DOE/EIS-0161 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Tritium Supply and Recycling Volume III United States Department of Energy Office of Reconfiguration October 1995 Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 October 19, 1995 Dear Interested Party: The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Tritium Supply and Recycling has now been completed. Tritium is an essential component of every warhead in the current and projected United States nuclear weapons stockpile. Tritium decays at a rate of 5.5 percent per year and must be replaced periodically as long as the Nation relies on a nuclear deterrent. In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Department of Energy is responsible for developing and maintaining the capability to produce nuclear materials such as tritium. Currently, the Department does not have the capability to produce tritium in the required amounts. The Tritium Supply and Recycling PEIS evaluates the siting, construction, and operation of tritium supply technology alternatives and recycling facilities at each of five candidate sites. The PEIS also evaluates the use of a commercial reactor for producing tritium. On October 10, 1995, the Department announced its preferred alternative, a dual-track strategy under which the Department would begin work on two promising production options: use of an existing commercial light water reactor and construction of a linear accelerator. The Savannah River Site in South Carolina has been identified as the preferred site for an accelerator, should one be constructed. Details on this preferred alternative can be found in the Executive Summary and in section 3.7 of Volume I of the PEIS. A Record of Decision will follow in late November. The Department of Energy appreciates your continued participation in this Program. Sincerely, Stephen M. Sohinki, Director Office of Reconfiguration 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. Table of Contents Table of Contents i List of Tables i Chapter 1: Issue Categories 1-1 1.1 Introduction 1-1 1.2 New Public Hearing Format 1-2 1.3 Organization 1-2 1.4 Changes from the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 1-3 Chapter 2: Comment Documents 2-1 Chapter 3: Comment Summaries and Responses 3-1 List of Tables Table 1.1-1 Hearing Attendance and Comment Summaries 1-1 Table 1.1-2 Document and Comment Submission Overview 1-1 Table 1.3-1 Issue Categories 1-6 Table 1.3-2 Index of Attendance at Public Hearings 1-7 Table 1.3-3 Index of Commentors, Private Individuals 1-22 Table 1.3-4 Index of Commentors, Organizations 1-31 Table 1.3-5 Comment Document and Summary Locator 1-36 Table 1.3-6 Comments Sorted by Summary Code 1-61
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