Finding of No Significant Impact for the Establishment of a Reserve of Ozone Depleting Substances

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Finding of No Significant Impact for the Establishment of a

Reserve of Ozone Depleting Substances

AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: An environmental assessment on the Establishment of a Reserve

of Ozone Depleting Substances was prepared pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 (et seq) and

the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR Parts 1500-

1508). The environmental assessment concluded that there will be no

significant impact on the environment and that preparation of an

Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary. Interested

parties may submit comments to the address listed below for a 30-day

period from the date of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 25th of February 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Mr, Jan Reitman, CAAE, Staff Director,

Environmental and Safety Policy Office, Defense Logistics Agency,

Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA 22304-6100, (703) 274-6124.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DLA has been directed to establish a reserve

of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) to ensure that supplies for

mission-critical uses will be available. An environmental assessment

has been prepared to address the proposed strategy for establishing the

ODS Reserve, possible alternative approaches, environmental

consequences of the proposed action, and measures recommended to

mitigate potentially adverse effects. This environmental assessment has

been prepared in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

regulations and DLA implementing regulation DLAR 1000.22, Environmental

Consideration in DLA Actions.

The proposed action involves the establishment of a Defense Reserve

to support mission-critical requirements for CFC refrigerants and halon

fire extinguishing agents. CFC solvents may be maintained in the

Reserve if requirements are fully justified. Although the Reserve may

receive deposits from all sources within the DoD, material will be

issued only to mission-critical systems and users as identified to the

DLA by the Military Services. The establishment of the Reserve will

give DoD the capability to centrally receive, recontainerize, recycle

and reclaim ODS. This reclamation capability will be established at the

Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, Virginia, which already has

extensive operations involving compressed gas receipt, storage, and

distribution and cylinder refurnishment. The Reserve will be located

within structures currently used for cylinder storage and refurbishment

and will require no new construction. DLA will institute a variety of

safeguards including personnel training, equipment upgrades, and leak

detection programs to maintain the inventory and avoid unnecessary

emissions. Reserve operations will not require air emission, water

discharge, or hazardous waste management permits.

DLA will manage inventory levels in order to ensure that excess

quantities of materials are not maintained in the Reserve and will

phase out materials when no longer needed for mission-critical

purposes. Any excess will be disposed of in compliance with

environmental regulatory requirements. New purchases of ODS will be

necessary in order to establish inventories at levels which can be

sustained through recovery and reclamation. The quantity of new ODS

purchases will be validated in coordination with the DoD Inspector

General. The total quantity of ODS expected to be acquired for the

initial establishment of the Reserve will be less than the average

quantity of ODS purchased annually by DoD in recent years. Specific

measures have been identified in the assessment to mitigate potentially

adverse effects which might occur during establishment or operation of

the Reserve. The establishment of a Reserve and the initiation of

central recovery, recycling and reclamation operations will allow DoD

to conserve ODS inventories, maintain mission-critical systems which

are dependent on ODS, and avoid the need for an exemption to the

production phase out pursuant to Section 604(f) of the Clean Air Act

Amendments.

The establishment of a defense Reserve for mission-critical ODS is

not considered a major action significantly affecting the quality of

the human environment or requiring the preparation of an Environmental

Impact Statement. A public comment period regarding the environmental

assessment will begin at the time of publication of this notice and

will conclude 30 days following. Copies of the environmental assessment

are available for inspection at the address listed above.

Dated: February 25, 1994.

Jan B. Reitman,

Staff Director, (Environmental and Safety Policy).

[FR Doc. 94-4782 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3620-01-M