Notice of Extension of the Public Comment Period for the Department of the Navy Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Container System for the Management of Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Extension of the Public Comment Period for the

Department of the Navy Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a

Container System for the Management of Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (Navy) gave notice of the

availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a

Container System for the Management of Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel in the

May 14, 1996 Federal Register (61 FR 24293). The formal comment period

commenced on May 17, 1996 (61 FR 24933) and was scheduled to close on

July 3, 1996. The Navy has now determined that the public comment

period will be extended to July 18, 1996.

The draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the requirements of

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); Council on

Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA, 40 CFR Parts 1500-

1508; and the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental and Natural

Resources Program Manual, OPNAV Instruction 5090.1B. As identified in

the May 14,

[[Page 28858]]

1996 Federal Register notice, the Navy will conduct public hearings and

receive comments on the draft EIS which addresses the need,

alternatives, and environmental impacts of manufacturing containers;

loading containers; handling, and storage of naval spent nuclear fuel

at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL); transportation of

naval spent nuclear fuel loaded containers to a notional repository or

centralized interim storage site; and the storage, handling, and

transportation of certain radioactive waste associated with naval spent

nuclear fuel management. The Department of Energy is a cooperating

agency for this draft EIS. The draft EIS is available to the public in

reading rooms and designated information locations, as identified in

the May 14, 1996 Federal Register notice.

DATES: The Navy invites interested agencies, organizations, and the

general public to provide comments on the draft EIS. The original 45

day formal comment period commenced on May 17, 1996 and was scheduled

to close on July 3, 1996. The Navy is now providing a 60 day public

comment period and all comments on the draft EIS are due by July 18,

1996. Oral comments will be accepted at the public hearings to be held

at the Times and locations listed in the May 14, 1996 Federal Register

notice. The final EIS is scheduled to be available no later than

November 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Comments should be sent to: Mr. William Knoll of the Naval Nuclear

Propulsion Program of the Department of the Navy, Code NAVSEA 08U, 2531

Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22242-5160, Telephone: 703-602-

8229.

Dated: May 31, 1996.

M.A. Waters,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-14305 Filed 6-5-96; 8:45 am]

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