[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49209-49212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24951]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare a High-Level Waste and Facilities
Disposition Environmental Impact Statement, Idaho Falls, ID
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate alternatives for
managing the high-level waste and associated radioactive wastes and
facilities at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental
Laboratory (INEEL). Under the terms of a 1995 Settlement Agreement with
the State of Idaho, which has been incorporated into a court order, DOE
agreed to treat high-level radioactive wastes currently stored at the
Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) at INEEL and remove these wastes
from Idaho. The proposed EIS, titled the High-Level Waste and
Facilities Disposition Environmental Impact Statement, will assist the
Department in making the decisions necessary for management of these
radioactive wastes in a manner that will comply with applicable laws
and regulations, and protect the environment and the health and safety
of the workers and the public in a cost-effective manner.
This EIS will be tiered from two Environmental Impact Statements:
(1) the Department of Energy Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel Management
and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Environmental Restoration and
Waste Management Programs EIS (SNF & INEL EIS, issued in April 1995),
and (2) the DOE Waste Management Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (WM PEIS, issued in May 1997). As a result, this EIS will
make use of previously developed information and analyses.
The DOE's proposed action is to treat high-activity calcine and
sodium-bearing liquid radioactive wastes in a new facility using a
radionuclide partitioning technology to separate high-level waste from
low-level waste. The proposed action would also include closure of 11
underground storage tanks, the New Waste Calcining Facility, and
associated laboratories and support buildings at the ICPP.
This EIS will consider reasonable alternatives for treatment of the
high-activity calcine and the sodium-bearing wastes, and for
dispositioning of facilities associated with those wastes. Alternatives
ranging from grouting wastes in existing high-level waste facilities at
the ICPP Tank Farm to the complete removal and disposal of these wastes
will be considered. Alternatives involving the separation of only the
transuranic constituents from the wastes, separation of and removal of
hazardous wastes, and full actinide and metal recovery will also be
considered.
DOE will conduct public scoping workshops on this proposed EIS on
October 16, in Idaho Falls, ID and on October 23, 1997, in Boise, ID.
DATES: DOE announces two public workshops and welcomes public
discussion on the scope of the EIS, including the alternatives the
Department is considering. This public scoping period begins with the
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and will continue
until November 24, 1997. DOE invites other Federal agencies, Native
American tribes, State and local governments and the general public to
comment on the scope of this EIS.
Two public workshops will be held during this scoping period:
[[Page 49210]]
1. October 16, 1997, 7:00-9:30 p.m. at Shilo Inn, 780 Lindsay
Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID.
2. October 23, 1997, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Boise Centre on the Grove,
Boise, ID.
These workshops will provide the public with information about the
proposed project, and an opportunity to suggest reasonable alternatives
that the Department should consider. Written comments may be submitted
to the DOE at these workshops, sent by facsimile to (208) 526-5678, or
mailed to the EIS Document Manager, Mr. T. L. Wichmann, at the address
listed below.
To ensure consideration, DOE must receive scoping comments by
November 24, 1997, although DOE will consider comments received after
November 24, 1997, to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: To request information about this EIS, or to be placed on
the EIS document distribution list, please call the 24-hour toll-free
information line at 1-888-918-5100. Written comments on this EIS should
be sent to: Thomas L. Wichmann, High-Level Waste and Facilities
Disposition EIS, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office,
785 DOE Place, MS 1108, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Facsimile: (208) 526-
5678.
For general information about the DOE National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) process, please contact: Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office
of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119, Phone: (202) 586-
4600, Messages: (800) 472-2756, Facsimile: (202) 586-7031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Agency Action
The Department of Energy must decide how to treat, store, and
dispose of high-level radioactive waste that has been generated by
spent fuel and irradiated target reprocessing operations at the INEEL.
Most of the high-level waste at the ICPP resulted from reprocessing
spent nuclear fuel to recover enriched uranium from naval reactor fuel,
and from reprocessing miscellaneous government and ``special case''
commercial nuclear fuel materials. This waste typically contains highly
radioactive, short-lived fission products as well as long-lived
radioactive isotopes. High-level waste at the ICPP is ``mixed waste''
because in addition to radioactive substances, it contains hazardous
chemicals and toxic heavy metals that are regulated under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or constituents that exhibit
hazardous characteristics (e.g., corrosivity) as defined under RCRA. To
protect the environment and public health, the highly radioactive and
long-lived radioactive portions of this waste must be stabilized and
isolated from the human environment (as in a geologic repository),
after the chemically hazardous constituents have been appropriately
treated.
The INEEL reprocessed spent nuclear fuel at the ICPP from 1952 to
1990, resulting in liquid radioactive waste that is stored at the ICPP
Tank Farm. The Tank Farm consists of eleven 300,000-gallon underground
stainless steel tanks surrounded by concrete vaults. Since 1963, this
liquid radioactive waste has been undergoing conversion into a dry,
stable, granular powder called calcine, using the waste calcining
facility at the ICPP. Calcined waste would require additional treatment
to be suitable for disposal in a geologic repository. The calcine
material is presently stored in above- and below-ground bins at the
ICPP, referred to as the ``calcine bin sets.''
Radioactive liquid waste resulting from the cleanup of extraction
plant solvent and decontamination processes at the ICPP also is stored
in the Tank Farm. This waste contains large quantities of sodium and
potassium nitrates with transuranic radioactive isotopes (i.e.,
isotopes having atomic numbers greater than uranium) that have long
decay times. This waste, although not produced from spent nuclear fuel
reprocessing, historically has been managed as high-level waste because
some of its physical and chemical properties are similar to those of
high-level waste. Additional waste testing and characterization may
result in its reclassification as mixed transuranic waste or mixed low-
level waste.
In October 1995, the State of Idaho, the Department of the Navy,
and the Department of Energy settled the cases of Public Service Co. of
Colorado v. Batt, No. CV 91-0035-S-EJL (D. Id.) and United States v.
Batt, No. CV-91-0065-S-EJL (D.Id.). Certain conditions of the Idaho
Settlement Agreement/Court Order obligate the Department to:
Complete the process of calcining all remaining non-sodium
bearing liquid high-level waste by June 30, 1998;
Commence negotiating with the State of Idaho by December
1999 a plan and schedule for the treatment of calcined waste;
Complete the calcination of sodium-bearing liquid high-
level wastes by December 2012; and
Treat all high-level waste currently at the INEEL so that
it is ready to be moved out of Idaho by a target date of 2035.
As part of its proposed management strategy, DOE proposes to use
radionuclide partitioning for radioactive liquid and calcine waste
treatment, grouting for immobilizing the resulting low-level waste
stream, and glass vitrification for immobilizing the resultant high-
level waste stream. The EIS will analyze the proposed action and
reasonable waste management alternatives to meet the requirements of
the Settlement Agreement/Court Order and other applicable requirements.
The EIS Schedule
The Settlement Agreement/Court Order mandates that the ICPP high-
level radioactive waste be prepared for removal from the State of Idaho
by a target date of 2035. Although the Settlement Agreement/Court Order
in this regard requires only that DOE issue a Record of Decision (ROD)
no later than December 31, 2009, based on an EIS that analyzes
alternatives for treating calcined wastes, DOE plans to complete a more
inclusive EIS and to issue a ROD by September 1999. DOE is pursuing
this more aggressive schedule so that it can better ensure meeting its
commitments effectively and in a timely manner.
Proposed Action
The INEEL Tank Farm currently stores 3,800 cubic meters of calcined
high-level waste in the bin sets, and approximately 1.7 million gallons
of high-level and sodium bearing liquid wastes. The wastes contain
hazardous constituents that are regulated under RCRA. These wastes also
contain transuranic radionuclides. DOE proposes to treat these wastes
by separating, for disposal in a geologic repository, the high-level
radioactive constituents from those constituents that could be
classified as low-level waste. Hazardous wastes would also be separated
from these materials and further treated as required by the RCRA land
disposal restrictions. The low-level radioactive waste would be
disposed of on or off the INEEL, depending on decisions to be made
based on the WM PEIS.
Under the Proposed Action, the Tank Farm, bin sets, associated
support buildings, structures, laboratories and the New Waste Calcining
Facility would be decontaminated and decommisioned according to a cost-
effective, legally compliant, and environmentally sound approach. This
EIS will examine a reasonable range of alternatives, such as various
methods of separating radioactive materials, using different
[[Page 49211]]
materials for encapsulating wastes, options for Tank Farm
decontamination and decommissioning, and options for treatment of waste
residues left in tanks and calcine bins. DOE would especially
appreciate suggestions on alternatives that should be examined.
Preliminary Alternatives
No Action
The Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500-1508), and the DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR part 1021) require
analysis of a no-action alternative. Under the no-action alternative,
DOE would continue current high-level radioactive waste management
operations at the ICPP until all residual waste that can be removed
from the tanks using existing waste transfer equipment is calcined, but
actions to prepare the waste for disposal would not be taken. Once
operations are completed, all high-level waste treatment and storage
facilities at the ICPP would be placed in a stand-by operational
condition. The calcined high-level waste would be stored in the
existing bin sets, and residual waste (i.e., the approximately 30,000-
40,000 gallons of liquid and solid tank wastes that would remain when
the tanks have been emptied using existing waste transfer equipment)
would remain in the Tank Farm indefinitely.
Non-Separation
Under the Non-Separation alternative, DOE will analyze options for
treating the liquid and calcine high-level waste to forms that are
suitable for permanent disposal in-place at the INEEL, or outside of
the State of Idaho in a geologic repository. The calcine would be pre-
treated as necessary, and immobilized in a glass, glass-ceramic, or
cementatious form, which would be encapsulated in cylinders or cast
into shapes suitable for placement into transportation and disposal
containers for disposal outside of the State of Idaho. Under this
alternative the residual liquid high-level waste remaining in the Tank
Farm would be solidified or grouted, and the tanks would be closed in
accordance with RCRA requirements. As described under the Proposed
Action, the ICPP Tank Farm, bin sets, associated support buildings,
structures, laboratories and the New Waste Calcining Facility would be
decontaminated and decommissioned in a cost-effective, legally
compliant, and environmentally sound manner.
Related NEPA Decisions and Reviews
This EIS will use and supplement as necessary, the information and
analysis contained in: (1) the Department of Energy Programmatic Spent
Nuclear Fuel Management and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory
Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Programs Environmental
Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0203-F); and (2) the DOE Waste Management
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0200-F).
Volume 2 of the SNF & INEL EIS, issued in April 1995, is a site-
wide EIS for the INEEL. Among other matters, Volume 2 analyzed the
potential environmental impacts associated with ongoing high-level
waste treatment, storage and management operations at the INEEL. In a
ROD based on this EIS (60 FR 28680), the Department decided to resume
operation of the New Waste Calcining Facility, to convert the high-
level liquid and sodium-bearing liquid waste to calcine prior to
further treatment. The Department also decided to construct a facility
to treat the calcined high-level waste (and any remaining liquid waste)
in accordance with RCRA requirements and on a schedule to be negotiated
with the State of Idaho under the Federal Facility Compliance Act.
The DOE WM PEIS, issued May 1997, is a DOE complex-wide study
examining the environmental impacts associated with managing five types
of radioactive and hazardous wastes generated by past, present, and
reasonably foreseeable future activities at a variety of sites located
around the United States. The five types of waste examined by the WM
PEIS are low-level mixed waste, low-level waste, transuranic waste,
hazardous waste, and high-level waste. The WM PEIS characterizes and
identifies volumes of high-level waste at DOE facilities nationwide,
including the INEEL, and uses/updates information presented in the SNF
& INEL EIS. The preferred alternative in the WM PEIS for high-level
waste storage is for each of the four sites (one of which is INEEL)
with immobilized high-level waste canisters to store its own
immobilized waste onsite until shipment to a geologic repository for
disposal. A high-level waste WM PEIS Record of Decision has not yet
been issued.
In addition to the programmatic EISs described above, other related
NEPA analyses and documents that will be considered in the analyses of
this EIS include:
The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) EIS--
this EIS will analyze the possible environmental impacts of thermal
treatment of transuranic and mixed transuranic waste. The AMWTP is
potentially relevant to the proposed High-Level Waste and Facilities
Disposition EIS because a small portion of the inventory of radioactive
waste at the ICPP is being considered for treatment at the proposed
AMWTP. A notice of intent to prepare this EIS will be issued shortly.
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Disposal Phase
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS II)--the SEIS II
analyzes the treatment and storage of transuranic waste and disposal of
such waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
The Draft SEIS II was issued in November 1996; the Final SEIS II is in
preparation. Some radioactive waste at ICPP may be affected by
decisions based on the SEIS II.
The Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear
Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain Environmental
Impact Statement--this EIS will analyze the potential environmental
impacts associated with the disposal of high-level waste and spent
nuclear fuel in a potential geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in
Nevada. The draft EIS is scheduled to be issued in July 1999. A Final
EIS, scheduled for August 2000, would accompany any DOE recommendation
to the President whether to develop Yucca Mountain as a geologic
disposal site. INEEL's high-level waste could be eligible for disposal
at Yucca Mountain.
Preliminary Identification of EIS Issues
Potential environmental impacts on the Snake River Plain
Aquifer.
Effects of emissions and discharges from the treatment of
liquid and calcined high-level waste.
Effects of the storage of encapsulated high-level waste at
the INEEL.
Potential effects on the public and workers from exposure
to radiological and hazardous wastes during normal operations and
reasonably foreseeable accidents.
Potential effects on air, soil, and water quality from
normal operations and reasonably foreseeable accidents.
Potential effects on members of the public, including
minority and low income populations from normal operations and
reasonably foreseeable accidents.
Impacts on cultural and historic resources.
Pollution prevention, waste minimization, and energy and
water use
[[Page 49212]]
reduction technologies to eliminate or significantly reduce use of
energy, water, and hazardous substances, and to minimize environmental
impacts.
External regulation of DOE operations and possible
privatization of high-level waste treatment.
Potential use of the constituents contained in high-level
waste.
Compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local
requirements and the Settlement Agreement/Court Order.
Cumulative environmental impacts of all past, present and
reasonably foreseeable future operations at the INEEL.
The potential irreversible and irretrievable commitment of
resources, including the ultimate use of INEEL lands and land occupied
by the ICPP.
Potential environmental impacts, including long term risks
to people, associated with Tank Farm facility closure and on-site waste
disposal.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 1997.
Peter N. Brush,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and
Health.
[FR Doc. 97-24951 Filed 9-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
