Office of Environmental Management; Release of Environmental Management Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Environmental Management; Release of Environmental

Management Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of opportunity for public comment

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the release of,

and invites the public to comment on, the Office of Environmental

Management's Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft. This

document, which focuses on completing cleanup of as many DOE sites as

possible by 2006, presents for discussion and comment a new strategic

approach for managing the Environmental Management program, along with

accompanying cost, work scope and schedule. The strategy set forth in

the Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft reflects DOE's

efforts to make its operations more efficient and reduce overall costs

in order to maintain compliance with applicable requirements and

protect public health and safety in the face of diminishing

discretionary budgetary resources.

DATES: To continue its ongoing dialogue with the public, the Department

is providing a comment period on the Discussion Draft that will extend

through September 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Environmental Management

Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft should be directed

to: U.S. Department of Energy, Mr. Gene Schmitt, P.O. Box 44818,

Washington, D.C. 20026-4481.

Comments may also be provided electronically to:

[email protected]

Department of Energy Field sites have also completed site-specific

Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Drafts and are holding

concurrent public comment periods.

[[Page 36272]]

Comments on, or requests for copies of, Site Discussion Drafts should

be submitted directly to the individual site points of contact listed

in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the Discussion

Draft or further information should be directed to the Center for

Environmental Management Information (CEMI) at 1-800-736-3282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since its inception, the DOE's Office of

Environmental Management has worked to safely manage wastes and clean

up environmental releases from past practices. In response to the

expressed desire of both the Administration and Congress to balance the

Federal budget, the Environmental Management program is developing a

strategy based on completing cleanup of as many DOE sites as possible

by 2006. This vision acknowledges that, at a small number of sites,

some environmental management functions (such as treatment and disposal

of transuranic and high-level waste, and long-term monitoring

operations) will continue beyond 2006. However, by 2006 it is

envisioned that most Department of Energy Environmental Management

sites will be able to stabilize and safely store their nuclear

materials and clean up their land and buildings.

The Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft focuses on

risk reduction, protection of public and worker health and safety,

maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and agreements,

reducing waste generation, and continuing a collaborative relationship

with stakeholders. A key goal of the Discussion Draft strategy is to

identify areas in which the Department can become more efficient, such

as focusing funds on more rapid cleanup and thereby reducing longer-

term ``mortgage'' costs of maintaining facilities. Other efficiency

improvements and alternative management approaches are also identified

for comment.

Between June and September 1997, the Department will work with

Tribal Nations, states, regulators, local governments and other

stakeholders to refine the Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006

strategies presented in the Discussion Draft. The Department will

release a Draft 2006 Plan later this year.

The primary avenues for public involvement will continue to be

through activities at individual DOE sites. During the public comment

period, it is anticipated that additional issues and opportunities will

be raised, and that the individual Operations and Field Offices will

further refine their individual 2006 plans and support the analysis and

development of the National Environmental Management Accelerating

Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Draft Plan.

Comments received may result in the development of Action Plans to

resolve longer-term issues. Future versions of the Accelerating

Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Plan will reflect changes in the Environmental

Management program and progress made toward achieving the vision of

completing cleanup of as many DOE sites as possible by 2006.

Comments on Site Discussion Drafts should be submitted directly to

the following individual site points of contact:

U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office, Ms. Tracy

Loughead, Pennsylvania and H Street, Kirtland Air Force Base,

Albuquerque, NM 87116, 505/845-5977

U.S. Department of Energy, Ohio Field Office, Mr. Ken Morgan, 1 Mound

Road, Miamisburg, OH 45342-3020, 513/865-3968

U.S. Department of Energy, Carlsbad Area Office, Mr. Dennis Hurtt, P.O.

Box 3090, Carlsbad, NM 88221, 505/234-7485

U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, Mr. Walter

Perry, 200 Administration Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 423/241-6417

U.S. Department of Energy, Chicago Operations Office, Ms. Mary Jo Acke,

9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, 630/252-8796

U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, Mr. Jim Daily,

825 Jadwin Avenue, Richland, WA 99352, 509/376-7721

U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Ms. Kathy Whitaker,

850 Energy Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, 208/526-1062

U.S. Department of Energy, Rocky Flats Field Office, Mr. Mike Konczal,

Highway 93 and Cactus Road, Golden, CO 80402, 303/966-7095

U.S. Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, Mr. Kevin Rohrer,

2621 Losee Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89030-4134, 702/295-0197

U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, Ms.

Virginia Kay, PM&CD, Aiken, SC 29801, 803/725-5752

U.S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, Mr. Ron Duvall,

1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612-5208, 510/637-1812

Issued in Washington, D.C., June 27, 1997.

Alvin L. Alm,

Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of

Energy.

[FR Doc. 97-17612 Filed 7-3-97; 8:45 am]

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