Dear Reader:
This is your copy of the final Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) Facility Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS analyzes the environmental impacts that might occur if the Department of Energy (DOE) were to complete and operate the proposed DARHT facility at the Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in northern New Mexico. The DOE has identified as its preferred approach for this project two concurrent courses of action: (1) completing and operating the proposed DARHT facility; and (2) implementing an enhanced containment strategy for testing at the DARHT facility so that most tests would be conducted inside of steel vessels, to be phased in over ten years. This would involve constructing and operating a vessel cleanout facility in addition to the DARHT facility.
The impacts that might occur from this proposal are weighed against the impacts of continuing to operate the Pulsed High Energy Radiation Machine Emitting X-Rays (PHERMEX) hydrodynamic testing facility at LANL. The hydrodynamic testing facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is also discussed. The EIS analyzes four other alternative means to operate the DARHT or PHERMEX facilities.
This EIS takes into account the Department's consideration of comments on the May 1995 draft EIS received from the State of New Mexico, American Indian Tribal governments, local governments, other federal agencies, and the general public. Additional mitigation measures have been developed to protect cultural resources of importance to local tribes, and federally-listed threatened species habitat. A complete set of the comments received, and our responses to them, are included in Volume II of the EIS.
We appreciate the time and assistance of everyone who reviewed the draft EIS and look forward to your continued interest as we reach our final decision on this proposal. For additional copies of this document or for more information on this environmental review, please contact Diana Webb, DARHT EIS Project Manager, DOE, Los Alamos Area Office, 528 35th Street, Los Alamos NM 87544, telephone (505) 665-6353, facsimile (505) 665-4872.
Sincerely,
Victor H. Reis
Assistant Secretary for Defense Program
Enclosure
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