[Federal Register: March 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 10897-10898]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr02-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for
Waste Disposition Activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
AGENCY: Department of Energy
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), announces the availability of
the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Waste Disposition
Activities at the Paducah Site (DOE/EA-1339) for public review and
comment. The Draft EA has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); Council on Environmental
Quality regulations implementing NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; and DOE
NEPA Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR part 1021.
The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts
associated with continued waste management operations at the Paducah
Site, as well as transportation of the waste to treatment and disposal
facilities at various locations throughout the United States. The type
of wastes analyzed include polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste, low-
level (radioactive) waste (LLW), mixed low-level waste (MLLW), and
transuranic (TRU) waste. The Draft EA also evaluates the potential
environmental impacts associated with the no action alternative.
The public is invited to comment on the Draft EA during the 45-day
public comment period which starts on the date of this notice. All
comments received will be considered in preparation of the final EA.
Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EA may be submitted by mail: U.S.
Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Attn: Mr. David
Allen, PO Box 2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, by fax (1-865-576-0746),
electronically (NEPA@oro.doe.gov), or by phone (1-800-382-6938).
Copies of the Draft EA may also be obtained by contacting Mr. Gary
Bodenstein, U.S. Department of Energy, Paducah Site Office, PO Box
1410, Paducah, KY 42001, by fax (1-270-441-6801), or electronically
(BodensteinGW@oro.doe.gov). The Draft EA is available for review at the
U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Information Center, Barkley
Centre, 115 Memorial Drive, in Paducah Kentucky. The Draft EA is also
available for review at the U.S. Department of Energy Public
[[Page 10898]]
Reading Room at 230 Warehouse Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
For general information on the DOE NEPA process, please contact:
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
(EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585, telephone 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-
800-472-2756.
DATES: The review period for the Draft EA ends April 25, 2002. Comments
postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent
practicable. One public meeting to discuss issues and receive oral
comments on the Draft EA will be held on April 9, 2002, at the DOE
Environmental Information Center, Barkley Centre, 115 Memorial Drive,
in Paducah, Kentucky. The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. CST. The
public meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to present
comments, ask questions, and discuss concerns with DOE officials
regarding the Draft EA. Specific information regarding the public
meeting can be obtained by calling 1-270-441-5204, writing to the
address above, or electronically.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft EA evaluates DOE's proposed
disposition activities for legacy and future-generated PCB wastes, LLW,
MLLW, and TRU waste from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant at the
Paducah Site in Paducah, Kentucky. The proposed action includes: Waste
storage at the Paducah site; on-site treatment of a small portion of
the waste volume covered in the Draft EA, off-site treatment at
treatment locations throughout the United States; waste transport to
treatment and disposal locations by truck, rail, or inter-modal
shipment; and waste disposal at various locations throughout the United
States. Off-site treatment and disposal locations for waste disposition
include facilities in Nevada, Utah, Texas, Washington, Idaho, New
Mexico, and Tennessee. Supporting activities are also evaluated in the
Draft EA. Examples of these activities include, characterization
activities of waste currently in storage, on-site waste movement,
sorting, packaging, inspecting, labeling. The Draft EA also evaluates
the no action alternative. Under this alternative, DOE would not
perform disposition activities except for those needed for standard
waste management and maintenance. No disposal of the existing and
projected quantities of waste would occur. DOE would continue to store
such waste. Ongoing non-CERCLA waste management operations would
continue.
Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on February 28, 2002.
David R. Allen,
Oak Ridge Operations NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-5751 Filed 3-8-02; 8:45 am]
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