4 May 2001
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
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[Federal Register: May 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 87)]
[Notices]
[Page 22540-22543]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04my01-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Supplement to 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
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of availability and opportunity for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of a
Supplement to 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 (Draft EIS)
(DOE/EIS-0250D-S). The Department has prepared this Supplement in
accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended
(NWPA), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended
(NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations that implement
the procedural provisions of NEPA, and the DOE procedures implementing
NEPA. The Council on Environmental Quality NEPA regulations state that
an agency may prepare a supplement when it determines that the purposes
of NEPA will be furthered by doing so. As anticipated, design
enhancements of the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain have evolved
since DOE issued the Draft EIS in August 1999. Accordingly, DOE has
issued a Supplement to the Draft EIS to address the most recent
information on design evolution,
[[Page 22541]]
including enhancements in design details and operating modes, and
associated potential environmental impacts. DOE will provide the public
an opportunity to comment on the Supplement and conduct hearings on the
Supplement, as described below.
DATES: Comments on the Supplement to the Draft EIS will be accepted
during a 45-day public comment period, which ends on June 25, 2001. DOE
will consider comments submitted after June 25, 2001, to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: DOE will conduct public hearings on the Supplement in
Amargosa Valley, Las Vegas, and Pahrump, Nevada. Public hearing
locations and further details are provided below in this Notice under
``Public Hearings and Invitation to Comment.''
Written comments and requests for further information on the
Supplement to the Draft EIS or the public hearings, and requests for
copies of the document and included CD-ROM should be directed to: Dr.
Jane Summerson, EIS Document 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 1-800-967-3477, Facsimile 1-800-967-0739.
Written comments via facsimiles should include the following
identifier: ``Yucca Mountain Supplement to the Draft EIS.'' Addresses
and locations where the Supplement will be available for public review
are listed in this Notice under ``Availability of the Supplement to the
Draft EIS.''
Electronic Format: Internet
Written comments on 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: Dr. Jane Summerson, EIS Document
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
1-800-967-3477, Facsimile 1-800-967-0739.
For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact: Ms. Carol
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (EH-42),
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20585, Telephone 1-202-586-4600, or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In August 1999, DOE issued 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 (Draft EIS), in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.), and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 10101
et seq.). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
Notice of Availability (64 FR 44217) of the Draft EIS on August 13,
1999, initiating a public comment period that ended on February 28,
2000. During the 199-day comment period, DOE held 21 public hearings
across the United States. The Draft EIS describes the Proposed Action
to construct, operate and monitor, and eventually close a geologic
repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level
radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain. The Draft EIS also describes the
potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action.
For the Draft EIS, DOE based the analysis on the repository design
described in the Viability Assessment of a Repository at Yucca
Mountain. The Draft EIS discussed ongoing evaluations that could result
in modifications to that design.
As DOE anticipated in the Draft EIS, repository design has
continued to evolve. Although the fundamental aspects of the repository
design have not changed from those discussed in the Draft EIS, design
options and operating modes (ways in which to operate the repository)
are being explored to reduce uncertainties and improve long-term
repository performance and operational safety and efficiency. DOE has
documented the evolution to date of its design efforts in the Yucca
Mountain Science and Engineering Report: Technical Information
Supporting Site Recommendation Consideration (YMS&ER), which describes
the current design (which the Supplement calls the S&ER flexible
design) and a range of possible repository operating modes. The YMS&ER
also summarizes current technical information that the Secretary of
Energy will use to determine whether to recommend approval of the Yucca
Mountain site to the President for development as a repository.
Evaluations are underway to analyze the effect of various operating
modes on repository performance. The flexible design discussed in the
YMS&ER includes the ability to operate the repository in a range of
operating modes that address higher and lower temperatures and
associated humidity conditions. The higher-temperature operating mode
means that at least a portion of the emplacement drift rock wall would
have a maximum temperature above the boiling point of water at the
elevation of the repository [96 deg.C (205 deg.F)]. Examples of the
lower-temperature operating modes include conditions under which the
drift rock wall temperatures would be below the boiling point of water,
and conditions under which the waste package surface temperature would
not exceed 85 deg.C (185 deg.F). To bound the impact analysis, DOE
considered conditions under which the rock wall temperatures would be
above the boiling point of water, and conditions under which waste
package surface temperatures would not exceed 85 deg.C.
DOE prepared the Supplement to update information presented in the
Draft EIS. The Supplement evaluates potential environmental impacts
that could occur, based on the design options and range of possible
operating modes presented in the YMS&ER. The Supplement compares the
impacts associated with the S&ER flexible design to the impacts
presented in the Draft EIS.
The basis for the analytical scenarios presented in the Draft EIS
was the amount of commercial spent nuclear fuel and its associated
thermal output or load that DOE would emplace per unit area of the
repository (called areal mass loading). In the Draft EIS, DOE evaluated
three thermal load scenarios including high thermal load, a relatively
high emplacement density of commercial spent nuclear fuel (85 metric
tons of heavy metal (MTHM) per acre), intermediate thermal load (60
MTHM per acre), and low thermal load (25 MTHM per acre). The analytical
scenarios described in the Draft EIS were not intended to place a limit
on the choices among alternative designs because DOE expected that the
repository design would continue to evolve. Rather, DOE selected these
scenarios to represent the range of foreseeable design features and
operating modes and to ensure that it considered the associated range
of potential environmental impacts.
In contrast to focusing on thermal loads, the S&ER flexible design
focuses on controlling the temperatures of the rock between the drifts,
the waste package surfaces, and the drift walls to meet thermal
management goals established for possible repository operating modes.
To meet these thermal goals, the S&ER flexible design uses a linear
thermal load (heat output per unit length of the emplacement drift) and
emplaces waste packages relatively
[[Page 22542]]
closer together than the Draft EIS design. Linear thermal load is
expressed in terms of kilowatts per meter.
As with the thermal load analytical scenarios analyzed in the Draft
EIS, the range of operating modes under the S&ER flexible design is
representative of the range of foreseeable future design features and
operating modes. The conservative estimates of the associated potential
environmental impacts in the Supplement encompass or bound the
potential impacts of foreseeable future repository design evolution.
The Supplement focuses on modifications to the repository design
and operating modes addressed in the Draft EIS; it does not analyze
aspects of the Proposed Action that have not been modified, such as the
transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste,
or the No-Action Alternative. DOE will address all aspects of the
Proposed Action and the No-Action Alternative in the Final EIS. Because
repository design has evolved from that considered in the Draft EIS,
the Final EIS will evaluate only the S&ER flexible design, including
the reasonable range of operating modes, and any enhancements to the
flexible design developed as the result of ongoing analyses. DOE
invites comments on its intention not to address the Draft EIS design
in the Final EIS. DOE will respond to comments on the Draft EIS and on
the Supplement in the Final EIS.
Public Hearings and Invitation to Comment
The public is invited to provide oral and written comments on the
Supplement to the Draft EIS during the public comment period that ends
on June 25, 2001. DOE will consider comments submitted during the
comment period in preparation of the Final EIS. Comments submitted
after June 25, 2001 will be considered to the extent practicable. DOE
will hold public hearings to receive oral and written comments from
members of the public at the following times and locations:
May 31, 2001: Longstreet Inn & Casino, Highway 373, Amargosa Valley,
Nevada 89020; 5:00 pm-9:00 pm--Poster Session, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm--Hearing
June 5, 2001: Suncoast Hotel & Casino, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas,
Nevada 89144; 5:00 pm-9:00 pm--Poster Session, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm--Hearing
June 7, 2001: Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 North Highway #160,
Pahrump, Nevada 89048; 5:00 pm-9:00 pm--Poster Session, 6:00 pm-9:00
pm--Hearing
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 Supplement 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 Supplement to the Draft EIS
Copies of the Supplement are being distributed to Federal, State,
and Indian tribal representatives, and other organizations and
individuals who have indicated an interest in the EIS process. Copies
of this document may be requested by calling 1-800-967-3477 or over the
Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project website (http://www.ymp.gov).
Both the Supplement and the Draft EIS will be available via the
Internet on the DOE NEPA website at (http://tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa), under
the listing DOE NEPA Analyses, or on the Yucca Mountain Project web
site listed above. The availability of the Yucca Mountain Science and
Engineering Report will be announced in a separate Federal Register
Notice. That report will be available or can be requested on the Yucca
Mountain Project website (http://www.ymp.gov) or by calling 1-800-967-
3477.
Copies of references considered in preparation of the Supplement
and Draft EIS, including the Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering
Report, will be available at the following Public Reading Rooms:
University of Nevada--Las Vegas, Nevada; University of Nevada--Reno,
Nevada; Beatty Yucca Mountain Science Center, Nevada; Pahrump Yucca
Mountain Science Center, Nevada; and the DOE Headquarters Office in
Washington, D.C. Addresses of these Public Reading Rooms and of other
Public Reading Rooms and libraries where the Supplement and the Draft
EIS will be available for public review are listed below.
Public Reading Rooms
Inyo County--Contact: Andrew Remus; (760) 878-0447; Inyo County
Yucca Mountain Repository Assessment Office; 168 North Edwards St.;
Post Office Drawer L; Independence, CA 93526.
Oakland Operations Office--Contact: Laura Martinez; (510) 637-1762;
U.S. Department of Energy Public Reading Room; EIC; 1301 Clay St., Room
700N; Oakland, CA 94612-5208.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory--Contact: John Horst; (303)
275-4709; Public Reading Room; 1617 Cole Blvd.; Golden, CO 80401.
Rocky Flats Public Reading Room--Contact: Gary Morrell; (303) 469-
4435; College Hill Library; 3705 112th Ave. B121; Westminster, CO
80030.
Headquarters Office--Contact: Carolyn Lawson; (202) 586-3142; U.S.
Department of Energy; Room 1E-190, Forrestal Building; 1000
Independence Ave., SW; Washington, DC 20585.
Atlanta Support Office--Contact: Nancy Mays/Laura Nicholas; (404)
347-2420; Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; 730 Peachtree St.,
Suite 876; Atlanta, GA 30308-1212.
Southeastern Power Administration--Contact: Joel W. Seymour; (706)
213-3800; 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; (208) 426-
1737; Government Documents; 1910 University Dr.; P.O. Box 46; Boise, ID
83707-0046.
Idaho Operations Office--Contact: Brent Jacobson; (208) 526-1144;
Public Reading Room; 1776 Science Center Dr.; Idaho Falls, ID 83402.
Chicago Operations Office--Contact: John Shuler; (312) 996-2738;
Document Department; University of Illinois at Chicago; 801 South
Morgan St.; Chicago, IL 60607.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Project Management Office--Contact:
Deanna Harvey; (504) 734-4316; U.S. Department of Energy; SPRPMO/SEB
Reading Room; 850 Commerce Road, East; New Orleans, LA 70123.
Lander County--Contact: Mickey Yarbo; (775) 635-2882; 315 S.
Humboldt St.; Battle Mountain, NV 89820.
Beatty Yucca Mountain Science Center--Contact: Marina Anderson;
(775) 553-2130; 100 North E Ave.; Beatty, NV 89003.
Lincoln County--Contact: Jason Pitts; (775) 726-3511; Box 1068; 176
Clover St.; Caliente, NV 89008.
Nevada State Clearinghouse--Contact: Heather Elliot; (775) 684-
0209; Department of Administration; 209 E. Musser Street, Room 200;
Carson City, NV 89701.
White Pine County--Contact: Josie Larson; (775) 289-2033; 959
Campton St.; Ely, NV 89301.
Eureka County--Contact: Leonard Fiorenzi; (775) 237-5372; 701 S.
Main St.; (P.O. Box 714); Eureka, NV 89316.
Churchill County--Contact: Alan Kalt; (775) 423-5136; 155 North
Taylor St., Suite 182; Fallon, NV 89046-2478.
[[Page 22543]]
Esmeralda County--Contact: George McCorkell; (775) 485-3419;
Repository Oversight Program; 233 Crook St.; P.O. Box 295; Goldfield,
NV 89316.
Mineral County--Contact: Judy Shankle; (775) 945-2484; First & A
Streets; (*Hand Deliverables Only*); (P.O. Box 1600); Hawthorne, NV
89415.
Clark County--Contact: Dennis Bechtel; (702) 455-5178; 500 South
Grand Central Parkway #3012; (P.O. Box 551751); Las Vegas, NV 89155-
1751.
Las Vegas, Nevada--Contact: Reference Desk; (702) 895-3409;
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: Claire Whetsel;
(702)295-1312; 4101-B Meadows Lane; Las Vegas, NV 89107.
Nye County--Contact: Les Bradshaw; (775) 727-7727; c/o Department
of Natural Resources and Federal Facilities; 1210 E. Basin Ave., Suite
6; Pahrump, NV 89048.
Pahrump Yucca Mountain Science Center--Contact: John Pawlak; (775)
727-0896; 1141 South Highway 160; Pahrump NV, 89041.
Reno, Nevada--Contact: Kathie Brinkerhoff; (775) 784-6500;
University of Nevada, Reno; The University of Nevada Libraries;
Business and Government Information Center M/S 322; 1664 N. Virginia
St.; Reno, NV 89557-0044.
Albuquerque Operations Office--Contact: Dan Berkley; (505) 277-
7180; U.S. DOE Contract Reading Room; University of New Mexico;
Zimmerman Library; Albuquerque, NM 87131-1466.
Fernald Area Office--Contact: Diane Rayer;(513)648-7480; U.S.
Department of Energy; Public Information Room;10995 Hamilton-Cleves
Highway M/S 78; Harrison, OH 45030.
Southwestern Power Administration--Contact: Marti Ayres; (918) 595-
6609; U.S. Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; 1 West 3rd, Suite
1600; Tulsa, OK 74103.
Bonneville Power Administration--Contact: Bill Zimmerman/Darlene
Freestad; (503) 230-7334; U.S. Department of Energy; BPA-C-ACS-1; 905
NE 11th St.; Portland, OR 97232.
Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center--Contact: Ann C. Dunlap; (412)
386-6167; U.S. Department of Energy; Building 922/M210; Cochrans Mill
Rd.; Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940.
Savannah River Operations Office--Contact: Pauline Connell; (803)
725-2497; Gregg-Graniteville Library; University of South Carolina-
Aiken; 171 University Parkway; Aiken, SC 29801.
University of South Carolina--Contact: William Suddeth; (803) 777-
4841; Thomas Cooper Library; Documents/Microforms Department; Green and
Sumter Streets; Columbia, SC 29208.
Oak Ridge Operations Office--Contact: Walter Perry; (865) 241-4780;
U.S. Department of Energy; Public Reading Room; P.O. Box 2001; American
Museum of Science and Energy; 230 Warehouse Rd.; Oak Ridge, TN 37831.
Southern Methodist University--Contact: Stephen Short; (214) 768-
2561; Central Union Libraries Fondren Library; Government Information;
Airline and McFarland Streets; Dallas, TX 75275-0135.
University of Utah--Contact: Walter Jones; (801) 581-8863; Marriott
Library Special Collections; 295 South 15th East; Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860.
Richland Operations Center--Contact: Terri Traub; (509) 372-7443;
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, April 27, 2001.
Lake Barrett,
Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 01-11275 Filed 5-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P