Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Construction and Operation of a Tritium Extraction Facility at the Savannah River Site

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

Construction and Operation of a Tritium Extraction Facility at the

Savannah River Site

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare

an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for construction and operation

of a Tritium Extraction Facility (TEF) pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 USC 4321 et

seq.). In the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Tritium Supply and

Recycling Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement issued

December 5, 1995, and published in the Federal Register on December 12,

1995 (60 FR 63878), DOE decided to construct and operate a Tritium

Extraction Facility (TEF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) as part of a

dual track strategy to ensure a supply of tritium to support the

continuing nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States. One of the

strategy tracks is the Commercial Light Water Reactor (CLWR)

alternative, and the other is an accelerator system for tritium

production. The primary tritium source will be selected within three

years of the ROD issuance. The TEF would be built at SRS, and would be

capable of extracting tritium both from CLWR targets and from an

alternate design for accelerator targets. (The primary accelerator

design would use a different technology to extract tritium.) This site-

specific EIS would analyze the environmental impacts of construction

and operation of the proposed TEF.

DOE has also decided to prepare an EIS for Accelerator Production

of Tritium (APT) at the SRS. That EIS will be the subject of a separate

Notice of Intent (NOI), but will have scoping meetings concurrent with

the TEF process.

DATES: The public scoping period will be open until November 1, 1996.

Written comments submitted by mail should be postmarked by that date to

ensure consideration. DOE will consider comments mailed after that date

to the extent practicable. DOE will conduct public scoping meetings to

assist in defining the appropriate scope of the EIS and identifying

significant environmental issues to be addressed. Meetings for the TEF

EIS and the APT EIS will be held concurrently, with separate workshops

possible depending upon attendance levels. Notices of the dates, times,

and locations of the scoping meetings will be announced in the local

media at least 15 days before the meetings.

ADDRESSES: Please direct written comments or suggestions on the scope

of the EIS, requests to speak at the public scoping meetings, and

questions concerning the project to: Mr. Andrew R. Grainger, U.S.

Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, P.O. Box 5031,

Aiken, S.C. 29804-5031, 1-800-242-8269, E-mail: [email protected].

Mark the envelopes: ``Tritium Extraction Facility EIS Comments''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the DOE

NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office

of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0119, telephone 202-

586-4600 or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SRS is an 800 square kilometer (300

square mile) controlled access area located in

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southwestern South Carolina. The Site is approximately 25 miles

southeast of Augusta, Georgia, and 20 miles south of Aiken, South

Carolina. Since its establishment, the mission of the SRS has been to

produce nuclear materials that support the defense, research, and

medical programs of the United States.

With the end of the Cold War and the reduction in the size of the

U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, there is no longer a requirement to

produce new nuclear materials for defense purposes, with the exception

of tritium. As a result, activities at SRS have shifted from nuclear

material production to cleanup and environmental restoration. All

production reactors are permanently shut down. However, a new source of

tritium is needed to support the nuclear weapons stockpile well into

the twenty-first century. Tritium has a relatively short half life

(12.3 years) and therefore must be periodically replenished in each

weapon in the stockpile.

The Department evaluated the programmatic need for a new tritium

source in a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for

Tritium Supply and Recycling (DOE/EIS-0161, October 1995). Based on the

findings in the PEIS and other technical, cost, and schedule

evaluations, the Department issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on

December 5, 1995 (60 FR 63877, December 12, 1995). In the ROD, the

Department decided to pursue a dual-track approach on the two most

promising tritium supply alternatives: (1) To initiate purchase of an

existing commercial reactor (operating or partially complete) for

conversion to a defense facility, or purchase of irradiation services

with an option to purchase the reactor; and (2) to design, build, and

test critical components of an accelerator system for tritium

production. Within a three-year period, the Department would select one

of these approaches to serve as the primary source of tritium. The

other alternative, if feasible, would continue to be developed as a

backup tritium source. SRS was selected as the location for an

accelerator, should one be built. Under the ROD, the tritium recycling

facilities at SRS would be upgraded and consolidated and a tritium

extraction facility would be constructed at SRS to support both of the

dual-track options.

The Department's strategy for compliance with NEPA has been, first,

to make decisions on programmatic alternatives as described and

evaluated in the Tritium Supply and Recycling PEIS. This evaluation was

intended to be followed by site-specific analyses to implement the

selected programmatic decisions. The decisions made in the December 5,

1995 ROD have resulted in the Department proposing to prepare the

following NEPA documents:

1. An EIS for the Selection of One or More Commercial Light Water

Reactors for Tritium Production;

2. An EIS for the Construction and Operation of an Accelerator for

the Production of Tritium at the Savannah River Site;

3. An Environmental Assessment for the Tritium Facility

Modernization and Consolidation at the Savannah River Site; and

4. An EIS for the Construction and Operation of a Tritium

Extraction Facility at the Savannah River Site.

The EIS proposed by this Notice of Intent is the fourth of the

proposed NEPA documents listed above.

Proposed Action: The Department proposes to construct and operate a

TEF at the SRS. The overall mission of the TEF would be to extract

tritium gas from targets irradiated in a CLWR or an accelerator, and

deliver weapons-quality tritium to the Tritium Loading Facility, also

known as the Replacement Tritium Facility, Building 233-H, at the SRS.

The TEF would also be capable of extracting tritium from the

accelerator alternate target design (lithium-6 aluminum alloy), if

required. (The primary design for the accelerator calls for use of

helium-3 gas as a target material and for continuous removal of tritium

in a tritium separation facility co-located with the accelerator.) The

proposed action includes co-location of the TEF with Building 233-H,

and the design of the TEF for an operating life of about 40 years.

Under the proposed action, the TEF would share common plant support

facilities with Building 233-H. Construction of the TEF would require 4

to 5 years. The TEF would be a hardened concrete industrial structure,

partially below ground.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action: DOE has identified two

preliminary alternatives to the proposed action. Comments on these

alternatives, or identification and comment on other reasonable

alternatives, are welcome.

The No Action alternative is not to build the proposed Tritium

Extraction Facility. Under this alternative, the facility would not be

constructed. At the SRS, tritium can be extracted from heavy water

reactor targets in the Tritium Extraction, Concentration and Enrichment

Facility (Building 232-H), but there are no facilities in operation to

fabricate or irradiate heavy water reactor targets. Currently, the

Tritium Extraction, Concentration and Enrichment Facility cannot

extract tritium safely from light water reactor targets or the

accelerator alternate targets (lithium-6 aluminum alloy) without

process modifications, in sufficient quantities to meet stockpile

demands. Therefore, under this alternative, the stockpile demands for

tritium could not be met if the existing commercial reactor option is

selected for tritium production, or if the alternative target is used

in the accelerator.

The second alternative is to make substantial modifications to

Building 232-H, the Tritium Extraction, Concentration and Enrichment

Facility. This facility is currently in use for tritium extraction but

would require modification to attain safety and environmental

performance requirements for tritium extraction from light water

irradiated targets. Under this alternative, this existing facility

would be modified to receive and handle remotely the light water

reactor or accelerator-irradiated targets; no new building would be

constructed. Additionally, a new furnace would be needed to achieve the

required extraction temperatures and comply with current environmental

requirements.

Identification of Environmental and Other Issues: The Department

has identified the following issues for analysis for proposed and

alternative actions in the EIS. Additional issues may be identified as

a result of the scoping process.

1. Public and Worker Safety, Health Risk Assessment: radiological

and nonradiological impacts of the proposed action and alternatives,

including projected effects on workers and the public from

construction, normal operations, and accidents.

2. Impacts from releases to air, water, and soil.

3. Impacts to plants, animals, and habitat, including impacts to

wetlands and threatened or endangered species and their habitat.

4. The consumption of natural resources and energy including water,

natural gas, and electricity.

5. Socioeconomic impacts to affected communities from construction

and operation labor forces and support services in the SRS area.

6. Environmental justice: disproportionately high and adverse human

health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.

7. Impacts to resources such as historically, archaeologically,

scientifically, or culturally important sites.

8. Compliance with all applicable Federal, state, and local

statutes and regulations; required Federal and state

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environmental consultations and notifications; and DOE Orders on waste

management, waste minimization initiatives, and environmental

protection.

9. Cumulative impacts from the proposed action and other past,

present, and reasonably foreseeable actions at SRS.

10. Potential irreversible and irretrievable commitments of

resources.

Public Scoping Process: DOE will conduct public scoping meetings to

assist in defining the appropriate scope of the EIS and to identify

significant environmental issues to be addressed. Because another EIS

for a separate tritium-related activity at SRS is commencing

simultaneously (the APT; see the notice in today's Federal Register),

the public scoping meetings for the TEF will be held concurrently with

the public scoping meetings for the APT EIS. DOE will begin each

scoping meeting with an overview of tritium activities at SRS.

Following the initial presentation, DOE will hold workshops on the APT

and the TEF. These will either be separate workshops or a combined

workshop depending on attendance levels. There will be two sessions at

each meeting location. Copies of handouts from the meetings will be

available to those unable to attend by writing Mr. Grainger at the

address above, or by calling 1-800-242-8269.

Public notices of the dates, times, and locations of the scoping

meetings will be announced in the local media at least 15 days before

the meetings. DOE is committed to providing opportunities for the

involvement of interested individuals and groups in this and other DOE

planning activities.

The public, organizations, and agencies are invited to present oral

and written comments concerning (1) the scope and issues of the EIS,

and (2) the alternatives the EIS should analyze. Please address written

comments to Mr. Grainger at the address indicated above.

Organizations and individuals wishing to participate in the public

meeting can call 1-800-242-8269 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Eastern

Standard Time, Monday through Friday, or submit their requests to Mr.

Grainger at the address indicated above. DOE requests that anyone who

wishes to speak at the scoping meeting preregister by contacting Mr.

Grainger, either by phone or in writing. Preregistration should occur

at least two days before the designated meeting. Persons who have not

preregistered to speak may register at the meeting and will be called

on to speak as time permits.

Related Documentation: Completed and ongoing environmental reviews

and public comments and concerns may affect the scope of this EIS.

Background information is listed below on past, present, and future

activities at the SRS.

Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Tritium

Supply and Recycling, DOE/EIS-0161, 1995. This PEIS presents a

programmatic environmental analysis for selection of the CLWR option,

as well as the analysis for the APT technology, both of which would

require the TEF to support the lithium-6 aluminum alloy target

alternative.

Final Interim Management of Nuclear Materials Environmental Impact

Statement, DOE/EIS-0220, 1995. This EIS contains information on DOE

waste management activities which could be affected by TEF waste

streams.

Final Savannah River Site Waste Management, DOE/EIS-0217, 1995. The

EIS contains information on SRS waste management activities which could

be affected by TEF waste streams.

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Stockpile

Stewardship and Management, DOE/EIS-0236, February, 1996. The

cumulative analysis of this PEIS includes the impacts at the Savannah

River Site from the Tritium Supply and Recycling Programmatic EIS for

the construction of an accelerator, an upgraded tritium recycling

facility, and an extraction facility.

Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation

of an Accelerator for the Production of Tritium at the Savannah River

Site (see notice in today's Federal Register).

Environmental Assessment for the Tritium Facility Modernization and

Consolidation (anticipated). The environmental assessment is to include

the impacts of modernizing and consolidating the existing tritium

recycling facilities at the Savannah River Site.

This information is available in these DOE public reading rooms:

DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, Room 1E-190, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, phone

202-586-6020; and DOE Public Document Room, University of South

Carolina, Aiken Campus, University Library, 2nd Floor, 171 University

Parkway, Aiken, S.C. 29801, phone 803-648-6851.

Issued in Washington, D.C., this 29th day of August, 1996.

Peter N. Brush,

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.

[FR Doc. 96-22608 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]

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