Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Transfer of the Heat Source/Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Assembly and Test Operations From the Mound Site

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Transfer of the Heat

Source/Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Assembly and Test

Operations From the Mound Site

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DOE

announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the proposed transfer of the

Heat Source/Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (HS/RTG) operations

at the Mound Site near Miamisburg, Ohio, to an alternative DOE site.

Alternative sites for the proposed transfer of operations to be

evaluated in the EIS include: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in

Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the Pantex Plant, seventeen miles east of

Amarillo, Texas; the Hanford Site, north of Richland, Washington; the

Nevada Test Site (NTS), sixty miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada; and

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), fifty

miles west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. In addition, the ``No Action''

alternative (operations remaining at Mound) will be evaluated as

required by NEPA. DOE invites individuals, organizations, and agencies

to present oral and/or written comments concerning the scope of the

EIS, including the environmental issues and alternatives the EIS should

analyze.

DATES: The public scoping begins with publication of this Notice in the

Federal Register and continues until December 1, 1998. Comments must be

postmarked or submitted by fax or electronic mail by that date to

ensure consideration. The public may also call 1-800-931-9006 and leave

a detailed message with their comments. Comments received after that

date will be considered to the extent practicable. DOE will conduct

public scoping meetings to assist it in defining the appropriate scope

of the EIS including the significant environmental issues to be

addressed. DOE plans to hold scoping meetings in the vicinity of the

Mound Site, ORNL, Pantex, Hanford, NTS, and INEEL. The date, time, and

location will be announced through the local media as soon as

determined but at least 15 days before the date of the meetings.

ADDRESSES: Please direct comments on the scope of the EIS, requests to

speak at the public scoping meetings, requests for special arrangements

to enable participation at scoping meetings (e.g., interpreter for the

hearing-impaired), and questions concerning the project to: Timothy A.

Frazier, U.S. Department of Energy, P. O. Box 66, Miamisburg, OH 45343-

0066, Telephone: (937) 865-3748 or leave a message on (800) 931-9006,

Facsimile (937) 865-4219, Electronic mail: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general and technical information

associated with the HS/RTG assembly and acceptance testing activities,

please contact Mr. Frazier at the address above. For general

information on the DOE NEPA process, please contact:

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 on (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

DOE and its predecessor agencies have been developing HS/RTGs and

supplying them to user agencies for more than 35 years. The

radioisotope used in these systems is plutonium-238, a non-fissile

(i.e., non-weapons-usable) form of plutonium. A HS/RTG converts thermal

energy that is generated by the spontaneous radioactive decay of Pu-238

to electrical energy. These systems have repeatedly demonstrated their

value as key technologies in various harsh, remote, and inaccessible

environments, such as space, where it is impractical to provide the

fuel and maintenance that more conventional electrical power sources

would need. The Mound Site has been performing the DOE's HS/RTG

assembly and testing operations for over 15 years.

The Mound Site, located in Miamisburg, Ohio, was established in

1946 as the first permanent installation associated with the Atomic

Energy Commission. Until the early 1990s, the Mound Site manufactured

critical nuclear weapons components. The site is currently being

environmentally restored under a Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liabilities Act (CERCLA) Sec. 120 Agreement. DOE and

its site restoration contractor plan to complete the environmental

restoration and exit the site by February 2003. It is anticipated that

the future use of the site will involve an industrial park.

The HS/RTG assembly and test operations are contained in two major

buildings at the Mound Site. HS/RTG assembly is performed in Mound's

Building 38. The HSs are assembled in glove boxes using parts

manufactured or procured by the Mound Site and encapsulated plutonium-

238 provided by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). RTGs are

also assembled, as well as tested, in Mound's Building 50. The RTGs are

assembled in a large inert atmosphere chamber and then acceptance

tested. The acceptance testing involves: mass properties (mass and

center of gravity), determination of magnetic signature, vibration, and

performance testing (to simulate in-flight performance).

Purpose and Need for Agency Action

It is DOE's responsibility and a primary mission to maintain the

availability of HS/RTGs for the U.S. Government. DOE currently has

projected requirements to provide such power systems through FY 2009.

Based on that commitment and the planned exit of DOE from the Mound

Site, DOE needs to relocate the HS/RTG assembly and test operations

from the Mound Site to a technically capable site with a continuing

long-term Departmental presence. DOE is proposing to transfer the HS/

RTG assembly and test operations from the Mound Site immediately prior

to the completion of the environmental restoration activities at this

site. DOE would then cease operations and exit the site in February

2003. Should DOE maintain the HS/RTG operations at the Mound Site, DOE

would be unable to exit the site as planned in February 2003.

The assessment that led to the proposed transfer addressed a number

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of questions related to remaining at Mound versus the advantages of

moving to another site. Items evaluated included: (1) Staying at Mound

would require DOE to maintain a secure facility collocated with an

industrial park, (2) staying at Mound would require DOE to maintain a

small facility handling nuclear materials in close proximity to the

public, (3) moving to another location would enable the program to draw

upon the technical resources of a much broader program structure in the

event of technical problems or schedule demands, and (4) the supporting

infrastructure of DOE offices, safety staff, and related functions

would exist at another site but DOE would have to create an as-yet

undefined system of support to enable the program to remain at Mound.

Alternatives To Be Evaluated

The EIS will analyze the reasonable alternatives as determined

based on public input during the scoping process and further study by

DOE for the proposed transfer of the HS/RTG assembly and test

operations. The alternatives must meet certain technical evaluation

criteria related to the site's technical approach to accomplish the

work, the proposed personnel and management commitment, past

performance and project management, facilities and equipment, the

operation of the facilities, the integration with other program

activities, and the schedule. DOE has preliminarily identified the

following alternatives which meet these criteria:

No Action Alternative

Under this alternative, the HS/RTG assembly and test operations

would remain at the Mound Site. Operations would continue at the Mound

Site and be consolidated into Building 50 with several support

buildings. Continuation of HS/RTG assembly and test operations at the

Mound Site would require the DOE to maintain a presence at the site and

the planned closure of the Mound Site in February 2003 would not take

place.

Transfer Operations to ORNL

Under this alternative, DOE would transfer the HS/RTG assembly and

test operations to Building 3525 and support facilities at ORNL.

Transfer Operations to Pantex

Under this alternative, DOE would transfer the HS/RTG assembly and

test operations to Building 12-66 at the Pantex Plant. Current DOE

planning to store surplus pits in Pantex's Building 12-66, in

accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Storage and

Disposition of Weapons Useable Fissile Materials Programmatic

Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) (January 14, 1997, 62 Federal

Register 3014), could impact the use of this building as a reasonable

alternative for the HS/RTG assembly and test operations.

Transfer Operations to Hanford

Under this alternative, DOE would transfer the HS/RTG assembly and

test operations to the Hanford Site's Fuel Materials and Examination

Facility (FMEF). In its Surplus Plutonium Disposition Draft

Environmental Impact Statement (July 1998), DOE is also analyzing the

use of FMEF as a reasonable alternative for the siting of surplus

plutonium disposition facilities, and this analysis could impact the

use of FMEF as a reasonable alternative for the HS/RTG assembly and

test operations.

Transfer Operations to Nevada

Under this alternative, DOE would transfer HS/RTG assembly and test

operations to NTS's Device Assembly Facility.

Transfer Operations to INEEL

Under this alternative, DOE would transfer the HS/RTG assembly and

test operations to INEEL's Test Area North.

Preliminary Environmental Analysis

The following issues have been tentatively identified for analysis

in the EIS. This list is neither intended to be all-inclusive nor is it

a predetermination of potential environmental impacts. The list is

presented to facilitate comment on the scope of the EIS. Additions to

or deletions from this list may occur as a result of the public scoping

process.

Health and Safety: potential public and occupational

consequences from construction, routine operation, and credible

accident scenarios.

Waste Management: types and quantities of wastes expected

to be generated, handled, and stored.

Pollution Prevention: pollution prevention opportunities

and the potential consequences to public safety and the environment.

Hazardous Materials: handling, storage, and use, both

present and future.

Background Radiation: cosmic, rock, soil, water, and air,

and the potential addition of radiation.

Water Resources: surface and groundwater hydrology, water

use and quality, and the potential for degradation.

Air Quality: meteorological conditions, ambient

background, sources, and potential for degradation.

Earth Resources: physiography, topography, geology, and

soil characteristics.

Land Use: plans, policies, and controls.

Noise: ambient, sources, and sensitive receptors.

Ecological Resources: wetlands, aquatic, terrestrial,

economically/recreationally important species, threatened species, and

endangered species.

Socioeconomic: demography, economic base, labor pool,

housing, transportation, utilities, public services/facilities,

education, recreation, and cultural resources.

Natural Disasters: floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and

seismic events.

Unavoidable Adverse Impacts.

Natural and Depletable Resources: requirements and

conservation potential.

Environmental Justice: any potential disproportionately

high and adverse impacts to minority and low income populations.

Scoping Meetings

The purpose of this Notice is to encourage public involvement in

the EIS process and to solicit public comments on the proposed scope

and content of the EIS. DOE will hold public scoping meetings near

Mound, ORNL, Pantex Plant, Hanford Site, NTS, and INEEL to solicit both

oral and written comments from interested parties. The public may also

call 1-800-931-9006 and leave a detailed message with their comments.

The dates, times, and locations will be announced through the local

media as soon as determined but at least 15 days before the date of the

meetings.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the program's

objectives, DOE personnel will be available at the scoping meetings to

explain the program to the public and answer questions. DOE will

designate a facilitator for the scoping meetings. At the opening of

each meeting, the facilitator will establish the order of speakers and

will announce any additional procedures necessary for conducting the

meetings. To ensure that all persons wishing to make a presentation are

given the opportunity, each speaker may be limited to five minutes,

except for public officials and representatives of groups, who will be

allotted ten minutes each. DOE encourages those providing oral comments

to also submit them in writing. Comment cards will also be available

for those who prefer to submit their comments in written form. Speakers

may be asked clarifying

[[Page 53033]]

questions, but the scoping meetings will not be conducted as

evidentiary hearings.

DOE will make transcripts of the scoping meetings and project-

related materials available for public review in the following reading

rooms:

U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Public Reading Room,

Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-3142

Ohio Field Office, Freedom of Information Public Reading Room,

Cafeteria Garden Room, One Mound Road, Miamisburg, OH 45342, Telephone:

(937) 865-4078

Oak Ridge Operations Office, DOE Oak Ridge Public Reading Room, U.S.

Department of Energy, 200 Administration Road, Room G-217, P.O. Box

2001, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Telephone: (423) 576-1216 or (423) 241-4780

Amarillo Area Office, Pantex Plant, DOE Public Reading Room, Reference

Department, Lynn Library and Learning Center, Amarillo College, 2201

South Washington, 4th Floor, Amarillo, TX 79109, Telephone: (806) 371-

5400

Richland Operations Office, DOE Public Reading Room, 2770 University

Drive CIC, Room 101L, P.O. Box 999, mail stop H2-53, Richland, WA

99352, Telephone: (509) 372-7443

Nevada Test Site, Coordination and Information Center, Bechtel Nevada,

P.O. Box 98521, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8521, Telephone: (702) 295-1628

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, DOE-Idaho

Operations Office Public Reading Room, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho

Falls, ID 83415, Telephone: (208) 526-0271

NEPA Process

The EIS for the proposed transfer of the HS/RTG assembly and test

operations will be prepared in accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental

Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of

NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and DOE's NEPA Regulations (10 CFR Part

1021).

A schedule for the draft EIS will be contingent on the scoping

process. A 60-day comment period on the draft EIS is planned, and

public hearings to receive comments will be held approximately six

weeks after distribution of the draft EIS. Availability of the draft

EIS, the dates of the public comment period, and information about the

public hearings will be announced in the Federal Register and in the

local news media when the draft EIS is distributed.

The final EIS, which will consider the public comments received on

the draft EIS, is scheduled to be published in the fall of 1999. No

sooner than 30 days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

publishes a notice of availability of the final EIS in the Federal

Register, DOE will issue its Record of Decision and publish it in the

Federal Register.

Signed in Washington, D.C., this 24th day of September 1998.

Peter N. Brush,

Acting Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.

[FR Doc. 98-26464 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]

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