[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 96 (Friday, May 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28453-28454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11007]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
Notice of Availability of the Final Site-Wide Environmental
Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos National
Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: NNSA announces the availability of the Final Site-Wide
Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos
National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (Final SWEIS) (DOE/EIS-
0380). The Final SWEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of
continuing to operate Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and
addresses public comments received on the Draft SWEIS. NNSA's Preferred
Alternative for LANL, as identified in the Draft and Final SWEIS, is
the Expanded Operations Alternative. The Final SWEIS also evaluates a
No Action Alternative and a Reduced Operations Alternative.
DATES: NNSA will not issue Records of Decision based on the SWEIS
before 30 days have passed from the publication of this notice of
availability.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final SWEIS may be obtained by writing to:
U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration,
Los Alamos Site Office, Attn: NEPA Compliance Officer, Environmental
Operations, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544.
Requests for copies of the document may also be sent by facsimile
((505) 845-4239); or by E-mail (LANL_SWEIS@doeal.gov) or
LASO.SWEIS@doeal.gov. The Final SWEIS will also be available on the
NNSA Los Alamos Site Office's NEPA Web site at: http://www.doeal.gov/
laso/NEPASWEIS.aspx. Copies of the Final SWEIS are also available for
review at the following locations: The Los Alamos Research Library,
West Jemez Road, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New
Mexico; the Office of the Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Board,
1660 Old Pecos Trail, Suite B, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and, the Zimmerman
Library, Central Avenue, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on NNSA's NEPA
process, please contact: Ms. Alice C. Williams, NA-50, NEPA Compliance
Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security
Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, or
telephone 1-202-586-6847. For general information about the DOE NEPA
process, please contact: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600, or leave
a message at 1-800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose and need for continued
operation of LANL is to provide support for DOE and NNSA core missions
as directed by Congress and the President. NNSA's need to continue
operating LANL arises from its obligation to ensure a safe and reliable
nuclear weapons stockpile. LANL is also needed to support other Federal
agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. The Final
SWEIS analyzed the environmental impacts of operating LANL at different
levels. LANL is located in north-central New Mexico and covers an area
of about 40 square miles (104 square kilometers). It was established in
1943 as ``Project Y'' of the Manhattan Project with a single mission--
to build the world's first nuclear weapons. After World War II ended,
Project Y was designated a permanent research and development
laboratory and its work was expanded to incorporate a wide variety of
assignments in support of other government and civilian programs. LANL
is now a multi-disciplinary, multipurpose institution engaged in
theoretical and experimental research and development.
DOE issued a Final SWEIS and Record of Decision in 1999 for the
continued operation of the laboratory. DOE regulations implementing
NEPA require the evaluation of site-wide NEPA analyses every five years
to determine their continued applicability; such a five-year evaluation
was initiated for the 1999 SWEIS in 2004, and NNSA subsequently decided
to prepare a new SWEIS. A new Draft SWEIS was issued in July 2006 for
public review and comment over a 75-day period. NNSA considered the
comments received on
[[Page 28454]]
the Draft SWEIS in preparing the Final SWEIS.
The alternatives evaluated in the Final SWEIS represent a range of
operational levels from the minimal reasonable activity levels (Reduced
Operations Alternative) to the highest reasonable activity levels that
could be supported by current facilities combined with expansion and
construction of new facilities (Expanded Operations Alternative). The
No Action Alternative would continue current mission support work at
LANL and includes actions, facility construction, and other activities
for which NEPA analyses have already been completed. All alternatives
assumed that NNSA will continue to operate LANL as a national security
laboratory for the foreseeable future.
Subsequent Document Preparation: NNSA will consider the
environmental impact analysis presented in the Final LANL SWEIS, along
with other information, in making decisions regarding the continued
operation of LANL. NNSA will wait to issue a ROD for at least 30 days
following publication in the Federal Register of this notice of
availability. It is anticipated that several RODs may be issued based
on the Final SWEIS over the next several years. NNSA will publish all
RODs in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, this 4th day of April, 2008.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-11007 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
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