99-20661. Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, NV

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44200-44202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20661]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository 
for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste 
at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, NV

AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for 
the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at 
Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE/EIS-0250D). The Department has 
prepared this Draft EIS in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act 
of 1982, as amended (NWPA), the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations 
that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-
1508), and the DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR Part 1021). The 
Draft EIS provides information on potential environmental impacts that 
could result from a Proposed Action to construct, operate and monitor, 
and eventually close a repository for the disposal of spent nuclear 
fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The 
Draft EIS also considers the potential environmental impacts from an 
alternative referred to as the No-Action Alternative, under which a 
repository would not be developed at Yucca Mountain. The locations of 
the public hearings to receive comments on the Draft EIS are listed 
below.

DATES: Comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted during a 180-day 
public comment period, which ends on February 9, 2000. DOE will 
consider comments received after February 9, 2000, to the extent 
practicable. DOE will conduct public hearings on the Draft EIS and will 
announce the dates in the Federal Register in the near future.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, requests for further information on the 
Draft EIS or the public hearings, and requests for copies of the 
document (or a CD-ROM version) should be directed to: Ms. Wendy R. 
Dixon, EIS Project Manager, M/S 010, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Yucca Mountain Site 
Characterization Office, P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89036-
0307, Telephone [phone], Facsimile 1-800-967-0739.
    Written comments transmitted by facsimile should include the 
following identifier: ``Yucca Mountain Draft EIS.'' Addresses of the 
locations where the Draft EIS will be available for public review are 
listed in this Notice under ``Availability of the Draft EIS.''
    Written comments or requests for copies of the document may also be 
submitted over the Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project website at 
http://www.ymp.gov, under the listing ``Environmental Impact 
Statement.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Ms. Wendy R. Dixon, EIS Project Manager, M/S 010, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Yucca 
Mountain Site Characterization Office, P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89036-0307, Telephone [phone], Facsimile 1-800-967-0739.
    General information on the DOE NEPA process may be requested from: 
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance 
(EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, Telephone [phone], or leave a message at 
1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 7, 1995, the Department published a Notice of Intent (60 
FR 40164) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic 
Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level 
Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada. The purpose of 
the Notice of Intent was to inform the public of the proposed scope of 
the Repository EIS, to solicit public input, and to announce that 
scoping meetings would be held from August through October 1995. During 
that period, 15 public scoping meetings were held throughout the United 
States to obtain public comments regarding the scope, alternatives, and 
issues that should be addressed in the EIS. The scoping period closed 
on December 5, 1995. Due to subsequent budget reductions, EIS 
activities were deferred until Fiscal Year 1997. In May 1997, DOE 
published Summary of Public Scoping Comments Related to the 
Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the 
Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-level Radioactive Waste at 
Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, which summarized the comments 
received by DOE during the scoping process and described how DOE 
planned at that time to address issues raised during scoping. A Notice 
of Availability for the Summary of Public Scoping Comments document was 
published on July 9, 1997 (62 FR 36789).

Alternatives Considered

    The Draft EIS evaluates a Proposed Action and a No-Action 
Alternative. Under the Proposed Action, DOE would construct, operate 
and monitor, and eventually close a geologic repository at Yucca 
Mountain for the disposal of as much as 70,000 metric tons of heavy 
metal (MTHM) of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. 
The Proposed Action includes the transportation of spent nuclear fuel 
and high-level radioactive waste to Yucca Mountain from commercial and 
DOE sites. Under the No-Action Alternative, DOE would end site 
characterization activities at Yucca Mountain, and commercial and DOE 
sites would

[[Page 44201]]

continue to store spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, 
packaged as necessary for their safe on-site management.
    DOE developed implementing alternatives and analytical scenarios 
for estimating in the Draft EIS the reasonably foreseeable 
environmental impacts that could result from the Proposed Action. For 
example, DOE evaluated three thermal load scenarios, which correspond 
to a relatively high emplacement density of spent nuclear fuel and 
high-level radioactive waste (high thermal load--85 MTHM per acre), a 
relatively low emplacement density (low thermal load--25 MTHM per 
acre), and an intermediate case--60 MTHM per acre. DOE recognizes, 
however, that if the site is eventually approved for development of a 
repository, the designs of repository surface and subsurface 
facilities, and plans for the construction, operation and monitoring, 
and closure of the repository would continue to evolve and would depend 
on the outcome of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing review 
of the repository.
    Two national transportation scenarios are evaluated in the Draft 
EIS. The mostly legal-weight truck 1 scenario assumes that 
most spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste would be 
shipped to the repository by legal-weight truck over existing highways, 
with a few exceptions. The mostly rail scenario assumes that most spent 
nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste would be shipped to 
Nevada by rail, with a few exceptions (based largely on the on-site 
loading limitations at some commercial sites). The Nevada 
transportation implementing alternatives parallel the national 
transportation scenarios; however, because no rail access currently 
exists to the repository site, the EIS considers different implementing 
alternatives for the construction of either a new branch rail line to 
the proposed repository, or an intermodal transfer station 2 
with associated highway improvements for heavy-haul trucks.3
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    \1\ Truck with a gross vehicle weight (both truck and cargo) of 
less than 80,000 pounds.
    \2\ An intermodal transfer station is a facility at the juncture 
of rail and road transportation used to transfer shipping casks 
containing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from 
rail to truck and empty casks from truck to rail.
    \3\ Shipment of a rail cask (weighing up to 300,000 pounds) on a 
special truck and trailer combination that would have a total weight 
of approximately 500,000 pounds.
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    The No-Action Alternative considers two scenarios. Scenario 1 
assumes that spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste would 
remain at the 72 commercial and 5 DOE sites under effective 
institutional control for at least 10,000 years. Scenario 2 also 
assumes spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste would 
remain at the 77 sites, but under effective institutional control for 
only about 100 years.

Public Hearings and Invitation To Comment

    The public is invited to provide oral and written comments on the 
Repository Draft EIS during the public comment period that ends on 
February 9, 2000. DOE will consider comments received during the 
comment period in preparation of the Final EIS. Comments received after 
February 9, 2000, will be considered to the extent practicable.
    The Department will hold 16 public hearings (each following the 
same format in either the mid-morning or afternoon and evening) to 
receive oral and written comments from members of the public. The 
public hearings are currently planned to be held in the following 
Nevada locations: Pahrump, Goldfield, Caliente, Las Vegas, Reno, 
Austin, Crescent Valley, Amargosa Valley and Ely. Other hearing 
locations will include Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, 
Colorado; Boise, Idaho; Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Louis, Missouri; and 
Lone Pine, California. DOE will publish the dates, times, and specific 
locations in the Federal Register, and will notify all recipients of 
the Draft EIS and the media in writing as soon as this information is 
available. In addition, this information will be available on the Yucca 
Mountain website at http://www.ymp.gov and on the toll-free information 
line at 1-800-967-3477.
    Each of the public hearings will include a brief session in which 
an overview of the Draft EIS will be presented, a general question-and-
answer session, and an opportunity to provide comments for the record. 
Members of the public who plan to present oral comments are asked to 
register in advance by calling 1-800-967-3477.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    Copies of the Draft EIS are being distributed to Federal, State, 
Indian tribal, and local officials, agencies, and organizations and 
individuals who have indicated an interest in the EIS process. Copies 
of the document may also be requested by telephone [phone]) or 
over the Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project website at http://
www.ymp.gov, under the listing ``Environmental Impact Statement.''
    Copies of references considered in preparation of the Draft EIS are 
available at the following Public Reading Rooms: University of Nevada--
Las Vegas, Nevada; University of Nevada--Reno, Nevada; Beatty Yucca 
Mountain Science Center, Nevada; and the DOE Headquarters Office in 
Washington, DC. Addresses of these Public Reading Rooms and of other 
Public Reading Rooms and libraries where the Draft EIS is available for 
public review are listed below.

Public Reading Rooms

Inyo County--Contact: Andrew Remus; [phone]; Inyo County Yucca 
Mountain Repository Assessment Office; 168 North Edwards Street; Post 
Office Drawer L; Independence, CA 93526
Oakland Operations Office--Contact: Annette Ross; [phone]; U. S. 
Department of Energy Public Reading Room; EIC; 1301 Clay Street, Room 
700N; Oakland, CA 94612-5208
National Renewable Energy Laboratory--Contact: Sarah Manion; (303) 275-
4709; Public Reading Room; 1617 Cole Boulevard; Golden, CO 80401
Rocky Flats Public Reading Room--Contact: Ann Smith; [phone]; 
College Hill Library; 3705 112th Avenue B121; Westminster, CO 80030
Headquarters Office--Contact: Carolyn Lawson; [phone]; U.S. 
Department of Energy; Room 1E-190, Forrestal Building; 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20585
Atlanta Support Office--Contact: Nancy Mays/Laura Nicholas; (404) 347-
2420; Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; 730 Peachtree Street, 
Suite 876; Atlanta, GA 30308-1212
Southeastern Power Administration--Contact: Joel W. Seymour/Carol M. 
Franklin; [phone]/[phone]; U.S. Department of Energy; 
Reading Room; Samuel Elbert Building; 2 South Public Square; Elberton, 
GA 30635-2496
Boise State University Library--Contact: Adrien Taylor; [phone]; 
Government Documents; 1910 University Drive; P.O. Box 46; Boise, ID 
83707-0046
Idaho Operations Office--Contact: Brent Jacobson/Gail Willmore; (208) 
526-1144; Public Reading Room; 1776 Science Center Drive; Idaho Falls, 
ID 83402
Chicago Operations Office--Contact: John Shuler; [phone]; 
Document Department; University of Illinois at Chicago; 801 South 
Morgan Street; Chicago, IL 60607
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Project Management Office--Contact: Deanna 
Harvey; [phone]; U.S. Department of Energy; SPRPMO/SEB

[[Page 44202]]

Reading Room; 850 Commerce Road, East; New Orleans, LA 70123
Lander County--Contact: Tammy Manzini; [phone]; 610 Main Street; 
(P.O. Box 10); Austin, NV 89310
Beatty Yucca Mountain Science Center--Contact: Marina Anderson; (775) 
553-2130; 100 North E Avenue; Beatty, NV 89003
Lincoln County--Contact: Eve Culverwell; [phone]; Box 1068 100 
Depot Avenue; Caliente, NV 89008
Nevada State Clearinghouse--Contact: Heather Elliot; [phone]; 
Department of Administration; 209 Musser Street, Room 200; Carson City, 
NV 89701
White Pine County--Contact: Debra Kolkman; [phone]; 959 Campton 
Street; Ely, NV 89301
Eureka County--Contact: Leonard Fiorenzi; [phone]; Courthouse 
Annex; (P.O. Box 714); Eureka, NV 89316
Churchill County--Contact: Alan Kalt; [phone]; 190 West First 
Street; Fallon, NV 89046-2478
Esmeralda County--Contact: Tony Cain; [phone]; Repository 
Oversight Program; Elliot Street between Franklin and Euclid; P.O. Box 
490; Goldfield, NV 89013
Mineral County--Contact: Commissioner Jackie Wells; [phone]; 
First & A Streets; (P.O. Box 1600); Hawthorne, NV 89415
Clark County--Contact: Dennis Bechtel; [phone]; 500 South Grand 
Central Parkway #3012; (P.O. Box 551751); Las Vegas, NV 89155-1751
Las Vegas, Nevada--Contact: Reference Desk; [phone]; University 
of Nevada Las Vegas; James R. Dickinson Library; Government 
Publications; 4505 Maryland Parkway; Las Vegas, NV 89154-7013
Las Vegas Yucca Mountain Science Center--Contact: Terri Brown; (702) 
295-1312; 4101-B Meadows Lane; Las Vegas, NV 89107
Nye County--Contact: Les Bradshaw; [phone]; c/o Department of 
Natural Resources and Federal Facilities; 1210 E. Basin Avenue; 
Pahrump, NV 89048
Pahrump Yucca Mountain Science Center--Contact: Gordon Froman; (775) 
727-0896; 1141 South Highway 160; Pahrump NV, 89041
Reno, Nevada--Contact: Kathie Brinkerhoff; [phone], x-258; 
University of Nevada, Reno; The University of Nevada Libraries; 
Business and Government Information Center M/S 322; 1664 N. Virginia 
Street; Reno, NV 89557-0044
Albuquerque Operations Office--Contact: Shawna Schwartz; (702) 845-
4939; U.S. DOE Contract Reading Room; Kirtland Air Force Base; 
Pennsylvania and H Street; Building 388; Albuquerque, NM 87116
Fernald Area Office--Contact: Gary Stegner; [phone]; U.S. 
Department of Energy; Public Information Room; 7400 Willey Road; 
Cincinnati, OH 45239
Bartlesville Project Office/National Institute for Petroleum and Energy 
Research--Contact: Josh Stroman; [phone]; BPO/NIPER Library; 
U.S. Department of Energy; 220 Virginia Avenue; Bartlesville, OK 74003
Southwestern Power Administration--Contact: Pam Bland; [phone]; 
U.S. Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; 1 West 3rd, Suite 1600; 
Tulsa, OK 74101
Bonneville Power Administration--Contact: Jean Pennington; (503) 230-
7334; U.S. Department of Energy; BPA-C-ACS-1; 905 NE 11th Street; 
Portland, OR 97208
Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center--Contact: Ann C. Dunlap; (412) 892-
6167; U.S. Department of Energy; Building 922/M210; Cochrans Mill Road; 
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940
Savannah River Operations Office--Contact: David Darugh; (803) 725-
2497; Gregg-Graniteville Library; University of South Carolina--Aiken; 
171 University Parkway; Aiken, SC 29801
University of South Carolina--Contact: Lester Duncan; [phone]; 
Thomas Cooper Library; Documents/Microforms Department; Green and 
Sumter Streets; Columbia, SC 29208
Oak Ridge Operations Office--Contact: Amy Rothrock/Teresa Brown; (423) 
576-1216/[phone]; U.S. Department of Energy; Public Reading 
Room; P.O. Box 2001; American Museum of Science and Energy; 300 S. 
Tulane Avenue; Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Southern Methodist University--Contact: Stephen Short; [phone]; 
Central Union Libraries Fondren Library; Government Information; 
Airline and McFarland Streets; Dallas, TX 75275-0135
University of Utah--Contact: Walter Jones; [phone]; Marriott 
Library Special Collections; 295 South 15th East; Salt Lake City, UT 
84112-0860
Richland Operations Center--Contact: Terri Traub; [phone]; U.S. 
Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; 2770 University Drive; Room 
101L; PO Box 999; Mailstop H2-53; Richland, WA 99352

    Issued in Washington, DC, August 5, 1999.
Lake Barrett,
Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 99-20661 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
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