81_FR_59087 81 FR 58921 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated From DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride

81 FR 58921 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated From DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 166 (August 26, 2016)

Page Range58921-58923
FR Document2016-20501

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intention to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for its proposal to disposition depleted uranium oxide (DUO<INF>X</INF>) conversion product from its depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF<INF>6</INF>) conversion facilities at the Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, sites at up to three offsite low-level waste disposal facilities. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated from DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/EIS-0359-S1; DOE/ EIS-0360-S1) will analyze potential environmental impacts from the proposed action to identify a final disposition location or locations for the DUO<INF>X</INF> conversion product from both operating DUF<INF>6</INF> conversion facilities. The proposed scope of the draft SEIS includes an analysis of potential environmental impacts from activities associated with the transportation to and disposition of depleted uranium oxide at three proposed disposition location alternatives: the DOE-owned low-level radioactive waste disposal facility at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada; the EnergySolutions, LLC (formerly known as Envirocare of Utah, Inc.) low-level waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah; and the newly identified location at the Waste Control Specialists, LLC (WCS) low-level waste disposal facility in Andrews, Texas.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58921-58923]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20501]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product 
Generated From DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intention to 
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for its 
proposal to disposition depleted uranium oxide (DUOX) 
conversion product from its depleted uranium hexafluoride 
(DUF6) conversion facilities at the Paducah, Kentucky, and 
Portsmouth, Ohio, sites at up to three offsite low-level waste disposal 
facilities. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 
Disposition of Depleted Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated from 
DOE's Inventory of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/EIS-0359-S1; DOE/
EIS-0360-S1) will analyze potential environmental impacts from the 
proposed action to identify a final disposition location or locations 
for the DUOX conversion product from both operating 
DUF6 conversion facilities.
    The proposed scope of the draft SEIS includes an analysis of 
potential environmental impacts from activities associated with the 
transportation to and disposition of depleted uranium oxide at three 
proposed disposition location alternatives: the DOE-owned low-level 
radioactive waste disposal facility at the Nevada National Security 
Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada; the EnergySolutions, LLC (formerly 
known as Envirocare of Utah, Inc.) low-level waste disposal facility in 
Clive, Utah; and the newly identified location at the Waste Control 
Specialists, LLC (WCS) low-level waste disposal facility in Andrews, 
Texas.

ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the project or requests to be placed on 
the document distribution list can be sent to: Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-
Torres, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager, 
Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy, EM-4.22, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; or to 
[email protected]. Additional information regarding the SEIS is 
available at: http://www.energy.gov/em/disposition-uranium-oxide-conversion-depleted-uranium-hexafluoride.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on DOE's 
DUF6 long-term management and disposal program, please 
contact Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-Torres, U.S. Department of Energy at the 
above ADDRESSES.
    For information on DOE's NEPA process, please contact Ms. Carol M. 
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0103; Telephone: (202) 586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-
2756; or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The use of uranium as fuel for nuclear power plants or for military 
applications requires increasing the proportion of the uranium-235 
isotope found in natural uranium. Industrial uranium enrichment in the 
United States began as part of atomic bomb development during World War 
II. Uranium enrichment for both civilian and military uses was 
continued by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and its successor 
agencies, including DOE. Uranium enrichment by gaseous diffusion was 
carried out at three locations: the Paducah Site in Kentucky, the 
Portsmouth Site in Ohio, and the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak 
Ridge, Tennessee.

[[Page 58922]]

    DUF6 results from the uranium enrichment process. The 
DUF6 that remains after enrichment typically contains 0.2 
percent to 0.4 percent uranium-235 and has been stored as a solid in 
large metal cylinders at the gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment 
facilities. The DUF6 must be converted into a more stable 
form for disposal. The conversion process results in DUOX 
and aqueous hydrogen fluoride \1\ (HF). DOE's existing inventory has 
over 760,000 metric tons (MT) (1 MT = 1,000 kilograms, approximately 
2,205 pounds) of DUF6. Approximately 54,000 MT, or 7% of 
this total, has already been converted at the end of calendar year 
2015. DUF6 is stored as a solid in steel cylinders that each 
hold approximately 10 to 14 MT of material. These cylinders are stacked 
two layers high in outdoor areas known as ``yards.'' The Paducah Site 
has approximately 44,000 DUF6 cylinders, and the Portsmouth 
Site has approximately 19,000 DUF6 cylinders, for a total of 
about 63,000 cylinders. All DUF6 cylinders produced at 
facilities in Tennessee were previously transported to the Portsmouth 
Site. Operating at planned capacity, the conversion plants would 
produce approximately 10,800 MT (11,900 tons) of DUOX 
annually at Portsmouth and 14,300 MT (15,800 tons) of DUOX 
annually at Paducah. The duration to convert the inventory of 
DUF6 to DUOX is expected to be 18 years for the 
Portsmouth DUF6 inventory and 25 years for Paducah's larger 
DUF6 inventory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The HF produced during conversion will be recycled into 
commercial product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Relationship to Existing NEPA Analyses

    This SEIS represents the third phase of an environmental review 
process being used to evaluate and implement the DUF6 long-
term management program. As a first step and pursuant to Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) and DOE NEPA implementing regulations at 40 
CFR parts 1500-1508 and 10 CFR part 1021, respectively, DOE evaluated 
potential broad management options for its DUF6 inventory in 
the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative 
Strategies for the Long-Term Management and Use of Depleted Uranium 
Hexafluoride (DUF6 PEIS) (DOE/EIS-0269) issued in April 1999 
(64 FR 19999; April 23, 1999). In the DUF6 PEIS Record of 
Decision (ROD) (64 FR 43358; August 10, 1999), DOE decided to promptly 
convert the DUF6 inventory to a more stable uranium oxide 
form and stated that it would use the depleted uranium oxide as much as 
possible and store the remaining depleted uranium oxide for potential 
future uses or disposal, as necessary. DOE did not select specific 
sites for the conversion facilities or disposal at that time, but 
reserved that decision for subsequent NEPA review.
    In June 2004, DOE issued two EISs for construction and operation of 
DUF6 conversion facilities and other actions at its Paducah, 
Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio sites (69 FR 34161; June 18, 2004). Both 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Construction and Operation 
of a Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the Paducah, 
Kentucky Site (DOE/EIS-0359) and the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Construction and Operation of a Depleted Uranium 
Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the Portsmouth, Ohio Site (DOE/EIS-
0360) were prepared as a second phase of the environmental review 
process to evaluate and implement DOE's DUF6 long-term 
management program. These EISs evaluated the potential environmental 
impacts of transportation and disposition of depleted uranium oxide at 
two potential off-site locations: at the DOE-owned low-level 
radioactive waste disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site (now known 
as NNSS), and at Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (now known as 
EnergySolutions, LLC), a commercial low-level waste disposal facility 
in Clive, Utah. RODs were published for both of these EISs on July 27, 
2004 (69 FR 44649, 69 FR 44654). However, DOE deferred a decision on 
the transportation and disposition of the conversion product and 
committed to addressing that action at a later date.
    In 2007, DOE prepared a draft Supplement Analysis (SA), in 
accordance with DOE NEPA implementing regulations at 10 CFR 1021.314, 
in order to determine whether there were substantial changes to the 
proposal or significant new circumstances or information relevant to 
environmental concerns that require preparation of a Supplemental EIS 
to decide disposition locations committed to in the 2004 RODs. DOE made 
the Draft Supplement Analysis for Location(s) to Dispose of Depleted 
Uranium Oxide Conversion Product Generated from DOE's Inventory of 
Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/EIS-0359-SA-1 and DOE/EIS-0360-SA-1) 
publicly available on April 3, 2007 (72 FR 15869). The comments 
received associated with the scope of the draft SA suggested 
consideration of WCS's Andrews, Texas, site as a reasonable 
alternative, which will be considered in this SEIS. DOE determined that 
more time was needed to allow for resolution of regulatory questions at 
the disposal sites and did not issue a final SA.
    In August 2014, the WCS facility near Andrews, Texas, was granted a 
license amendment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that would allow 
disposal of bulk uranium. As a result, DOE assumes, for purposes of 
planning, that WCS may be a new reasonable alternative as a disposal 
site for depleted uranium oxide conversion product. After due 
consideration of the existing DOE NEPA analyses summarized above, and 
any changes in the disposition activities currently being considered, 
DOE determined in March 2016 that a Supplemental EIS is warranted given 
that there are substantial changes to the proposal (in this case, a new 
alternative disposal site is under consideration), or potentially 
significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental 
concerns given the time lapse since the 2004 EISs.

Purpose and Need for Agency Action

    The purpose and need for this action is to dispose of 
DUOx that results from converting DOE's DUF6 
inventory to a more stable chemical form. This need follows directly 
from the decisions presented in the 2004 RODs for construction and 
operation of DUF6 conversion facilities and other NEPA 
actions at its Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio sites, that 
deferred DOE's decision related to the transportation to and disposal 
of depleted uranium oxide at potential off-site facilities.

Alternatives Considered

    The proposed scope of the draft SEIS includes an analysis of the 
potential impacts from three action alternatives and the No Action 
alternative (in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14). Under the No Action 
alternative, transportation to and disposal of the conversion product 
at an offsite low-level waste disposal facility would not occur and 
refilled cylinders of DUOx conversion product would remain 
at the DUF6 conversion facility sites at DOE's Paducah and 
Portsmouth sites. The SEIS will also analyze and compare the potential 
impacts from three action alternatives that include transportation to 
and disposal of DUOx at three proposed alternative 
locations, including government-owned and privately-owned facilities: 
(1) The DOE-owned Area 5 waste disposal facility at the NNSS; (2) the 
EnergySolutions LLC, low-level waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah; 
and (3) the newly identified location at the WCS federal low-level

[[Page 58923]]

waste disposal facility in Andrews, Texas.
    The SEIS analysis will include a review of available environmental 
data and information; comparative analyses of potential environmental 
and human health and safety impacts of DUOx disposal at the 
three alternative locations (including updated information for the two 
offsite disposal locations previously identified and studied in the 
2004 EISs); analyses of the potential environmental impacts of 
transporting DUOx by rail or truck to each alternative site; 
and an evaluation of the No Action alternative.

Identification of Environmental Issues

    The SEIS will examine potential public health and safety effects 
and environmental impacts from the proposed action. This notice is 
intended to inform agencies and the public of DOE's proposal. Although 
the following is not intended to be all inclusive or to imply any 
predetermination of impacts, these general categories of impacts will 
be considered in the SEIS: Land use; geology, soils, and geologic 
hazards, including seismicity; water resources (surface water and 
groundwater); biological resources; protected, threatened and 
endangered species, including species of special concern; human health 
and safety (both routine operations and potential accidents); air 
quality; noise; cultural and historic resources; waste management; 
environmental justice; and socioeconomics.

Public Participation in the SEIS Process

    A public scoping process is optional for DOE Supplemental EISs (10 
CFR 1021.311(f)), and there will be none for this project. However, DOE 
will provide opportunities for public review and comment, including 
public hearings, on the draft SEIS.

SEIS Preparation and Schedule

    DOE expects to issue the draft SEIS in 2016.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on August 19, 2016.
Frank Marcinowski,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-20501 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices                                          58921

                                                  operation of SURTASS LFA sonar and                        18. Alaska Resources Library and                    environmental impacts from activities
                                                  implementation of mitigation and                        Information Services, 3211 Providence Drive,          associated with the transportation to
                                                  monitoring measures. The Draft SEIS/                    Anchorage, AK 99508;                                  and disposition of depleted uranium
                                                                                                            19. Hawaii State Library, 478 South King
                                                  SOEIS evaluates the environmental                                                                             oxide at three proposed disposition
                                                                                                          Street, Honolulu, HI 96813;
                                                  impacts associated with two action                        20. Nieves M. Flores Memorial Public                location alternatives: the DOE-owned
                                                  alternatives and a No-Action                            Library, 254 Martyr Street, Hagåtña, Guam           low-level radioactive waste disposal
                                                  Alternative. The primary difference                     96910; and                                            facility at the Nevada National Security
                                                  between the action alternatives is that                   21. The Feleti Barstow Public Library, Pago         Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada; the
                                                  the Navy’s preferred alternative reduces                Pago, American Samoa, 96799.                          EnergySolutions, LLC (formerly known
                                                  the annual permitted allowance of LFA                     Written comments on the Draft SEIS/                 as Envirocare of Utah, Inc.) low-level
                                                  sonar transmissions from 432 hours                      SOEIS can be submitted by mail:                       waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah;
                                                  (Alternative 1) to 255 hours (Alternative               SURTASS LFA Sonar SEIS/SOEIS                          and the newly identified location at the
                                                  2) per ship. The Draft SEIS/SOEIS and                   Program Manager, 4350 Fairfax Drive,                  Waste Control Specialists, LLC (WCS)
                                                  associated analyses will also be used to                Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22203–1632,                  low-level waste disposal facility in
                                                  support consultations associated with                   or by Email: eisteam@surtass-lfa-                     Andrews, Texas.
                                                  required regulatory permits and                         eis.com. All written comments must be                 ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the
                                                  authorizations effective in 2017.                       postmarked by October 11, 2016 to                     project or requests to be placed on the
                                                     The Draft SEIS/SOEIS was distributed                 ensure that they become part of the                   document distribution list can be sent
                                                  to appropriate federal, state, and local                official record. All timely comments                  to: Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-Torres, National
                                                  agencies and organizations, Native                      will be addressed in the Final SEIS/                  Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
                                                  Alaskan and Native Tribal governments                   SOEIS. No public hearings or meetings                 Document Manager, Office of
                                                  and organizations, and other interested                 will be held.                                         Environmental Management, U.S.
                                                  parties. The Draft SEIS/SOEIS is                          Dated: August 18, 2016.                             Department of Energy, EM–4.22, 1000
                                                  available for public viewing and                                                                              Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                                                                          C. Pan,
                                                  downloading at the following project                                                                          Washington, DC 20585; or to DUF6_
                                                                                                          Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
                                                  Web site: http://www.surtass-lfa-                                                                             NEPA@em.doe.gov. Additional
                                                                                                          U.S. Navy, Alternate Federal Register Liaison
                                                  eis.com. Compact disc copies of the                     Officer.                                              information regarding the SEIS is
                                                  Draft SEIS/SOEIS are available upon                                                                           available at: http://www.energy.gov/em/
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2016–20500 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  request from: SURTASS LFA Sonar                                                                               disposition-uranium-oxide-conversion-
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
                                                  SEIS/SOEIS Program Manager, 4350                                                                              depleted-uranium-hexafluoride.
                                                  Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA                                                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                  22203–1632, Email: eisteam@surtass-                                                                           further information on DOE’s DUF6
                                                  lfa-eis.com. Compact discs of the Draft                 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                                                                                                                                long-term management and disposal
                                                  SEIS/OEIS are available for public                      Notice of Intent To Prepare a                         program, please contact Ms. Jaffet
                                                  review at the following public libraries:               Supplemental Environmental Impact                     Ferrer-Torres, U.S. Department of
                                                    1. Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura          Statement for Disposition of Depleted                 Energy at the above ADDRESSES.
                                                  Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202;                         Uranium Oxide Conversion Product                        For information on DOE’s NEPA
                                                    2. Camden County Public Library, 1410                 Generated From DOE’s Inventory of                     process, please contact Ms. Carol M.
                                                  Hwy 40 E, Kingsland, GA 31548;
                                                                                                          Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride                         Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
                                                    3. Ben May Main Library, 701 Government
                                                  Street, Mobile, AL 36602;                                                                                     Policy and Compliance, U.S.
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   U.S. Department of Energy.
                                                    4. Meridian-Lauderdale County Public                                                                        Department of Energy, 1000
                                                                                                          ACTION:   Notice of intent.                           Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                  Library, 2517 7th Street, Meridian, MS
                                                  39301;                                                  SUMMARY:   The U.S. Department of                     Washington, DC 20585–0103;
                                                    5. New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola
                                                                                                          Energy (DOE) announces its intention to               Telephone: (202) 586–4600, or leave a
                                                  Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112;                                                                                message at (800) 472–2756; or email at
                                                    6. Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney               prepare a Supplemental Environmental
                                                                                                          Impact Statement (SEIS) for its proposal              askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
                                                  Street, Houston, TX 77002;
                                                    7. New Hanover County Public Library,                 to disposition depleted uranium oxide                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  201 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401;              (DUOX) conversion product from its                    Background
                                                    8. Anne Arundel County Public Library,                depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6)
                                                  1410 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401;                  conversion facilities at the Paducah,                   The use of uranium as fuel for nuclear
                                                    9. Charleston County Public Library, 68               Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, sites                 power plants or for military applications
                                                  Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401;                   at up to three offsite low-level waste                requires increasing the proportion of the
                                                    10. Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch
                                                                                                          disposal facilities. The Draft                        uranium-235 isotope found in natural
                                                  Library, 111 W. Ocean View Avenue,
                                                  Norfolk, VA 23503;                                      Supplemental Environmental Impact                     uranium. Industrial uranium
                                                    11. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument               Statement for Disposition of Depleted                 enrichment in the United States began
                                                  Square, Portland, ME 04101;                             Uranium Oxide Conversion Product                      as part of atomic bomb development
                                                    12. Providence Public Library, 150 Empire             Generated from DOE’s Inventory of                     during World War II. Uranium
                                                  Street, Providence, RI 02903;                           Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/                   enrichment for both civilian and
                                                    13. Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston               EIS–0359–S1; DOE/EIS–0360–S1) will                    military uses was continued by the U.S.
                                                  Street, Boston, MA 02116;                               analyze potential environmental                       Atomic Energy Commission and its
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                    14. The Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth           impacts from the proposed action to                   successor agencies, including DOE.
                                                  Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104;
                                                                                                          identify a final disposition location or              Uranium enrichment by gaseous
                                                    15. Los Angeles Public Library, 630 W. 5th
                                                  Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071;                          locations for the DUOX conversion                     diffusion was carried out at three
                                                    16. San Francisco Public Library, 100                 product from both operating DUF6                      locations: the Paducah Site in Kentucky,
                                                  Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102;                 conversion facilities.                                the Portsmouth Site in Ohio, and the
                                                    17. Oregon State University, 250 Winter                  The proposed scope of the draft SEIS               East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak
                                                  Street NE., Salem, OR 97301;                            includes an analysis of potential                     Ridge, Tennessee.


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                                                  58922                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices

                                                    DUF6 results from the uranium                         depleted uranium oxide for potential                  questions at the disposal sites and did
                                                  enrichment process. The DUF6 that                       future uses or disposal, as necessary.                not issue a final SA.
                                                  remains after enrichment typically                      DOE did not select specific sites for the                In August 2014, the WCS facility near
                                                  contains 0.2 percent to 0.4 percent                     conversion facilities or disposal at that             Andrews, Texas, was granted a license
                                                  uranium-235 and has been stored as a                    time, but reserved that decision for                  amendment by the Nuclear Regulatory
                                                  solid in large metal cylinders at the                   subsequent NEPA review.                               Commission that would allow disposal
                                                  gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment                       In June 2004, DOE issued two EISs for              of bulk uranium. As a result, DOE
                                                  facilities. The DUF6 must be converted                  construction and operation of DUF6                    assumes, for purposes of planning, that
                                                  into a more stable form for disposal. The               conversion facilities and other actions at            WCS may be a new reasonable
                                                  conversion process results in DUOX and                  its Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth,                 alternative as a disposal site for
                                                  aqueous hydrogen fluoride 1 (HF). DOE’s                 Ohio sites (69 FR 34161; June 18, 2004).              depleted uranium oxide conversion
                                                  existing inventory has over 760,000                     Both the Final Environmental Impact                   product. After due consideration of the
                                                  metric tons (MT) (1 MT = 1,000                          Statement for Construction and                        existing DOE NEPA analyses
                                                  kilograms, approximately 2,205 pounds)                  Operation of a Depleted Uranium                       summarized above, and any changes in
                                                  of DUF6. Approximately 54,000 MT, or                    Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the               the disposition activities currently being
                                                  7% of this total, has already been                      Paducah, Kentucky Site (DOE/EIS–                      considered, DOE determined in March
                                                  converted at the end of calendar year                   0359) and the Final Environmental                     2016 that a Supplemental EIS is
                                                  2015. DUF6 is stored as a solid in steel                Impact Statement for Construction and                 warranted given that there are
                                                  cylinders that each hold approximately                  Operation of a Depleted Uranium                       substantial changes to the proposal (in
                                                  10 to 14 MT of material. These cylinders                Hexafluoride Conversion Facility at the               this case, a new alternative disposal site
                                                  are stacked two layers high in outdoor                  Portsmouth, Ohio Site (DOE/EIS–0360)                  is under consideration), or potentially
                                                  areas known as ‘‘yards.’’ The Paducah                   were prepared as a second phase of the                significant new circumstances or
                                                  Site has approximately 44,000 DUF6                      environmental review process to                       information relevant to environmental
                                                  cylinders, and the Portsmouth Site has                  evaluate and implement DOE’s DUF6                     concerns given the time lapse since the
                                                  approximately 19,000 DUF6 cylinders,                    long-term management program. These                   2004 EISs.
                                                  for a total of about 63,000 cylinders. All              EISs evaluated the potential
                                                  DUF6 cylinders produced at facilities in                environmental impacts of transportation               Purpose and Need for Agency Action
                                                  Tennessee were previously transported                   and disposition of depleted uranium
                                                                                                                                                                   The purpose and need for this action
                                                  to the Portsmouth Site. Operating at                    oxide at two potential off-site locations:
                                                                                                                                                                is to dispose of DUOx that results from
                                                  planned capacity, the conversion plants                 at the DOE-owned low-level radioactive
                                                                                                                                                                converting DOE’s DUF6 inventory to a
                                                  would produce approximately 10,800                      waste disposal facility at the Nevada
                                                                                                                                                                more stable chemical form. This need
                                                  MT (11,900 tons) of DUOX annually at                    Test Site (now known as NNSS), and at
                                                                                                          Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (now known as                follows directly from the decisions
                                                  Portsmouth and 14,300 MT (15,800
                                                                                                          EnergySolutions, LLC), a commercial                   presented in the 2004 RODs for
                                                  tons) of DUOX annually at Paducah. The
                                                                                                          low-level waste disposal facility in                  construction and operation of DUF6
                                                  duration to convert the inventory of
                                                                                                          Clive, Utah. RODs were published for                  conversion facilities and other NEPA
                                                  DUF6 to DUOX is expected to be 18
                                                                                                          both of these EISs on July 27, 2004 (69               actions at its Paducah, Kentucky and
                                                  years for the Portsmouth DUF6
                                                                                                          FR 44649, 69 FR 44654). However, DOE                  Portsmouth, Ohio sites, that deferred
                                                  inventory and 25 years for Paducah’s
                                                                                                          deferred a decision on the                            DOE’s decision related to the
                                                  larger DUF6 inventory.
                                                                                                          transportation and disposition of the                 transportation to and disposal of
                                                  Relationship to Existing NEPA Analyses                  conversion product and committed to                   depleted uranium oxide at potential off-
                                                    This SEIS represents the third phase                  addressing that action at a later date.               site facilities.
                                                  of an environmental review process                         In 2007, DOE prepared a draft                      Alternatives Considered
                                                  being used to evaluate and implement                    Supplement Analysis (SA), in
                                                  the DUF6 long-term management                           accordance with DOE NEPA                                 The proposed scope of the draft SEIS
                                                  program. As a first step and pursuant to                implementing regulations at 10 CFR                    includes an analysis of the potential
                                                  Council on Environmental Quality                        1021.314, in order to determine whether               impacts from three action alternatives
                                                  (CEQ) and DOE NEPA implementing                         there were substantial changes to the                 and the No Action alternative (in
                                                  regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508                   proposal or significant new                           accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14).
                                                  and 10 CFR part 1021, respectively,                     circumstances or information relevant to              Under the No Action alternative,
                                                  DOE evaluated potential broad                           environmental concerns that require                   transportation to and disposal of the
                                                  management options for its DUF6                         preparation of a Supplemental EIS to                  conversion product at an offsite low-
                                                  inventory in the Programmatic                           decide disposition locations committed                level waste disposal facility would not
                                                  Environmental Impact Statement for                      to in the 2004 RODs. DOE made the                     occur and refilled cylinders of DUOx
                                                  Alternative Strategies for the Long-Term                Draft Supplement Analysis for                         conversion product would remain at the
                                                  Management and Use of Depleted                          Location(s) to Dispose of Depleted                    DUF6 conversion facility sites at DOE’s
                                                  Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6 PEIS)                        Uranium Oxide Conversion Product                      Paducah and Portsmouth sites. The SEIS
                                                  (DOE/EIS–0269) issued in April 1999                     Generated from DOE’s Inventory of                     will also analyze and compare the
                                                  (64 FR 19999; April 23, 1999). In the                   Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DOE/                   potential impacts from three action
                                                  DUF6 PEIS Record of Decision (ROD)                      EIS–0359–SA–1 and DOE/EIS–0360–                       alternatives that include transportation
                                                  (64 FR 43358; August 10, 1999), DOE                     SA–1) publicly available on April 3,                  to and disposal of DUOx at three
                                                                                                          2007 (72 FR 15869). The comments                      proposed alternative locations,
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                                                  decided to promptly convert the DUF6
                                                  inventory to a more stable uranium                      received associated with the scope of                 including government-owned and
                                                  oxide form and stated that it would use                 the draft SA suggested consideration of               privately-owned facilities: (1) The DOE-
                                                  the depleted uranium oxide as much as                   WCS’s Andrews, Texas, site as a                       owned Area 5 waste disposal facility at
                                                  possible and store the remaining                        reasonable alternative, which will be                 the NNSS; (2) the EnergySolutions LLC,
                                                                                                          considered in this SEIS. DOE                          low-level waste disposal facility in
                                                    1 The HF produced during conversion will be           determined that more time was needed                  Clive, Utah; and (3) the newly identified
                                                  recycled into commercial product.                       to allow for resolution of regulatory                 location at the WCS federal low-level


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices                                                 58923

                                                  waste disposal facility in Andrews,                     DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                  FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
                                                  Texas.                                                                                                        (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
                                                                                                          Federal Energy Regulatory                             (202) 502–8659.
                                                     The SEIS analysis will include a
                                                                                                          Commission                                              Dated: August 19, 2016.
                                                  review of available environmental data
                                                  and information; comparative analyses                   [Docket No. ER16–2119–000]                            Kimberly D. Bose,
                                                  of potential environmental and human                                                                          Secretary.
                                                  health and safety impacts of DUOx                       Hartree Partners, LP; Supplemental
                                                                                                                                                                [FR Doc. 2016–20435 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate
                                                  disposal at the three alternative                                                                             BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                          Filing Includes Request for Blanket
                                                  locations (including updated
                                                                                                          Section 204 Authorization
                                                  information for the two offsite disposal
                                                  locations previously identified and                        This is a supplemental notice in the               DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  studied in the 2004 EISs); analyses of                  above-referenced proceeding of Hartree
                                                  the potential environmental impacts of                  Partners, LP’s application for market-                Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                                                                          based rate authority, with an                         Commission
                                                  transporting DUOx by rail or truck to
                                                  each alternative site; and an evaluation                accompanying rate tariff, noting that
                                                                                                                                                                Combined Notice of Filings #1
                                                  of the No Action alternative.                           such application includes a request for
                                                                                                          blanket authorization, under 18 CFR                      Take notice that the Commission
                                                  Identification of Environmental Issues                  part 34, of future issuances of securities            received the following electric corporate
                                                                                                          and assumptions of liability.                         filings:
                                                     The SEIS will examine potential                         Any person desiring to intervene or to
                                                  public health and safety effects and                                                                             Docket Numbers: EC16–117–000.
                                                                                                          protest should file with the Federal                     Applicants: Northern States Power
                                                  environmental impacts from the                          Energy Regulatory Commission, 888                     Company, a Wisconsin corporation.
                                                  proposed action. This notice is intended                First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426,                  Description: Second Supplement to
                                                  to inform agencies and the public of                    in accordance with Rules 211 and 214                  May 10, 2016 Application of Northern
                                                  DOE’s proposal. Although the following                  of the Commission’s Rules of Practice                 States Power Company, a Wisconsin
                                                  is not intended to be all inclusive or to               and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and                     corporation for Authorization under
                                                  imply any predetermination of impacts,                  385.214). Anyone filing a motion to                   FPA Section 203 to Acquire
                                                  these general categories of impacts will                intervene or protest must serve a copy                Jurisdictional Assets.
                                                  be considered in the SEIS: Land use;                    of that document on the Applicant.                       Filed Date: 8/16/16.
                                                  geology, soils, and geologic hazards,                      Notice is hereby given that the                       Accession Number: 20160816–5184.
                                                  including seismicity; water resources                   deadline for filing protests with regard                 Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/6/16.
                                                  (surface water and groundwater);                        to the applicant’s request for blanket
                                                                                                                                                                   Docket Numbers: EC16–168–000.
                                                  biological resources; protected,                        authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of                  Applicants: NRG Renew LLC, Four
                                                  threatened and endangered species,                      future issuances of securities and                    Brothers Holdings, LLC, Granite
                                                  including species of special concern;                   assumptions of liability, is September 8,             Mountain Renewables, LLC, Iron
                                                  human health and safety (both routine                   2016.                                                 Springs Renewables, LLC.
                                                                                                             The Commission encourages
                                                  operations and potential accidents); air                                                                         Description: Joint Application for
                                                                                                          electronic submission of protests and
                                                  quality; noise; cultural and historic                                                                         Approval Under Section 203 of the
                                                                                                          interventions in lieu of paper, using the
                                                  resources; waste management;                                                                                  Federal Power Act and Request for
                                                                                                          FERC Online links at http://
                                                  environmental justice; and                                                                                    Expedited Action of NRG Renew LLC, et
                                                                                                          www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
                                                  socioeconomics.                                                                                               al.
                                                                                                          service, persons with Internet access                    Filed Date: 8/18/16.
                                                  Public Participation in the SEIS Process                who will eFile a document and/or be                      Accession Number: 20160818–5339.
                                                                                                          listed as a contact for an intervenor                    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/8/16.
                                                    A public scoping process is optional                  must create and validate an
                                                                                                          eRegistration account using the                          Take notice that the Commission
                                                  for DOE Supplemental EISs (10 CFR
                                                                                                          eRegistration link. Select the eFiling                received the following exempt
                                                  1021.311(f)), and there will be none for
                                                                                                          link to log on and submit the                         wholesale generator filings:
                                                  this project. However, DOE will provide
                                                  opportunities for public review and                     intervention or protests.                                Docket Numbers: EG16–136–000.
                                                                                                             Persons unable to file electronically                 Applicants: Boulder Solar II, LLC.
                                                  comment, including public hearings, on
                                                                                                          should submit an original and 5 copies                   Description: Notice of Self-
                                                  the draft SEIS.                                                                                               Certification of Exempt Wholesale
                                                                                                          of the intervention or protest to the
                                                  SEIS Preparation and Schedule                           Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,                 Generator Status of Boulder Solar II,
                                                                                                          888 First Street NE., Washington, DC                  LLC.
                                                    DOE expects to issue the draft SEIS in                20426.                                                   Filed Date: 8/19/16.
                                                  2016.                                                      The filings in the above-referenced                   Accession Number: 20160819–5125.
                                                    Issued at Washington, DC, on August 19,               proceeding are accessible in the                         Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/9/16.
                                                  2016.                                                   Commission’s eLibrary system by                          Take notice that the Commission
                                                  Frank Marcinowski,                                      clicking on the appropriate link in the               received the following electric rate
                                                                                                          above list. They are also available for               filings:
                                                  Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental
                                                                                                          electronic review in the Commission’s                    Docket Numbers: ER10–2980–007;
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Management.
                                                                                                          Public Reference Room in Washington,                  ER10–2983–007.
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–20501 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          DC. There is an eSubscription link on                    Applicants: Castleton Power, LLC,
                                                  BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
                                                                                                          the Web site that enables subscribers to              Castleton Energy Services, LLC.
                                                                                                          receive email notification when a                        Description: Notice of Non-Material
                                                                                                          document is added to a subscribed                     Change in Status of Castleton Power,
                                                                                                          docket(s). For assistance with any FERC               LLC, et al.
                                                                                                          Online service, please email                             Filed Date: 8/19/16.


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Document Created: 2016-08-26 10:40:25
Document Modified: 2016-08-26 10:40:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent.
ContactFor further information on DOE's DUF<INF>6</INF> long-term management and disposal program, please contact Ms. Jaffet Ferrer-Torres, U.S. Department of Energy at the
FR Citation81 FR 58921 

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