Notice2024-30610
Record of Decision for DOE/EIS-0082-S-SA-01 Supplement Analysis for Defense Waste Processing Facility Failed Melter Aboveground Storage
Primary source
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Published
December 23, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its decision to construct an interim aboveground storage facility for storage of two Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) failed melters (Melter Nos. 1 and 2) in lieu of underground storage units. Moving Melter Nos. 1 and 2 from the Failed Equipment Storage Vaults (FESVs) to aboveground storage will allow space for storage of two melters with a higher radiological nature to be stored in the FESVs. The potential environmental impacts of this decision were analyzed in DOE/ EIS-0082-S-SA-01, "Supplement Analysis for Defense Waste Processing Facility Failed Melter Aboveground Storage" (the SA). The SA found that the proposed change and information discussed in this SA are not significant and therefore do not require a supplement to the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) Defense Waste Processing Facility (DOE/EIS-0082-S).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104530-104531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30610]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Record of Decision for DOE/EIS-0082-S-SA-01 Supplement Analysis
for Defense Waste Processing Facility Failed Melter Aboveground Storage
AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Record of decision (ROD).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its decision to
construct an interim aboveground storage facility for storage of two
Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) failed melters (Melter Nos. 1
and 2) in lieu of underground storage units. Moving Melter Nos. 1 and 2
from the Failed Equipment Storage Vaults (FESVs) to aboveground storage
will allow space for storage of two melters
[[Page 104531]]
with a higher radiological nature to be stored in the FESVs. The
potential environmental impacts of this decision were analyzed in DOE/
EIS-0082-S-SA-01, ``Supplement Analysis for Defense Waste Processing
Facility Failed Melter Aboveground Storage'' (the SA). The SA found
that the proposed change and information discussed in this SA are not
significant and therefore do not require a supplement to the Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) Defense Waste
Processing Facility (DOE/EIS-0082-S).
ADDRESSES: This ROD and related information are available at the
University of South Carolina--Aiken, Public Reading Room. The documents
are posted on the DOE NEPA website at <a href="http://www.energy.gov/nepa">www.energy.gov/nepa</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Williams, NEPA Document Manager/
NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River
Operations Office, ATTN: Tracy Williams, P.O. Box A, Building 730-B,
Aiken, SC 29802-0151, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d783a5b6b4aef980bebbbbbeb6baa497a4a5a4f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fcbedfefce6b1c8f6f3f3f6fef2ecdfecedecb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>, (803) 952-8278.
For general information on the DOE Office of Environmental
Management NEPA process, contact: Bill Ostrum, EM NEPA Compliance
Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585; or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1166787d7d78707c3f7e626563647c5179603f757e743f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6b1afaaaaafa7abe8a9b5b2b4b3ab86aeb7e8a2a9a3e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 1, 1982, DOE decided that failed equipment that could not
be repaired was to be decontaminated, packaged, and transferred to the
SRS burial facilities. However, DOE was concerned that melters, and
possibly other equipment, potentially could not be decontaminated to
levels that would allow them to be handled or even repaired without
resulting in unacceptable radiation doses to workers. Therefore, DOE
constructed two underground vaults in S-Area near the DWPF to provide
safe interim storage of this equipment until a permanent disposal
facility can be identified. Failed equipment is first placed into
containers (e.g., Melter Storage Box) before being put into interim
storage facilities.
Currently, two DWPF failed melters (Melter Nos. 1 and 2) are stored
underground in two operational FESVs. For analysis, DOE assumed that a
total of approximately 14 vaults would be required for underground
storage of failed melters and other large equipment due to their highly
radiological nature. The life expectancy of the DWPF melters has been
extended based on current performance. The current ``Liquid Waste
System Plan'', SRMC-LWP-2023-0001, Revision 23-P, March 2023 assumes
one melter changeout, which would be Melter No. 3 replaced by Melter
No. 4. As such, storage for up to four melters is projected to be
required for the life of DWPF, not fourteen. Storage for fourteen
melters is no longer required. Construction of the aboveground storage
facility should provide the required additional failed melter storage
space for the life expectancy of DWPF. Actual radiation dose
calculations for Melter Nos. 1 and 2 have been determined to be far
lower than what was analyzed in the Final SEIS. Consequently, the low
radiological nature of Melter Nos. 1 and 2 allow for properly
constructed aboveground storage. Moving Melter Nos. 1 and 2 from the
FESVs to aboveground storage will allow space for storage of two
melters with a higher radiological nature to be stored in the FESVs.
The same design criteria outlined in the existing analysis has been
applied to the design of the aboveground storage facility, and the size
of the aboveground facilities will be like that of the underground
facilities.
In accordance with DOE's NEPA implementing regulations, and
consistent with the NEPA Recommendations for the Supplement Analysis
Process, 2nd Edition, DOE prepared the DOE/EIS-0082-S-SA-01,
``Supplement Analysis for Defense Waste Processing Facility Failed
Melter Aboveground Storage'', July 2024, to evaluate whether the
aboveground storage of failed melters require supplementing the
existing EIS or preparing a new EIS.
In the SA, DOE evaluated the impacts of this proposed change and
new information since publication of the Final SEIS. This included
potential change to impacts to geologic resources, groundwater, surface
water, air resources, cultural resources, aesthetics and scenic
resources, traffic and transportation, radiological health effects from
normal operations, nonradiological health effects from normal
operations, worker radiological and nonradiological health, accidents,
chemical hazards, waste generation, decontamination and
decommissioning, unavoidable adverse impacts, DWPF Organic Waste
Treatment options, greenhouse gasses, noise, land use, biological
resources, floodplains and wetlands, socioeconomic resources and
existing facilities, and cumulative impacts. In all cases, DOE
identified no or negligible differences in potential impacts. DOE
concluded that the proposed change and information discussed in the SA
are not significant and therefore do not require a supplement to Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Defense Waste Processing
Facility (DOE/EIS-0082-S). No further NEPA documentation is required.
Decision
The DOE announces its decision to construct an interim aboveground
storage facility for storage of two DWPF failed melters (Melter Nos. 1
and 2) in lieu of underground storage units, as described in the SA. In
the SA, DOE concluded that the proposed change and information
discussed in the SA are not significant and therefore do not require a
supplement to Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Defense
Waste Processing Facility (DOE/EIS-0082-S). No further NEPA
documentation is required.
Mitigation
Because the proposed activity circumstances are similar in nature
to the existing potential impacts based on this analysis, DOE
determined, consistent with the FEIS, that no additional mitigation
measures are anticipated.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December 2,
2024, by Candice Trummell, Senior Advisor for Environmental Management,
pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That
document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2024.
Jennifer Hartzell,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-30610 Filed 12-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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