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                                                                      DOE/EIS-0161
                                                                      October 1995
Changes to the Draft PEIS that are less than a paragraph, are shown in double underline in this
        Final PEIS. Larger text changes are shown by sidebar notation.
                                  COVER SHEET
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy
COOPERATING AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
TITLE: Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Tritium Supply and Recycling (DOE/EIS-016l).
CONTACT: For additional information on this Statement, write or call:
     Stephen M. Sohinki, Director
     Office of Reconfiguration
     U.S. Department of Energy
     1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.
     Washington, DC 20585
     Attention: TSR PEIS
     Telephone: (202) 586-0838
For general information on the DOE National Environmental Policy Act process, write or call:
     Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director
     Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42)
     U.S. Department of Energy
     1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.
     Washington, DC 20585
     Telephone: (202) 586-4600 or leave a message at (800) 472-2756
ABSTRACT: Tritium, a radioactive gas used in all of the Nation's nuclear weapons, has a short half-life and must be
replaced periodically in order for the weapon to operate as designed. Currently, there is no capability to produce the
required amounts of tritium within the Nuclear Weapons Complex.
The PEIS for Tritium Supply and Recycling evaluates the alternatives for the siting, construction, and operation of
tritium supply and recycling facilities at each of five candidate sites: the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, the
Nevada Test Site, the Oak Ridge Reservation, the Pantex Plant, and the Savannah River Site. Alternatives for new
tritium supply and recycling facilities consist of four different tritium supply technologies: Heavy Water Reactor,
Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor, Advanced Light Water Reactor, and Accelerator Production of
Tritium. The PEIS also evaluates the impacts of the DOE purchase of an existing operating or partially completed
commercial light water reactor or the DOE purchase of irradiation services contracted from commercial power
reactors. Additionally, the PEIS includes an analysis of multipurpose reactors that would produce tritium, dispose of -
plutonium, and produce electricity.
Evaluation of impacts on land resources, site infrastructure, air quality and acoustics, water resources, geology and
soils, biotic resources, cultural and paleontological resources, socioeconomics, radiological and hazardous chemical
impacts during normal operation and accidents to workers and the public, waste management, and intersite transport
are included in the assessment.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: In preparing the Final PEIS, DOE considered comments received by mail, fax, handed in at
hearings, transcribed from messages recorded by telephone, and those transmitted via Internet. In addition, 
interactive public hearings were held in April 1995 at the following locations where comments and concerns 
identified during discussions were summarized by notetakers: Washington, DC; Las Vegas, Nevada; Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee; Pocatello, Idaho; North Augusta, South Carolina; and Amarillo, Texas.