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the 

docket ID number and the title of the 

information collection request when 

requesting documents or submitting 

comments. Please note that comments 

submitted by fax or email and those 

submitted after the comment period will 

not be accepted. Written requests for 

information or comments submitted by 

postal mail or delivery should be 

addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the 

Strategic Collections and Clearance 

Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, 

Washington, DC 20202–8240. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific questions related to collection