31 July 2002
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html

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[Federal Register: July 30, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 49323-49324]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy02-44]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Future Location of the
Heat Source/Radioisotope Power System Assembly and Test Operations
Currently Located at the Mound Site--Issued for public comments

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Solicitation of public comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Department has prepared a draft
EA for the future location of the Heat Source/Radioisotope Power
Systems (HS/RPS) assembly and test operations program currently located
at the Mound site in Miamisburg, Ohio. After the events of September
11, 2001, a department-wide review of security identified the need for
enhanced security measures at Mound to protect the materials associated
with the program and the surrounding community. The Department analyzed
a range of options including, upgrading the existing infrastructure at
Mound site to enable the program to remain in that location as well as
transferring the operations to more secure locations at the Pantex Site
in Texas or the Argonne National Laboratory-West site in Idaho. The
Department's highest priority is ensuring the health and safety of the
workers at its sites and the communities surrounding them. With this
responsibility at the forefront, the Department held four public
meetings to discuss the future of this program. Information received
from this public scoping process and preliminary assessments of the
costs and schedules associated with the various alternatives, led to
identification of DOE's Argonne National Laboratory-West site as the
preferred site for the future location of the HS/RPS program. The
Department is soliciting comments on the draft EA from the affected
Federal, state, and local agencies and Tribal governments, and
interested public.

DATES: Comments on the draft EA are due on August 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA are available from Mr. Timothy A. Frazier
and comments should be transmitted to him in any of the following ways:
U.S. mail to: Mr. Timothy A. Frazier, U.S. Department of Energy, PO Box
66, Miamisburg, OH 45343-0066 [Phone: (937) 865-3748]; Facsimile: (937)
865-4489; electronic mail: Tim.Frazier@HQ.DOE.GOV.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department issued a Federal Register
notice on May 31, 2002, announcing the public scoping meetings for the
subject EA. Public scoping meetings were held in Washington, DC
metropolitan area, Miamisburg, Ohio, Amarillo, Texas, and Idaho Falls,
Idaho. Comments received on the scope of the EA were considered in
preparation of the draft of the EA which is now being made available to
the public and affected government agencies and Tribes. For
consideration in preparation of the final EA, comments should be
transmitted to Mr. Timothy A. Frazier, as specified above,

[[Page 49324]]

no later than August 20, 2002. Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable. The Department has now
identified the Argonne National Laboratory-West site as the preferred
site for the future location of the HS/RPS program. On the basis of the
significance of environmental impacts evaluated in the EA, the
Department will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact or proceed
with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

    Issued in Washington, DC, July 23, 2002.
William D. Magwood, IV,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 02-19220 Filed 7-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P