[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29744-29745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14896]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement;
Shutdown of the River Water System at the Savannah River Site
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, for the proposed shutdown of
the River Water System at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The River
Water System was originally constructed to pump large quantities of
cooling water from the Savannah River to five nuclear reactors at SRS.
Since all of the reactors are shut down, no cooling water is required.
DOE invites the public, organizations, and agencies to present oral or
written comments concerning (1) the scope of the EIS, (2) the issues
the EIS should address, and (3) the alternatives the EIS should
analyze.
DATES: The public scoping period will continue until July 12, 1996.
Written comments submitted by mail should be postmarked by that date to
ensure consideration. DOE will consider comments mailed after that date
to the extent practicable. On June 27, 1996, DOE will conduct a public
scoping meeting to assist in defining the appropriate scope of the EIS
and identifying significant environmental issues to be addressed. This
meeting will be held at the following times and location: June 27,
1996; 1-4 and 6-9 pm; North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside
Drive, North Augusta, S.C.
ADDRESSES: Please direct comments or suggestions on the scope of the
EIS, requests to speak at the public scoping meeting, and questions
concerning the project to: Mr. Andrew R. Grainger, U.S. Department of
Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, P.O. Box A, Aiken, S.C.
29802, 1-800-242-8269, E-mail: nepa@barms036.br.com
Mark the envelopes: ``River Water System EIS Comments''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the DOE
NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office
of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone: 202-586-
4600 or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SRS is an 800-square-kilometer (300 square
mile) controlled area located in southwestern South Carolina. The Site
is approximately 25 miles southeast of Augusta, Georgia, and 20 miles
south of Aiken, South Carolina. Since its establishment, the mission of
SRS has been to produce nuclear materials that support the defense,
research, and medical programs of the United States.
Because of the end of the Cold War and the reduction in the size of
the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, the need for production of new
nuclear materials has been reduced dramatically. As a result,
activities at SRS have shifted from nuclear material production to
cleanup and environmental restoration. DOE developed the Savannah River
Operations Office Strategic Plan in order to guide SRS in meeting this
changing mission. The Strategic Plan directs SRS to identify excess
infrastructure and develop action plans for its disposition. DOE has
identified the River Water System as potential surplus infrastructure.
The River Water System was originally constructed to pump large
quantities of cooling water from the Savannah River to all five
production reactors at SRS. Heated discharge water from the reactors
was returned to the Savannah River via several onsite streams and
creeks. In 1958, Par Pond was constructed to dissipate the thermal
effluent from P- and R-Reactors. In 1984, L-Lake was constructed to
dissipate the thermal effluent from L-Reactor. However, all production
reactors are now shut down. Operationally, there is no longer a need to
provide cooling water, except for some small air conditioning and
equipment cooling loads in K-, L-, and P-Reactor Areas.
The River Water System maintains L Lake and Par Pond water levels
at their normal operating values. As analyzed in an Environmental
Assessment performed in 1995 (Environmental Assessment for the Natural
Fluctuation of Water Level in Par Pond and Reduced Water Flow in Steel
Creek Below L Lake at the Savannah River Site, DOE/EA-1070), Par Pond
water level is currently allowed to fluctuate naturally, but the River
Water System is used to prevent the water level from falling below 195
feet above mean sea level.
Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Department proposes to shut down the River Water System and to
[[Page 29745]]
place all or part of the system in standby condition. Under the
proposed ``standby'' alternative, portions of the River Water System
could be placed in a variety of conditions. For example, surplus
portions of the River Water System could be shut down and deactivated.
Those portions of the River Water System that are deactivated would not
be capable of being restarted. However, other portions of the River
Water System could be placed in a ``layup'' condition in order to
support potential future missions. In the layup condition, equipment
would be shut down, but preserved so that restart would be possible.
Alternatively, some portions of the River Water System could be
placed in a higher state of readiness than in ``layup'' condition; such
portions of the River Water System could be restarted in a relatively
short period of time. Short term cost savings would be minimal, but
this condition would allow DOE to maintain a great degree of
flexibility. Unlike the ``shutdown and deactivate'' alternative
described below, the River Water System could be available to mitigate
or even reverse the impacts of the proposed action, if deemed
necessary.
Two alternatives to the proposed action are under consideration.
The first alternative is to continue current River Water System
operation (this is the no-action alternative). Under this alternative,
the River Water System would continue to provide water to maintain L
Lake and Par Pond water levels. The second alternative is to shut down
and deactivate the entire River Water System. Under this alternative,
alternative water sources (such as from ground water) would be needed
to provide for minor non-reactor cooling requirements (air
conditioning, small equipment cooling, etc.) The cessation of river
water input to L Lake would result in the gradual disappearance of the
lake and its return to original creek conditions over the next several
years.
Preliminary Identification of Environmental and Other Issues
The Department has identified the following issues for analysis for
proposed and alternative actions in the EIS. Additional issues may be
identified as a result of the scoping process.
(1) Public and Worker Safety and Health Risk Assessment:
radiological and nonradiological impacts of the proposed action and
alternatives, including projected effects on workers and the public
from expected and potential conditions.
(2) Impacts from releases to air, water, and soil.
(3) Impacts to plants, animals, and habitat, including impacts to
wetlands, and threatened or endangered species and their habitat.
(4) The consumption of natural resources and energy including
water, natural gas, and electricity.
(5) Socioeconomic impacts to affected communities from operation
labor forces and support services in the SRS area.
(6) Environmental justice: disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income
populations.
(7) Impacts to cultural resources such as historic, archaeological,
scientific, or culturally important sites.
(8) Status of compliance with all applicable Federal, state, and
local statutes and regulations; required Federal and state
environmental consultations and notifications; and DOE Orders on waste
management, waste minimization initiatives, and environmental
protection.
(9) Cumulative impacts from the proposed action and other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable actions at the Savannah River Site.
(10) Potential irreversible and irretrievable commitments of
resources.
Related NEPA Documentation
Completed and ongoing environmental reviews may affect the scope of
this EIS. Background information and documents, listed below, on past,
present, and future activities at the Savannah River Site are available
in DOE public reading rooms.
Continued Operation of K-, L-, and P-Reactors (DOE/EIS-0147, 1990).
Interim Management of Nuclear Materials (DOE/EIS-0220, 1995).
L-Reactor Operation (DOE/EIS-0108, 1984).
Environmental Assessment for the Natural Fluctuation of Water Level in
Par Pond and Reduced Water Flow in Steel Creek Below L-Lake at the
Savannah River Site (DOE/EA-1070, 1995).
Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel Management (DOE/EIS-0203, 1995).
Proposed Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation Policy Concerning Foreign
Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel (DOE/EIS-0218, 1996).
Savannah River Site Waste Management (DOE/EIS-0217, 1995).
Please direct written comments assisting DOE in identifying
significant environmental issues and defining the appropriate scope of
the EIS to Mr. Andrew R. Grainger at the address indicated above. DOE
also invites agencies, organizations, and the general public to present
oral comments pertinent to the preparation of this EIS at the public
scoping meeting on the date indicated above. Organizations and
individuals wishing to participate in the public meeting can call 1-
800-242-8269 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM (Eastern time zone) Monday
through Friday, or submit their requests to Mr. Grainger at the address
indicated above. DOE requests that anyone who wishes to speak at the
scoping meeting preregister by contacting Mr. Grainger, either by phone
or in writing. Preregistration should occur at least two days before
the designated meeting. Persons who have not preregistered to speak may
register at the meeting and will be called on to speak as time permits.
In addition, DOE will accept comments electronically via voice mail or
facsimile transmission by calling 1-800-242-8269. DOE is committed to
providing opportunities for the involvement of interested individuals
and groups in this and other DOE planning activities; consequently, DOE
will give equal consideration to all comments.
Issued in Washington, D.C., this 5th day of June, 1996.
Peter N. Brush,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 96-14896 Filed 6-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
