[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14738-14739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6793]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Availability of the Tritium Supply and Recycling Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of 
the Tritium Supply and Recycling Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (PEIS), and the dates and locations for public 
hearings to receive comments on the Draft PEIS. The purpose of the 
Tritium Supply and Recycling PEIS is to evaluate alternatives for an 
assured, long-term supply of tritium, a radioactive gas which is a 
necessary component of every warhead in the Nation's nuclear weapons 
stockpile.

ADDRESSES AND FURTHER INFORMATION: A copy of the Draft PEIS and/or its 
Executive Summary may be obtained upon request by calling 1-800-776-
2765, or by mail to: Office of Reconfiguration, DP-25, U.S. Department 
of Energy, P.O. Box 3417, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    Specific information regarding the public hearings, including 
registration information, can also be obtained by calling the above 
toll free number, writing to the address above, or electronically via 
computer as follows: Federal Information Exchange Bulletin Board, 
InterNet Address: FEDIX.FIECOM, Modem Toll-Free: 1-800-783-3349, DC 
Metro Modem: 301-258-0953.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3145 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, Public Law 103-160, requires 
the Department of Energy to issue a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (PEIS) assessing the Department's capacity to produce tritium 
not later than March 1, 1995. In accordance with that law, the Tritium 
Supply and Recycling Draft PEIS was completed and distributed to 
Congress on March 1, 1995. That same Draft PEIS has also been 
distributed to individuals and organizations on the program's mailing 
list. Additional copies of the Draft PEIS are available to any other 
[[Page 14739]] interested persons and can be requested as described 
above.
    The Draft PEIS evaluates siting and technology alternatives related 
to tritium supply and recycling. Four technologies for tritium supply 
are assessed in the PEIS: Heavy Water Reactor, Modular High-Temperature 
Gas-Cooled Reactor, Advanced Light Water Reactor, and Accelerator 
Production of Tritium. Five sites for new tritium supply facilities and 
tritium recycling facilities are assessed: the Idaho National 
Engineering Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho); the Nevada Test Site (Las 
Vegas, Nevada); the Pantex Plant (Amarillo, Texas); the Savannah River 
Site (Aiken, South Carolina); and the Oak Ridge Reservation (Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee). Two options for tritium recycling are evaluated: upgrade of 
existing tritium recycling facilities at the Savannah River Site, or 
collocation of a new tritium recycling facility with the tritium supply 
facility at one of the other sites.
    Two of the three reactor technologies (Advanced Light Water Reactor 
and Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor) are also evaluated in 
the Draft PEIS as ``triple play'' reactors which are capable of 
``burning'' plutonium in addition to producing tritium and generating 
electricity. Additionally, the Draft PEIS includes an assessment of the 
generic environmental impacts of producing tritium in an existing 
commercial reactor, either as a contingency option in the event of a 
national emergency, or if the Department should choose to purchase such 
a reactor and convert it to defense purposes. The Department does not 
have a preferred alternative at this time for tritium supply and 
recycling sites, or for a tritium supply technology. The Final PEIS 
will include any preferred alternative. However, the Department may 
choose to identify a preferred alternative prior to issuing the Final 
PEIS.
    Six public hearings to receive comments on the Draft PEIS will be 
held as follows:

Washington, DC--April 5, 1995, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Morning Hearing 8:30am-1:00pm; Afternoon Hearing 1:30pm-
6:00
Las Vegas, NV--April 5, 1995, Cashman Field Convention Center, 850 
North Las Vegas Blvd., Morning Hearing 8:30am-1:00pm; Evening Hearing 
6:00pm-10:30pm
Oak Ridge, TN--April 12, 1995, Pollard Auditorium, 210 Badger Avenue, 
Morning Hearing 8:30am-1:00pm; Evening Hearing 6:00pm-10:30pm
Pocatello, ID--April 12, 1995, Quality Inn Pocatello Park Hotel, 1555 
Pocatello Creek Road, Morning Hearing 8:30am-1:00pm; Evening Hearing 
6:00pm-10:30pm
North Augusta, SC--April 20, 1995, North Augusta Community Center, 101 
Brookside Drive, Afternoon Hearing 1:00pm-5:30pm; Evening Hearing 
6:00pm-10:30pm
Amarillo, TX--April 20, 1995, Sunset Convention Center, 3701 Plains 
Blvd., Suite 135, Afternoon Hearing 1:00pm-5:30pm; Evening Hearing 
6:00pm-10:30pm

    The public comment period will extend until May 15, 1995. A Final 
PEIS for Tritium Supply and Recycling is expected to be completed by 
October 1995. A Record of Decision would be completed no sooner than 30 
days after the Final PEIS is issued.

    Signed in Washington, D.C. this 13Th day of March, 1995.
Victor H. Reis,
Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs.
[FR Doc. 95-6793 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am]
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