[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4782]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

 

Finding of No Significant Impact for the Establishment of a 
Reserve of Ozone Depleting Substances

AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: An environmental assessment on the Establishment of a Reserve 
of Ozone Depleting Substances was prepared pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 (et seq) and 
the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR Parts 1500-
1508). The environmental assessment concluded that there will be no 
significant impact on the environment and that preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary. Interested 
parties may submit comments to the address listed below for a 30-day 
period from the date of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 25th of February 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Mr, Jan Reitman, CAAE, Staff Director, 
Environmental and Safety Policy Office, Defense Logistics Agency, 
Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA 22304-6100, (703) 274-6124.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DLA has been directed to establish a reserve 
of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) to ensure that supplies for 
mission-critical uses will be available. An environmental assessment 
has been prepared to address the proposed strategy for establishing the 
ODS Reserve, possible alternative approaches, environmental 
consequences of the proposed action, and measures recommended to 
mitigate potentially adverse effects. This environmental assessment has 
been prepared in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations and DLA implementing regulation DLAR 1000.22, Environmental 
Consideration in DLA Actions.
    The proposed action involves the establishment of a Defense Reserve 
to support mission-critical requirements for CFC refrigerants and halon 
fire extinguishing agents. CFC solvents may be maintained in the 
Reserve if requirements are fully justified. Although the Reserve may 
receive deposits from all sources within the DoD, material will be 
issued only to mission-critical systems and users as identified to the 
DLA by the Military Services. The establishment of the Reserve will 
give DoD the capability to centrally receive, recontainerize, recycle 
and reclaim ODS. This reclamation capability will be established at the 
Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, Virginia, which already has 
extensive operations involving compressed gas receipt, storage, and 
distribution and cylinder refurnishment. The Reserve will be located 
within structures currently used for cylinder storage and refurbishment 
and will require no new construction. DLA will institute a variety of 
safeguards including personnel training, equipment upgrades, and leak 
detection programs to maintain the inventory and avoid unnecessary 
emissions. Reserve operations will not require air emission, water 
discharge, or hazardous waste management permits.
    DLA will manage inventory levels in order to ensure that excess 
quantities of materials are not maintained in the Reserve and will 
phase out materials when no longer needed for mission-critical 
purposes. Any excess will be disposed of in compliance with 
environmental regulatory requirements. New purchases of ODS will be 
necessary in order to establish inventories at levels which can be 
sustained through recovery and reclamation. The quantity of new ODS 
purchases will be validated in coordination with the DoD Inspector 
General. The total quantity of ODS expected to be acquired for the 
initial establishment of the Reserve will be less than the average 
quantity of ODS purchased annually by DoD in recent years. Specific 
measures have been identified in the assessment to mitigate potentially 
adverse effects which might occur during establishment or operation of 
the Reserve. The establishment of a Reserve and the initiation of 
central recovery, recycling and reclamation operations will allow DoD 
to conserve ODS inventories, maintain mission-critical systems which 
are dependent on ODS, and avoid the need for an exemption to the 
production phase out pursuant to Section 604(f) of the Clean Air Act 
Amendments.
    The establishment of a defense Reserve for mission-critical ODS is 
not considered a major action significantly affecting the quality of 
the human environment or requiring the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement. A public comment period regarding the environmental 
assessment will begin at the time of publication of this notice and 
will conclude 30 days following. Copies of the environmental assessment 
are available for inspection at the address listed above.

    Dated: February 25, 1994.
Jan B. Reitman,
Staff Director, (Environmental and Safety Policy).
[FR Doc. 94-4782 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3620-01-M