Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 34 / Monday, February 22, 1999 / Notices 8553 reauthorization of OERI and will hear DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Orders are summarized in the attached committee and officers’ reports. A final appendix. [FE Docket Nos. 99±01±NG, 99±03±NG, 99± agenda will be available from the Board 02±NG, 99±04±NG, 92±24±NG, 99±05±NG, These Orders may be found on the FE office on March 10, 1999, and will be and 99±06±NG] web site at http://www.fe.doe.gov., or posted on the Board’s web site, http:// on the electronic bulletin board at (202) www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/NERPPB/. Office of Fossil Energy; Orders 586–7853. Granting and Transferring Records are kept of all Board They are also available for inspection Authorizations To Import and/or Export proceedings and are available for public and copying in the Office of Natural Natural Gas inspection at the office of the National & Petroleum Import & Export Activities, Educational Research Policy and OGE Energy Resources, Inc., National Fuel Docket Room 3E–033, Forrestal Priorities Board, Suite 100, 80 F St., Gas Distribution Corporation, Renaissance Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20208–7564. Energy (U.S.) Inc., Selkirk Cogen Partners, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586– L.P., Coral Energy Resources, L.P. (Successor 9478. The Docket Room is open between Dated: February 16, 1999. to Salmon Resources Ltd.), Transco Energy the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eve M. Bither, Marketing Company, and Petro-Canada Hydrocarbons Inc. Monday through Friday, except Federal Executive Director. holidays. AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE. [FR Doc. 99–4243 Filed 2–19–99; 8:45 am] Issued in Washington, DC, on February 12, ACTION: BILLING CODE 4000±01±M Notice of orders. 1999. SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy John W. Glynn, (FE) of the Department of Energy gives Manager, Natural Gas Regulation, Office of notice that it has issued Orders granting Natural Gas & Petroleum Import & Export and transferring various natural gas Activities, Office of Fossil Energy. import and export authorizations. These Attachment

APPENDIX ORDERS GRANTING AND TRANSFERRING IMPORT/EXPORT AUTHORIZATION [DOE/FE Authority]

Two-year maximum Order No. Date Importer/exporter FE dock- Comments issued et No. Import volume Export volume

1452 ...... 01/11/99 OGE Energy Resources, 400 Bcf Import and export up to a combined total from and to Inc., 99±01±NG. Canada beginning on the date of first delivery. 1453 ...... 01/21/99 National Fuel Gas Distribu- 33.8 Bcf Import and export up to a combined total from and to tion Corporation, 99±03± Canada beginning on January 28, 1999, and end- NG. ing on January 28, 2001. 1454 ...... 01/22/99 Renaissance Energy 250 Bcf Import and export up to a combined total from and to (U.S.) Inc., 99±02±NG. Canada beginning on February 1, 1999, through January 31, 2001. 1455 ...... 01/22/99 Selkirk Cogen Partners, 57 Bcf Import and export up to a combined total from and to L.P., 99±04±NG. Canada beginning on January 29, 1999, through January 28, 2001. 690±A ...... 01/25/99 Coral Energy Resources, ...... Transfer of long-term import authority. L.P., (Successor to Salmon Resources Ltd.), 92±24±NG. 1456 ...... 01/28/99 Transco Energy Marketing 730 Bcf ...... Import from Canada beginning on February 7, 1999, Company, 99±05±NG. and ending on February 6, 2001. 1457 ...... 01/29/99 Petro-Canada Hydro- 300 Bcf ...... Import from Canada beginning on March 4, 1999, carbons Inc., 99±06±NG. through March 3, 2001.

[FR Doc. 99–4287 Filed 2–19–99; 8:45 am] ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an in southeastern Idaho. The Department BILLING CODE 6450±01±P environmental impact statement. proposes to treat its inventory of sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel to SUMMARY: The Department of Energy remove and stabilize the reactive DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY announces its intent to prepare an metallic sodium constituent and to Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) produce metal and ceramic waste forms, Notice of Intent To Prepare an pursuant to the National Environmental considered to be high-level waste, that Environmental Impact Statement for Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed would facilitate interim storage and Electrometallurgical Treatment of electrometallurgical treatment of ultimate disposal of this material. The Sodium-Bonded Spent Nuclear Fuel in Department of Energy-owned sodium- EIS will evaluate reasonable action the Fuel Conditioning Facility at bonded spent nuclear fuel in the Fuel alternatives to electrometallurgical Argonne National Laboratory-West, Conditioning Facility at Argonne treatment in the Fuel Conditioning Idaho National Engineering and National Laboratory-West (ANL–W). Facility at ANL-W and a no-action Environmental Laboratory, Idaho ANL–W, a center of nuclear technology alternative. The Department invites the development and testing, is located on general public, other Federal agencies, AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy. the Idaho National Engineering and American Indian tribes, state and local Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) site governments, and all other interested

VerDate 09-FEB-99 16:19 Feb 19, 1999 Jkt 183247 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.XXX pfrm01 PsN: 22FEN1 8554 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 34 / Monday, February 22, 1999 / Notices parties to comment on the scope of this 450–6904 to leave a detailed message complications of disposal qualification EIS. with their comments and requests. and licensing. Technologies for spent DATES: To ensure consideration in the These are both toll-free telephone nuclear fuel treatment that might preparation of the draft EIS, comments numbers. Comments and requests may facilitate such qualification and should be transmitted or postmarked by also be submitted by electronic mail to licensing should therefore be considered April 8, 1999. Comments submitted [email protected]. in reaching a disposition decision for after that date will be considered to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Department-owned sodium-bonded extent practicable. general information on the Department fuels. One such technology for sodium- The Department will conduct public of Energy NEPA process, please contact: bonded spent fuel disposition is the scoping meetings in Idaho Falls and Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of electrometallurgical treatment technique Boise in Idaho, near the Department’s NEPA Policy and Assistance, Office of that the Department is developing and Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Environment, Safety and Health, U.S. demonstrating at the Argonne National Carolina, and in the Washington, DC Department of Energy, EH–42, 1000 Laboratory. This technology is currently area, to provide the public with Independence Avenue, SW, the most developed for treatment of information about the proposed project Washington, DC 20585–0119, 202–586– sodium-bonded spent fuel. In addition and to receive oral and written 4600 or leave a message at 1–800–472– to electrometallurgical treatment, the comments on the scope of the EIS, 2756. Department will examine all reasonable alternative technologies and assess the including reasonable alternatives and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: environmental issues that the technical risks associated with these Department should consider. The dates, Background various potential solutions. In a 1995 report, the National times, and locations for these public The Department of Energy is Research Council Committee on meetings are as follows: responsible for the safe and efficient Electrometallurgical Techniques for management of 250 different types of March 9, 1999 (6:00 pm–9:00 pm) DOE Spent Fuel Treatment Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho spent nuclear fuel, including its recommended that the Department Falls, ID 83402, (208) 523–0088 ultimate disposition (which is expected confirm the technical feasibility and March 11, 1999 (6:00 pm–9:00 pm) to be disposal in a geologic repository). cost effectiveness of electrometallurgical Boise Centre on the Grove, 850 West Some Department spent fuels may be Front Street, Boise, ID 83702, (208) treatment of its sodium-bonded spent suitable for disposal with little or no nuclear fuel through a technology 336–8900 stabilizing treatment. Other spent fuel demonstration using sodium-bonded March 15, 1999 (6:00 pm–9:00 pm) types may not be suitable for disposal North Augusta Community Center, spent nuclear fuel that had been without significant treatment or removed from the Experimental Breeder 495 Brookside Avenue, North stabilization. Augusta, SC 29842, (803) 441–4290 Reactor–II (EBR–II) at ANL–W. Prior to One type of spent nuclear fuel that acting on the recommendation, the March 18, 1999 (2:00 pm–5:00 pm) may not be suitable for disposal without Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Department prepared the Environmental treatment is sodium-bonded spent Assessment for the Electrometallurgical Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, nuclear fuel. Sodium-bonded spent VA 22202, (703) 418–1234 Treatment Research and Demonstration nuclear fuel contains metallic sodium, a Project in the Fuel Conditioning Facility These public scoping meetings will highly reactive material. Metallic at Argonne National Laboratory-West also be announced in local media at sodium reacts vigorously with water or (DOE/EA–1148) and issued a Finding of least 15 days prior to the meeting dates. moist air producing heat, potentially No Significant Impact on May 15, 1996. During the first hour of each meeting explosive hydrogen gas, and sodium The demonstration project addresses attendees may register, view displays hydroxide, a corrosive substance. both kinds of spent fuel assemblies in and discuss issues and concerns Sodium metal was used as a heat the EBR–II spent nuclear fuel inventory. informally with Department transfer medium within the stainless These are driver fuel assemblies and representatives, after which there will steel cladding of sodium-bonded fuel blanket fuel assemblies, and they total be a formal presentation, a follow-on and as coolant in the nuclear reactors in about 26 metric tons of heavy metal question, answer, and comment period, which these fuels were used. To the (MTHM). and the opportunity for additional extent possible, the highly reactive One MTHM is equal to 2,200 pounds informal discussions. sodium has been removed from external of , thorium, or plutonium. The ADDRESSES: Written comments on the surfaces of these fuels after their use, driver fuel contains highly enriched scope of the EIS, requests to speak at the but a portion remains bonded to the uranium and was used in the active public scoping meetings, requests for uranium metal alloy fuel within the region of the nuclear reactor core. special arrangements to enable cladding and cannot be removed Blanket fuel contains depleted uranium participation at scoping meetings (e.g., without further treatment. The presence and was used in areas around and near an interpreter for the hearing impaired), of reactive or pyrophoric material, such the driver fuel in the reactor core. The requests to be placed on the EIS as metallic sodium, could complicate demonstration project now nearing document distribution list, and the process of qualifying and licensing completion involves treatment of 100 questions concerning the project should such spent fuel for disposal, which EBR–II driver assemblies and 25 EBR– be sent to: Susan Lesica, Document would require data and predictive II blanket assemblies (approximately 1.6 Manager, Office of Nuclear Facilities analyses sufficient to demonstrate that MTHM, or only 6.25% of the EBR–II Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, emplacement of the spent fuel would inventory) in the Fuel Conditioning Science, and Technology, U.S. not adversely affect a repository’s ability Facility at ANL–W. The research and Department of Energy, NE–40, 19901 to protect the environment and public demonstration project was initiated in Germantown Road, Germantown, health. June 1996 and is scheduled to be Maryland 20874–1290 The Department believes that completed in August 1999. Interested parties may also submit treatment to remove metallic sodium The National Research Council is comments and requests by facsimile to and convert this spent nuclear fuel into continuing to evaluate the (877) 621–8288, or they may call (877) a compact waste form would reduce electrometallurgical treatment research

VerDate 18-FEB-99 10:11 Feb 19, 1999 Jkt 183247 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.XXX pfrm02 PsN: 22FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 34 / Monday, February 22, 1999 / Notices 8555 and demonstration project. In its most demonstrated to be acceptable for Remaining fission products and all recent report titled, Electrometallurgical disposal. transuranic elements would be removed Techniques for U.S. Department of It is also prudent to evaluate the from the molten salt mixture by ion Energy Spent Fuel Treatment—Spring electrometallurgical treatment proposal exchange and subsequently isolated in a 1998 Status Report on Argonne National and alternative technologies now, while ceramic waste form. In this process, the Laboratory’s R&D Activity (National the Department is performing site metallic sodium in the spent nuclear Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1998), characterization activities for a potential fuel would be converted to non-reactive the Council acknowledged progress in geologic repository. Contemplated waste sodium (same composition as the demonstration and recommended forms resulting from treatment or table salt) and incorporated in the that the demonstration be carried to packaging of sodium-bonded spent fuel ceramic waste form. completion. The Department believes should be developed as much as Based on available information, the that this progress and the absence of possible in parallel with any repository Department believes the electro- significant roadblocks to successful development to promote consistency metallurgical treatment process would completion of the demonstration between the two efforts and to minimize produce metal and ceramic high-level warrant proposing electrometallurgical technical risks associated with waste radioactive waste forms that could be treatment of the remainder of the EBR– form qualification and acceptance for qualified and licensed for disposal. In II and other sodium-bonded spent fuels geologic disposal. While the alternative addition, uranium would be separated (i.e., a total of 62 MTHM) and is technologies for treatment of sodium- from both the driver fuel and the initiating the environmental review bonded spent fuel may not be as mature blanket fuel and not disposed of. The process under NEPA. Accordingly, the as the electrometallurgical treatment highly enriched uranium separated from Department is announcing its intent to technology, their potential utility can be the driver fuel assemblies would be prepare an EIS for the proposed assessed in this EIS. Should the immediately blended down in the Fuel treatment of the remainder of Department decide, after completing Conditioning Facility to form low- Department sodium-bonded spent this EIS, to pursue a disposition path enriched uranium. This low-enriched nuclear fuel. other than electrometallurgical uranium and the depleted uranium that treatment, there will still be sufficient Data from the ongoing demonstration would be separated from blanket fuel time to develop an alternative project will be used in preparing the assemblies would be cast as metal ingots technology. If a treatment technology EIS. The National Research Council will and stored with other uranium metal decision is significantly delayed, issue a final report on the technology inventories at INEEL. The disposition of however, the Department could demonstration upon completion of the these materials would be included in functionally lose its expertise and demonstration project. DOE will future Departmental decisions regarding corporate experience in the specialized consider the Council’s report in other similar materials. electrometallurgical treatment The sodium-bonded spent nuclear reaching a decision regarding the technology at ANL–West, which would fuel inventory being proposed for disposition of sodium-bonded spent hamper future consideration and electrometallurgical treatment totals nuclear fuel. increase the cost of electrometallurgical approximately 62 MTHM. This treatment for sodium-bonded spent fuel Purpose and Need for Agency Action inventory of sodium-bonded spent disposal. Therefore, the Department nuclear fuel is currently stored as In a 1995 agreement with the State of believes it is prudent to proceed now Idaho [Settlement Agreement and follows: with this EIS for electrometallurgical • Consent Order issued by the Court on treatment of sodium-bonded spent fuel. Approximately 24 MTHM of EBR– October 17, 1995, in the actions Public II sodium-bonded driver and blanket Service Co. of Colorado v. Batt, No. CV Proposed Action assemblies currently stored at ANL–W 91–0035–S–EJL (D. Id.), and United The Department proposes to treat its and approximately 2 MTHM at the States v. Batt, No. CV 91–0054–EJL (D. sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel 1 Idaho Nuclear Technology and Id.), the Department committed to using the electrometallurgical treatment Engineering Center (INTEC), both remove all spent nuclear fuel from process in the Fuel Conditioning located at INEEL. Idaho by 2035. More than 98 percent of Facility at ANL–W. Electrometallurgical • Approximately 35 MTHM of the Department’s sodium-bonded spent processing involves the dissolution of sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel from nuclear fuel is located at INEEL near spent nuclear fuel by use of an electric the Fermi-1 reactor, currently stored at Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is subject to the current in a molten salt mixture. The INTEC. requirements of the Settlement uranium in the fuel would be collected • Less than one MTHM consisting of Agreement and Consent Order. The from a molten salt mixture at the six irradiated sodium-bonded fuel remaining Department sodium-bonded cathode and subsequently melted and assemblies and a number of sodium- spent nuclear fuel included in the cast into metal ingots. The metal bonded spent nuclear fuel pins proposed action is at the Hanford cladding from the fuel elements and currently stored at the Hanford Reservation in Richland, Washington, noble metal fission products would be Reservation near Richland, Washington. the Sandia National Laboratories in retrieved undissolved from the anode, • Less than 0.1 MTHM consisting of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Oak melted, and cast into metal ingots. experimental capsules currently stored Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, at INTEC and Clinch River Breeder Tennessee. In order to remove sodium- 1 The Department has no plan or intention to Reactor Program experimental capsules bonded spent nuclear fuel from the apply this technology to any other types of spent currently stored at Sandia National nuclear fuel. Nevertheless, the Department can Laboratories, Albuquerque, New State of Idaho to meet the terms of the foresee a potential need to treat small quantities of Settlement Agreement and Consent certain spent fuels if a non-treatment (e.g., high Mexico. Order referenced above, the Department integrity can) approach to disposing of such spent • Less than 0.01 MTHM consisting of believes the best approach would be to fuels were to be determined not to meet disposal miscellaneous fast reactor development requirements. In that case, electrometallurgical stabilize or remove the reactive metallic treatment might be among the reasonable fuel currently stored at Oak Ridge sodium constituent and prepare a waste alternative treatment technologies that would be National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, form that may be more assuredly considered. Tennessee.

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The sodium-bonded spent nuclear prolonged storage in their present forms, 1500 °C and conversion of metallic fuel fuels located at the Hanford Reservation, and as such pose potential health and and cladding to gaseous chloride Oak Ridge, and Sandia can be safety risks. In the Savannah River Site compounds; (2) removal of the transported to INEEL pursuant to the Spent Nuclear Fuel Management EIS, transuranic and most of the Record of Decision (60 FR 28680, June the Department is currently evaluating fission products in a molten zinc 1, 1995) for the Department of Energy’s use of the PUREX process for stabilizing chloride bed at approximately 400 °C; Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel approximately 17 MTHM of previously (3) condensation of the other chlorides Management and Idaho National declad EBR–II spent nuclear fuel stored (e.g., uranium hexachloride) in a series Engineering Laboratory Environmental at the SRS site. Use of the PUREX of fluidized beds and condensers at Restoration and Waste Management facility to treat sodium-bonded spent successively lower temperatures; and (4) Final Environmental Impact Statement nuclear fuel being considered under this zinc chloride regeneration/recycling. (DOE/EIS–0203–F), under the alternative would require development The transuranics and fission product Settlement Agreement and Consent of specific processes for removing the chlorides would then be converted into Order described above. These spent stainless-steel cladding and sodium either fluorides or oxides for disposal. fuels pose the same waste form from the spent fuel. 6. Direct Plasma Arc-Vitreous Ceramic acceptability issues and are amenable to The Department intends to evaluate Process. In this process, the spent the same treatments as the EBR–II and the PUREX process at SRS as an nuclear fuel would be melted and Fermi-1 fuels stored at INEEL. alternative to electrometallurgical oxidized with the help of an oxygen treatment of the sodium-bonded spent lance in a rotating furnace containing Alternatives To Be Evaluated fuel inventory. Material streams from molten ceramic materials at a The Department has identified the the PUREX process would be uranium temperature of 1600 °C or higher. A following alternatives to the proposed trioxide, plutonium metal, high-level direct current plasma torch would electrometallurgical treatment of waste in the form of borosilicate glass supply the energy required in the sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel in canisters, and grouted low-level waste. process. Rotation would be used to keep the Fuel Conditioning Facility at ANL– 2. High-Integrity Cans. Under this the molten pool in the furnace. When W. alternative, the spent fuel would be the spent fuel is homogeneously melted A. No Action Alternative: Under this placed in high-integrity cans, after as and oxidized throughout the ceramic, alternative, the Department would not little treatment as necessary, to prepare rotation would be slowed to allow the treat its sodium-bonded spent nuclear it for disposal. This alternative would molten vitreous ceramic to pour out by fuel to facilitate disposal. Analyses will include removal of as much of the gravity flow into a canister. address the viability of disposal without metallic sodium as possible from the C. Location Alternatives: An treatment, and the impacts of continued spent fuel prior to loading it in the cans. alternative location for storage at current locations. Both 3. Glass Material Oxidation and electrometallurgical treatment on the temporary storage (to await alternative Dissolution System (GMODS). The basic INEEL site is the Test Area North Hot technology development) and indefinite concept is to combine unprocessed Cell Facility. This alternative to the Fuel storage (in lieu of disposal) will be sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel and a Conditioning Facility at ANL–W will be considered in these analyses. Indefinite sacrificial oxide, lead-borate glass, in a evaluated in the EIS. storage of spent nuclear fuel in Idaho glass melter at a temperature of 800– would not be consistent with the 1000 °C. The uranium and the U.S. Nonproliferation Policy Settlement Agreement and Consent plutonium in the spent fuel would be Implications Order in which the Department converted into oxides and dissolved in The United States does not encourage committed to remove all spent nuclear the glass. Options to be analyzed are the civil use of plutonium, and fuel from Idaho by 2035. direct production of a borosilicate glass accordingly, does not itself engage in B. Technology Alternatives: The waste form from the melt, using the melt plutonium reprocessing for either National Research Council as a feed to the PUREX process, and nuclear power or nuclear explosive independently assessed other treatment coupling GMODS to the SRS Defense purposes. Consistent with this policy, technologies as possible alternatives to Waste Processing Facility, where the the proposed action would not separate electrometallurgical treatment for EBR– melt would be fed directly to the plutonium from the processed sodium- II sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel. It existing glass melter. Due to the bonded spent fuels. Further, by concluded that all of the alternative powerful dissolution and oxidation removing and diluting the highly treatment processes evaluated, except properties of the lead-borate glass melt, enriched uranium in the sodium- the Plutonium-Uranium Extraction containment is a concern, and a water- bonded driver fuel to low-enriched (PUREX) process, are at an early stage of cooled, cold-wall, induction-heated uranium, the proposed project would development. Significant research, melter must be used. support the U.S. goal of minimizing development, and demonstrations 4. Melt and Dilute Process. The civilian use of highly enriched uranium. would be required to develop these process would be similar to that However, to address the concerns that alternative treatment processes to the proposed for the treatment of the treatment of this fuel could level of technical maturity of the aluminum-based spent nuclear fuels at encourage reprocessing in other electrometallurgical treatment process the SRS. The sodium-bonded spent fuel countries, the Department (Office of for sodium-bonded spent fuel. However, would be chopped and melted at Nonproliferation and National Security) the Department will examine and approximately 650 to 850 °C and then will assess the nonproliferation impacts analyze these alternative technologies: diluted by the addition of depleted of all the treatment technologies in the 1. PUREX Process. This solvent uranium and iron. draft EIS. This assessment will be made extraction method for separating and 5. Chloride Volatility Process. This publicly available during the EIS purifying uranium, plutonium, and process would use the differences in process. The combination of the other radionuclides from spent nuclear volatilities of chloride compounds to information contained in the draft EIS, fuel and irradiated targets is presently separate the constituents of spent the public comment in response to the practiced at the SRS for stabilization of nuclear fuel. The major steps are: (1) draft EIS, and the nonproliferation materials that are not suitable for high-temperature chlorination at about impacts assessment report will enable

VerDate 18-FEB-99 10:11 Feb 19, 1999 Jkt 183247 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.XXX pfrm02 PsN: 22FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 34 / Monday, February 22, 1999 / Notices 8557 the Department to make a sound Fuel Management, Draft Environmental Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585– decision regarding how to manage the Impact Statement,’’ DOE/EIS–0279D, 0117, 202–586–3142 sodium-bonded spent nuclear fuel. December 1998 Idaho Falls, Idaho: Idaho National • U.S. Department of Energy, ‘‘Draft Engineering and Environmental Preliminary Identification of Environmental Impact Statement for a Environmental Issues Laboratory, DOE—Idaho Operations Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Office Public Reading Room, 1776 The issues listed below have been Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID tentatively identified for analysis in the Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, 83415, 208–526–0271 EIS. This list is presented to facilitate Nye County, Nevada,’’ DOE/EIS–0250— Richland, Washington: [for vicinity of public comment on the scope of the EIS. in preparation the Hanford Reservation], DOE Public It is not intended to be all-inclusive or Public Involvement Opportunities Reading Room, 2770 University Drive, to predetermine the potential impacts of CIC, Room 101L, Richland, WA The Department encourages public any of the alternatives. The Department 99352, 509–372–7443, (Fax) 509–372– involvement in the preparation of the seeks public comment on the adequacy 7444 EIS and solicits public comments on its and inclusiveness of the following Albuquerque, New Mexico: [for vicinity issues. scope and content, as well as public of Sandia National Laboratories], • Potential impact on ecosystems, participation at the public scoping University of New Mexico, including air quality, surface, and meetings in Idaho, South Carolina, and groundwater quality, and plants and the Washington, DC area. Department of Government Information Department, animals. Energy personnel will be available at the Zimmerman Library, Albuquerque, • Potential health and safety impact scoping meetings to explain the NM 87131–1466, 505–277–0582 to on-site workers and to the public proposed project and answer questions. Aiken, South Carolina: [for vicinity of resulting from operations, including The Department will designate a the Savannah River Site], University reasonably foreseeable accidents. facilitator for the scoping meetings. At of South Carolina—Aiken, Gregg- • Potential health and safety, the opening of each meeting, the Graniteville Library, 171 University environmental, and other impact related facilitator will establish the order of Parkway, Aiken, SC 29803, 803–648– to the transport of spent nuclear fuel for speakers and will announce any 6851 treatment. additional procedures necessary for Oak Ridge, Tennessee: [for vicinity of • Considerations related to the conducting the meeting. Additionally, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory], generation, treatment, storage, and during the first hour of each meeting DOE Public Reading Room, 230 disposal of wastes, including the attendees may register, view displays Warehouse Road, Bldg 1916–T–2, potential acceptability of waste forms at and discuss issues and concerns Suite 300, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, 423– a geologic repository. informally with Department 241–4780 and DOE Information • Potential cumulative impacts of representatives, after which there will Resource Center, 105 Broadway electrometallurgical and alternative be a formal presentation, a question and Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 423– treatment process operations, including answer, and comment period, and the 241–4582 relevant impact from other past, present, opportunity for additional informal NEPA Process and reasonably foreseeable activities at discussions. To ensure that all persons the operation site. The EIS for Electrometallurgical • wishing to make a presentation during Potential impact on cultural the period for questions and answers or Treatment of Sodium-Bonded Spent resources. Nuclear Fuel in the Fuel Conditioning • comments are given the opportunity to Potential socioeconomic impact, speak, a five-minute limit may be Facility at ANL–W will be prepared in including any disproportionate impacts applied for each speaker, except that accordance with the NEPA of 1969, the on minority and low income public officials and representatives of Council on Environmental Quality’s populations. groups would be allotted ten minutes Regulations for Implementing the • Pollution prevention and waste each. The Department encourages those Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR minimization opportunities. providing oral comments to also submit Parts 1500–1508), and the U.S. Related NEPA Documentation them in writing. Comment cards will be Department of Energy NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part NEPA documents that have been or available at the meetings for those who are being prepared for activities related prefer to submit their comments in 1021). to the proposed action include, but are writing. Speakers may be asked A 45-day comment period on the draft not limited to, the following: clarifying questions to ensure that the EIS is planned, during which public • U.S. Department of Energy, Department representatives fully hearings to receive comments will be ‘‘Electrometallurgical Treatment understand the comments and held. The draft EIS is scheduled to be Research and Demonstration Project in suggestions made by meeting issued in July 1999. Availability of the the Fuel Conditioning Facility at participants, but the scoping meetings draft EIS, the dates of the public Argonne National Laboratory-West; will not be conducted as evidentiary comment period, and information about Environmental Assessment,’’ DOE/EA– hearings. the public hearings will be announced 1148, May 1996 The Department will make transcripts in the Federal Register and in local • U.S. Department of Energy, of public scoping meetings, copies of news media when the draft EIS is ‘‘Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel background documents, and other distributed. The final EIS, which will Management and Idaho National materials related to the proposed project consider and respond to the public Engineering Laboratory Environmental and the development of the EIS comments received on the draft EIS, is Restoration and Waste Management; available for public review in the scheduled to be issued in December Final Environmental Impact Statement,’’ following reading rooms: 1999. No sooner than 30 days after the DOE/EIS–0203–F, April 1995, and Washington, DC: U.S. Department of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Record of Decision, May 30, 1995 Energy, Freedom of Information notice of availability of the final EIS is • U.S. Department of Energy, Reading Room, Forrestal Building, published in the Federal Register, the ‘‘Savannah River Site, Spent Nuclear Room 1E–190, 1000 Independence Department will issue its Record of

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Decision and publish it in the Federal comments received by the close of the and high-level radioactive waste Register. scoping period, and will consider consisting of acidic liquids bearing Signed in Washington, DC, this 16th day of comments received after that date to the radioactive fission products, including February 1999. extent practicable. small amounts of transuranic elements. Peter N. Brush, Two public scoping workshops will This waste was made alkaline and be held during the scoping period: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, stored as insoluble sludges and liquid Environment, Safety and Health. March 11, 1999, 2:00–4:00 pm and 6:00– supernate containing high- and low- [FR Doc. 99–4289 Filed 2–19–99; 8:45 am] 8:00 pm, Holiday Inn Coliseum, 630 activity salts in solution in 51 large BILLING CODE 6450±01±P Assembly Street, Columbia, South underground tanks at the SRS F- and H- Carolina; and Area Tank Farms. Two tanks have been March 18, 1999, 2:00–4:00 pm and 6:00– closed, and now approximately 129 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 8:00 pm, North Augusta Community million liters (34 million gallons) of Center, 101 Brookside Drive, North high-level radioactive waste are stored Notice of Intent To Prepare a Augusta, South Carolina. in 49 tanks. Supplemental Environmental Impact These scoping workshops will These tanks are one of seven Statement for Alternatives to the In- provide information about SRS high- interconnected parts of the high-level Tank Precipitation Process at the level waste processing and the proposal waste management system at the SRS: Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC to replace the ITP process, including the (1) High-level Waste Storage and alternatives being considered. The Evaporation (in the F- and H-Area Tank AGENCY: Department of Energy. workshops will provide opportunities Farms); ACTION: Notice of intent. for the public to comment orally or in (2) Salt Processing (through the ITP process and in the Late Wash Facility); SUMMARY: The Department of Energy writing on the SEIS scope, including the (3) Sludge Processing (in the (DOE) intends to prepare a alternatives and issues that DOE should consider in the SEIS. Extended Sludge Processing Facility); supplemental environmental impact (4) High-level Waste Vitrification (in statement (SEIS) on the proposed ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the SEIS may be mailed to the address the Defense Waste Processing Facility); replacement of the in-tank precipitation (5) Wastewater Treatment (in the (ITP) process at the Savannah River Site below or sent by fax, voice mail, or electronic mail. Written comments on Effluent Treatment Facility); (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina. The (6) Low-activity Salt Solidification (in the scope of this EIS may be mailed to ITP process was intended to separate the Saltstone Facility); and soluble high-activity radionuclides (for Andrew Grainger, NEPA Compliance (7) Organic Waste Destruction (in the example, cesium, strontium, uranium, Officer, Savannah River Operations Consolidated Incineration Facility). and plutonium) from liquid high-level Office, U.S. Department of Energy, This system, except for salt processing radioactive waste before vitrifying the Building 742A, Room 183, Aiken, South through ITP and in the Late Wash high-activity fraction of the waste in the Carolina 29802. Attention: ITP SEIS. Facility, is operational. ITP operations Defense Waste Processing Facility and Otherwise, call 800–881–7292 for toll- are currently limited to safe storage and disposing of the low-activity fraction as free 24-hour fax and voice mail (local transfer of materials. The Late Wash saltstone in vaults at the SRS. Initial ITP and nationwide), or send electronic mail Facility has been tested and is in testing and operation and subsequent to [email protected]. standby status. studies have demonstrated that the ITP FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To The ITP process was first applied to process as presently configured cannot request information about this SEIS and radioactive waste in September 1995. achieve production goals and safety the public scoping workshops, or to be The process was carried out in batches requirements for processing high-level placed on the SEIS distribution list, use in a large tank. Precipitating reagents waste. In response, DOE, Westinghouse any of the methods listed in ADDRESSES were added to high-level liquid waste to Savannah River Company, and above. For general information about the separate the high-activity waste fraction independent reviewers evaluated a large DOE National Environmental Policy Act (for example, cesium, strontium, number of alternative technologies to (NEPA) process, contact: Carol uranium, and plutonium) from the low- identify viable alternatives to the ITP Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA activity fraction. Monosodium titanate process. DOE determined that three Policy and Assistance (EH–42), U.S. was used to adsorb strontium, uranium, technologies should undergo further Department of Energy, 1000 and plutonium, and then sodium research and design to determine the Independence Avenue, SW, tetraphenylborate was added to most appropriate replacement for the Washington, D.C. 20585–0119. Phone: precipitate cesium. The high-activity ITP process. Because replacement of the 202–586–4600, or leave a message at: fraction (adsorbed radionuclides and ITP process constitutes a substantial 800–472–2756. Fax: 202–586–7031. precipitate) was to be vitrified in the change to the operation of the Defense SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Defense Waste Processing Facility for Waste Processing Facility as evaluated eventual disposal in a geologic in a 1994 SEIS (DOE/EIS–0082–S), DOE Background and Need for Agency repository, and the low-activity fraction will prepare a second SEIS that will Action was to be solidified in the Saltstone address the potential environmental At its inception in the 1950s, the Facility and disposed of in the SRS impacts of alternatives to the ITP primary mission of the SRS was to saltstone vaults in the Z-Area. process. DOE invites comments on the produce nuclear materials to support In December 1995, DOE found that scope of this SEIS. the defense programs of the United the ITP process was generating DATES: The public scoping period begins States. This mission largely ended and at higher rates than expected. The with the publication of this Notice and production of nuclear materials ceased benzene is a flammable decomposition concludes April 8, 1999. DOE invites following the dissolution of the Soviet byproduct of sodium tetraphenylborate. Federal agencies, Native American Union. Before production ended, In August 1996, the Defense Nuclear tribes, State and local governments, and however, chemical separation of Facilities Safety Board, an independent the public to comment on the scope of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel at SRS executive branch organization chartered this SEIS. DOE will consider all had generated special nuclear materials to provide advice regarding public

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