[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39950-39953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19235]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Finding of No Significant Impact for Operation of the Glass
Melter Thermal Treatment Unit at the U.S. Department of Energy's Mound
Plant, Miamisburg, Ohio
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared an
environmental assessment (DOE/EA-0821) for the proposed operation of
the Glass Melter thermal treatment unit (``Glass Melter'') at DOE's
Mound Plant in Miamisburg, Ohio. The Glass Melter would thermally treat
mixed waste (hazardous waste contaminated with radioactive
constituents, largely tritium, plutonium-238, and/or thorium-230), that
was generated at the Mound Plant and is now in storage, by stabilizing
the waste in glass blocks. Depending upon the radiation level of the
waste, the Glass Melter may operate for as short a time as one year,
but not longer than six years. DOE considered two onsite alternatives
to the proposed action and seven offsite alternatives.
Based on the analysis presented in the environmental assessment,
DOE believes that the proposed action does not constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Therefore, the preparation of an
environmental impact statement is not required and the DOE is issuing
this finding of no significant impact.
DATES: Proposed operation of the Mound Plant Glass Melter thermal
treatment unit was the subject of a public meeting in Miamisburg, Ohio,
on March 10, 1994. No unfavorable written comments from stakeholders
were received by the DOE as a result of this meeting. The environmental
assessment for the proposed operation of the Glass Melter was approved
by DOE on October 27, 1994. A proposed finding of no significant impact
(FONSI) was published in the Federal Register (FR) on November 3, 1994
(FR 59 55085) for public review and comment. No comments on the
proposed FONSI were received, although a small number of individuals
requested, and were provided, copies of the environmental assessment
(EA).
ADDRESSES: Mail any requests for further information on the Glass
Melter project, or the associated EA and FONSI, to: Ms. Sue Smiley,
NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Ohio Field Office,
P.O. Box 3020, Miamisburg, Ohio 45343-3020, Phone: (513) 865-3987,
Facsimile: (513) 865-4402.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information on the DOE National
Environmental Policy Act process, contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom,
Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Phone:
(202) 586-4600 or 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would bring the Mound
Plant Glass Melter out of cold shutdown mode and use it for treating
mixed waste that was generated at the Mound Plant and is now in
storage. The Glass Melter, housed in an annex of the Liquid Waste
Disposal Building, consists of a burn chamber of stainless steel (lined
with refractory material) with an exhaust (offgas) system connected to
a system of pipes and scrubbers ending in a stack (scrubbers are
devices that remove small particles, gasses, and airborne radionuclides
generated during thermal treatment). Waste in sealed drums would be
transported by truck from the Mound Hazardous Waste Storage Building or
Radioactive Mixed-Waste Storage
[[Page 39951]]
Building to the annex, staged on a concrete loading dock adjacent to
the annex, and then moved individually to a fume hood in the annex
where the contents would be transferred into a feed system for
processing in the melter. The waste would be added to molten soda-lime
silica glass in the burn chamber of the Glass Melter. Ash from the
combustion process would fall to the glass surface, where it would be
incorporated into the melt. When the molten glass would reach a
prescribed chemical mix (or a prescribed level of radioactivity), it
would be discharged from the melter into 19 liter (five gallon)
containers. The containers would then be transferred to a storage area
in the building using mechanical aids (e.g., hoists and a roller
conveyor system) to cool and to await transport by truck to existing
onsite storage facilities.
The Glass Melter would have an estimated annual capacity of
approximately 48,000 kg (106,000 lb) of wastes, based on an average
throughput of 23 kg/hour (51 lb/hr) and a 2,080-hour work year. As
originally proposed by the DOE, and as analyzed in the environmental
assessment, operating at this capacity would have enabled DOE to
eliminate the existing backlog of approximately 43,000 kg (95,000 lb)
of mixed waste in approximately six years, while processing hazardous
and mixed wastes [approximately 39,000 kg (86,000 lb) annually of
nonradioactive solvents and mixed wastes] as generated.
Since the environmental assessment was written, DOE has decided to
close the Mound Plant. DOE proposes, therefore, to use the Glass Melter
only for the mixed waste backlog. DOE has not yet fully characterized
this waste for radioactive contamination levels. The radiation level of
the waste feed would be limited by the need to comply with the
Environmental Protection Agency's National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants and by internal Mound limitations. If, after
characterization, the radiation level of the waste is determined to be
low enough that the capacity of the Glass Melter would be the factor
controlling the processing rate, then the schedule for treatment of the
backlog waste could be as short as one year.
The environmental impacts of the proposed treatment of only the
mixed waste backlog are adequately covered, and are bounded by, the
analysis in the environmental assessment, because calculations of
radiological exposures and impacts were based on assumptions of waste
radioactivity content that would exceed the actual content under the
current proposed action (according to the environmental assessment, the
mixed waste backlog is estimated to have a total activity of 211 curies
of tritium and 0.42 curies of plutonium-238; the calculations for Glass
Melter operations, however, are based on a total waste activity content
of 240 curies/yr of tritium and 0.48 curies/yr of plutonium-238). The
discussion below, which is based on the environmental assessment,
therefore, would apply equally to the new proposed action. If the DOE
later proposes to use the Glass Melter to treat other than mixed waste
backlog, it will undertake appropriate further review under the
National Environmental Policy Act.
Routine operation of the Glass Melter would generate treated
offgas, scrubber sludge, scrubber liquid effluent, and several solid
waste streams. The sludge generated by the scrubbing operations
[approximately 770 kg (170 lb) per year] would be transferred by
pipeline: (1) back to a Glass Melter feed port for reprocessing, (2) to
an existing cementation process for immobilization in concrete, or (3)
to container storage for any subsequent additional treatment required
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) land disposal
restrictions. Filtered liquid scrubber effluent [approximately 36,000
kg (79,000 lb) per year], depending on its composition, would be: (1)
pumped to an existing wastewater treatment facility, (2) pumped to the
cementation process for immobilization as concrete (if the waste
processed involved significant tritium concentrations), or (3) packaged
for any subsequent additional treatment required under RCRA land
disposal restrictions. Most liquid effluent would be treated at Mound's
existing radioactive wastewater treatment facility and released via an
existing outfall permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES).
The Glass Melter would generate, per year, approximately 3,200 kg
(7,000 lb) of glass block (mixed waste); 8,900 kg (20,000 lb) of
cementized scrubber effluent and sludge (also mixed waste); and 1,900
kg (4,200 lb) of maintenance wastes (filters, replacement parts, etc.).
The maintenance wastes would generally be considered mixed waste,
although certain of the replacement parts may have only surface
radioactive contamination or may not be hazardous waste. The mixed
wastes would be stored onsite until a mixed waste disposal facility is
available.
The immediate result of Glass Melter treatment would be the
conversion of waste that is primarily liquid and combustible, to a
stable, inorganic form that would present very little environmental
concern in storage. Most of the waste would eventually require
transport to a radioactive mixed waste land disposal facility. Any
waste that is not mixed waste would be disposed of with other, similar
Mound wastes (e.g., hazardous waste is shipped offsite for disposal).
Environmental Impacts: In a series of test burns conducted in
January 1985, the Glass Melter demonstrated the capability to thermally
treat hazardous wastes in compliance with regulatory requirements. In
June 1987, the Glass Melter was further tested and demonstrated
effective treatment of low-level radioactive waste while meeting
applicable regulatory requirements. Proposed future treatment of wastes
using the Glass Melter would also meet all applicable environmental
requirements. The Glass Melter is considered a ``thermal treatment
unit,'' not an ``incinerator,'' under the Environmental Protection
Agency regulations (40 CFR 260.10). Under the regulations for
miscellaneous treatment, storage, and disposal units (40 CFR Part 264,
Subpart X), any permit for the glass melter may include appropriate
conditions from the incinerator regulations (Subpart O). Thermal
treatment is one of the limited options DOE currently has to meet the
requirement for site treatment plans under the Federal Facility
Compliance Act.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a Draft Strategy for
Combustion of Hazardous Waste in Incinerators and Boilers on May 18,
1993, initiating a reexamination of its existing regulations and
policies on waste combustion. In the draft strategy, the Environmental
Protection Agency indicates that, ``if conducted in compliance with
regulatory standards and guidance, combustion can be a safe and
effective means of disposing [of] hazardous wastes.'' To the extent
that the Glass Melter would destroy hazardous wastes it would
effectively ``dispose'' of that portion of the mixed waste backlog.
Nevertheless, the thermal treatment of mixed wastes would necessitate
the disposal of treatment residues as a mixed waste. These residues
would be stored, pending final disposal in an approved location.
Emissions of nonradiological pollutants to the air during routine
operation of the Glass Melter would include arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, and
particulates. Predicted concentrations of nonradiological pollutants
would meet applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the
maximum
[[Page 39952]]
acceptable ground-level concentrations established by the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency. During routine operation of the Glass
Melter, the effective dose equivalent of radiation to the maximally
exposed individual at the Mound Plant boundary [approximately 470
meters (510 yd) north-northeast from the Glass Melter stack] would be
0.07 mrem/year (tritium, plutonium-238, and thorium-230) from
inhalation and ingestion pathways. These emissions would not cause the
Mound Plant to exceed the individual effective dose equivalent limit of
10 mrem/year in the Environmental Protection Agency's National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Based on the 1990 population
distribution surrounding the Mound Plant, the collective effective dose
equivalent to the total population residing within 80 km (50 mi) of the
facility would be 2.6 person-rem/year. The environmental assessment
shows that the health risk from such exposures would be very small.
Onsite personnel would not be exposed to unique hazards and would
be adequately protected from potential exposure to radionuclides or
other hazards by the existing health and safety programs. Existing
facility design features would reduce direct worker contact with
radioactive materials.
The formation of dioxins from Glass Melter operation would be
virtually precluded due to specific technological design features of
the equipment. For instance, the elevated operating temperatures of the
Glass Melter would result in a high destruction and removal efficiency
(99.9999% in test burns). In addition, the rapid cooling of the
offgases below dioxin-forming temperatures, as recommended by the
Environmental Protection Agency for municipal waste incinerators, would
also be used to preclude dioxin formation.
The worst reasonably foreseeable accident involving the Glass
Melter would be a fire on the loading dock that would result in the
complete vaporization of the contents of ten mixed waste storage drums.
The estimated frequency of such an accident is once every 100,000
years. The effective dose equivalent to the maximally exposed
individual [approximately 200 m (220 yd) downwind] would be 0.2 mrem,
well below Environmental Protection Agency standards. The environmental
assessment shows that the health risk from such exposures would be very
small. Predicted concentrations of nonradiological pollutants would
meet the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's maximum acceptable
ground-level concentrations. Taking into account the low probability of
such an event, and the small magnitude of the consequences, the health
risk posed by the accident would be very small.
No endangered species, critical habitats, floodplains, wetlands, or
historical or archaeological resources would be affected by the
proposed action.
Alternatives Considered: In the environmental assessment, DOE
considered two onsite alternatives to the proposed action and seven
offsite alternatives in the context of the original proposed action
(i.e., assuming the continuing operation of the Mound Plant). The
discussion below, however, while being based on the environmental
assessment, reflects the current proposed use of the Glass Melter
(based on DOE's decision to close the Mound Plant), which is to treat
only mixed waste backlog.
No Action: The present practice of waste storage and
disposal would continue and the Glass Melter would not be used. Most of
the mixed waste backlog is liquid, and much of it is combustible.
Storage of the untreated waste, therefore, could adversely impact human
health and the environment, especially in the case of a fire in the
storage facility.
Administrative Action: Another alternative would be to
rely upon the established Mound Waste Minimization and Pollution
Prevention Program to identify, screen, and analyze options to reduce
the generation of waste. Waste that is in storage would not be affected
by this program. The need for treatment options would persist.
Offsite Treatment and Disposal: These alternatives would
involve the transportation of mixed wastes to designated sites. DOE
considered seven options for offsite treatment. All of the offsite
treatment alternatives, with the exception of the Nevada Test Site,
would involve thermal treatment.
--Quadrex HPS, Inc. (Gainesville, FL): This commercial facility cannot
accept certain of the Mound mixed wastes, so this alternative would
not, by itself, address the need to treat such wastes.
--Diversified Scientific Services, Inc. (Kingston, TN): This commercial
facility could accept most of the mixed waste from Mound. Treatment,
however, may be restricted by air permit conditions limiting the type
of waste used for fuel and by Environmental Protection Agency
regulations for boilers and industrial furnaces (40 CFR 266.100-112 and
Appendices I-IX).
--Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL): INEL has a permitted
incinerator facility, the Waste Experimental Reduction Facility (WERF),
capable of burning radioactive material and hazardous waste. WERF is
currently shut down, and its operation is contingent upon completion of
National Environmental Policy Act review and DOE approval of a Safety
Analysis Report. The current waste acceptance criteria for WERF limit
the radioactive and chloride content of wastes and prohibit receipt of
any free liquids. These criteria would prohibit the acceptance at WERF
of almost all of the Mound waste proposed for treatment in the Glass
Melter. The criteria could not be changed without substantial upgrades
to WERF.
--Los Alamos National Laboratory: The proposed Controlled Air
Incinerator is currently being permitted and undergoing National
Environmental Policy Act review for operation at production capacity.
Current operational plans do not include acceptance of offsite wastes,
and the draft RCRA permit proposes to prohibit treatment of offsite
waste.
--Savannah River Site: DOE is currently constructing the Consolidated
Incinerator Facility under a construction permit from the State of
South Carolina. This facility will not allow out-of-state waste to be
treated. DOE is preparing an environmental impact statement on waste
management at the Savannah River Site, which will include further
analysis of operation of the Consolidated Incinerator Facility and
other volume reduction alternatives. Trial burns and operation of the
facility are being deferred until the completion of the environmental
impact statement process.
--Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant: The incinerator at the Oak Ridge
Gaseous Diffusion Plant currently treats mixed waste. The primary
sources of waste treated at this incinerator are the Paducah Gaseous
Diffusion Plant, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and the Oak
Ridge Reservation. A substantial backlog of waste exists that will take
several years to treat. Thus, this alternative would not be available
to Mound for several years and would not meet Mound's immediate needs.
--Nevada Test Site: Disposal of mixed waste at the Nevada Test site is
considered a possible alternative to treatment in the Glass Melter.
Land disposal restrictions under the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act would require, however, that any
[[Page 39953]]
mixed waste be treated before disposal. The Nevada Test Site would
only, therefore, be a reasonable alternative for Mound waste already
treated at another facility. DOE has not yet decided to what extent the
Nevada Test Site would be used for future disposal of offsite waste;
such decisions will be made after completion of the Environmental
Restoration and Waste Management Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement and the Nevada Test Site Sitewide Environmental Impact
Statement.
Proposed Determination: Based on the information and the analysis
in the environmental assessment, DOE believes the proposed action
(i.e., operation of the Glass Melter for treatment of backlog mixed
waste only) does not constitute a major Federal action that would
significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the
meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act. Therefore, the
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required and
the DOE is issuing this finding of no significant impact.
Issued in Miamisburg, Ohio, on July 26, 1995.
Robert D. Folker,
Acting Manager, Ohio Field Office.
[FR Doc. 95-19235 Filed 8-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
