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EIS-0277F; Final Environmental Impact Statement on Management of Certain Plutonium Residues and Scrub Alloy Stored at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site

VOLUME 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 1-1
1.1 Background 1-1
1.2 Purpose and Need for Agency Action 1-2
1.2.1 Safeguards Termination Requirements 1-3
1.2.2 Disposition of Waste and Separated Plutonium 1-4
1.3 Scope of this EIS 1-4
1.3.1 Changes between the Draft and Final Versions of this EIS 1-5
1.4 Decisions To Be Made Based on this EIS 1-7
1.4.1 Decisions 1-7
1.4.2 Process and Schedule for Decisions 1-8
1.5 Relationship to Other NEPA Documents and Reports 1-9
1.5.1 Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Response to
Comments--Solid Residue Treatment, Repackaging, and Storage (DOE 1996h,
April 1996) 1-9
1.5.2 Rocky Flats Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement Notice of Intent (DOE 1994d,
August 5, 1994) 1-9
1.5.3 Interim Storage of Plutonium at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site Environmental Impact Statement Notice of Intent (DOE 1996f, July 1996) 1-10
1.5.4 Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Disposal Phase Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DOE 1997c, September 1997) 1-10
1.5.5 Final Waste Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Managing Treatment, Storage, and Disposal of Radioactive and Hazardous Waste (DOE 1997g,
May 1997) 1-10
1.5.6 Storage and Disposition of Weapons-Usable Fissile Materials Final Programmatic
Impact Statement (DOE 1996a, December 1996) 1-11
1.5.7 Surplus Plutonium Disposition Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DOE 1998a,
July 1998) 1-11
1.5.8 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory (DOE 1992, August 1992) 1-11
1.5.9 Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los
Alamos National Laboratory (DOE 1998b, April 1998) 1-12
1.5.10 Final Interim Management of Nuclear Materials Environmental Impact Statement (DOE 1995b, October 1995) 1-12
1.5.11 Accelerating Cleanup: Paths to Closure (DOE 1998d, June 1998) 1-12
1.5.12 DOE Nonproliferation Study (Pending) 1-13
1.5.13 Savannah River Site Chemical Separations Facilities Multi-Year Plan (DOE 1997d, September 1997) 1-13
1.5.14 Recommendation 94-1, Improved Schedule for Remediation in the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Complex (DNFSB June 1994) 1-14
1.5.15 Plutonium Finishing Plant Stabilization Final Environmental Impact Statement
(DOE 1996g, May 1996) 1-14
1.5.16 Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site Cumulative Impacts Document
(DOE 1997e, June 1997) 1-14
1.6 Public Comment Process 1-14
1.7 Structure of this EIS 1-15
1.8 References 1-16

2. ALTERNATIVES 2-1
2.1 Overview of the Alternatives 2-1
2.2 Quantity and Characteristics of Plutonium Residues and Scrub Alloy at Rocky Flats 2-5
2.3 Processing Technologies Assessed in this EIS 2-6
2.3.1 Processes Included in No Action--Stabilize and Store (Alternative 1) 2-8
2.3.2 Process without Plutonium Separation (Alternative 2) 2-8
2.3.3 Process with Plutonium Separation (Alternative 3) 2-10
2.3.4 Combination of Processing Technologies (Alternative 4) 2-10
2.4 Management Alternatives for Each Material Category 2-10
2.4.1 Management of Ash Residues 2-10
2.4.1.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-12
2.4.1.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-13
2.4.1.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-14
2.4.1.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-15
2.4.2 Management of Pyrochemical Salt Residues 2-15
2.4.2.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-18
2.4.2.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-18
2.4.2.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-18
2.4.2.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-21
2.4.3 Management of Combustible Residues 2-21
2.4.3.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-22
2.4.3.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-23
2.4.3.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-24
2.4.3.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-25
2.4.4 Management of Plutonium Fluoride Residues 2-25
2.4.4.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-26
2.4.4.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-27
2.4.4.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-27
2.4.4.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-27
2.4.5 Management of Filter Media Residues 2-27
2.4.5.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-28
2.4.5.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-28
2.4.5.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-29
2.4.5.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-30
2.4.6 Management of Sludge Residues 2-30
2.4.6.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-30
2.4.6.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-31
2.4.6.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-31
2.4.6.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-32
2.4.7 Management of Glass Residues 2-32
2.4.7.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-33
2.4.7.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-33
2.4.7.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-34
2.4.7.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-34
2.4.8 Management of Graphite Residues 2-35
2.4.8.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-35
2.4.8.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-35
2.4.8.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-36
2.4.8.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-37
2.4.9 Management of Inorganic (Metal and Others) Residues 2-37
2.4.9.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-37
2.4.9.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-38
2.4.9.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-39
2.4.9.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-39
2.4.10 Management of Scrub Alloy 2-39
2.4.10.1 Alternative 1--No Action--Stabilize and Store 2-39
2.4.10.2 Alternative 2--Process without Plutonium Separation 2-40
2.4.10.3 Alternative 3--Process with Plutonium Separation 2-41
2.4.10.4 Alternative 4--Combination of Processing Technologies 2-41
2.5 Strategic Management approaches 2-41
2.5.1 No Action Alternative--Stabilize and Store 2-42
2.5.2 Preferred Alternative 2-43
2.5.3 Other Management Approaches 2-45
2.6 Storage Methods and Issues 2-45
2.6.1 Storage of Plutonium Residues and Scrub Alloy 2-48
2.6.2 Storage of Plutonium Metal and Oxides 2-48
2.7 Disposal or Other Disposition 2-49
2.7.1 Disposal of Transuranic Waste at WIPP 2-50
2.7.2 Disposition of Plutonium Oxide and Metal 2-50
2.8 Transportation 2-51
2.8.1 Ground Transportation System Descriptions 2-52
2.8.1.1 The Safe, Secure Trailer System 2-52
2.8.1.2 The Commercial Transport System 2-54
2.8.2 Ground Transportation Route Selection Process 2-54
2.8.3 Emergency Management Considerations 2-56
2.8.4 Security Considerations 2-57
2.9 Sites, Technologies, and Issues Not Analyzed 2-57
2.9.1 Initial Screening and Evaluation Process 2-57
2.9.2 Sites and Technologies Not Analyzed 2-58
2.9.3 Issues Raised During the Public Scoping Process That Are Not Analyzed 2-60
2.9.4 Issues Raised During the Public Scoping Process That Are Out of Scope 2-64
2.10 Summary of Impacts 2-65
2.11 References 2-94

3. THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3-1
3.1 Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site 3-3
3.1.1 Land Resources 3-6
3.1.2 Site Infrastructure 3-6
3.1.3 Air Quality and Noise 3-9
3.1.4 Water Resources 3-12
3.1.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismology 3-16
3.1.6 Ecology 3-17
3.1.7 Cultural and Paleontological Resources 3-20
3.1.8 Socioeconomics 3-20
3.1.9 Public and Occupational Health and Safety 3-25
3.1.10 Waste Management 3-28
3.2 Savannah River Site 3-32
3.2.1 Land Resources 3-34
3.2.2 Site Infrastructure 3-35
3.2.3 Air Quality and Noise 3-36
3.2.4 Water Resources 3-39
3.2.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismology 3-41
3.2.6 Ecology 3-42
3.2.7 Cultural and Paleontological Resources 3-43
3.2.8 Socioeconomics 3-44
3.2.9 Public and Occupational Health and Safety 3-49
3.2.10 Waste Management 3-51
3.3 Los Alamos National Laboratory 3-57
3.3.1 Land Resources 3-57
3.3.2 Site Infrastructure 3-59
3.3.3 Air Quality and Noise 3-61
3.3.4 Water Resources 3-65
3.3.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismology 3-68
3.3.6 Ecology 3-70
3.3.7 Cultural and Paleontological Resources 3-71
3.3.8 Socioeconomics 3-73
3.3.9 Public and Occupational Health and Safety 3-74
3.3.10 Waste Management 3-79
3.4 References 3-85

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 4-1
4.1 Overview of Environmental Impacts 4-1
4.1.1 Presentation of the Environmental Impacts 4-1
4.1.2 Products and Wastes 4-3
4.1.3 General Radiological and Chemical Health Consequences 4-4
4.1.4 Risks 4-8
4.1.5 Comparison of Health and Safety Risks with Common Risks to the Public 4-9
4.1.6 Estimated Radiation Dose Rate Near the Plutonium Transportation Containers 4-11
4.1.7 Plutonium and Americium Toxicity 4-11
4.1.8 WIPP Waste Acceptance Criteria 4-11
4.1.9 Nuclear Nonproliferation Considerations 4-12
4.2 Impacts of Managing Ash Residues 4-14
4.2.1 Products and Wastes 4-15
4.2.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-18
4.2.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-19
4.2.2.2 Accidents 4-26
4.3 Impacts of Managing Pyrochemical Salt Residues 4-35
4.3.1 Products and Wastes 4-36
4.3.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-39
4.3.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-40
4.3.2.2 Accidents 4-44
4.4 Impacts of Managing Combustible Residues 4-56
4.4.1 Products and Wastes 4-56
4.4.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-58
4.4.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-58
4.4.2.2 Accidents 4-60
4.5 Impacts of Managing Plutonium Fluoride Residues 4-63
4.5.1 Products and Wastes 4-65
4.5.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-65
4.5.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-67
4.5.2.2 Accidents 4-69
4.6 Impacts of Managing Filter Media Residues 4-72
4.6.1 Products and Wastes 4-72 4.6.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-75
4.6.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-75
4.6.2.2 Accidents 4-77
4.7 Impacts of Managing Sludge Residues 4-84
4.7.1 Products and Wastes 4-84
4.7.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-85
4.7.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-85
4.7.2.2 Accidents 4-88
4.8 Impacts of Managing Glass Residues 4-88
4.8.1 Products and Wastes 4-91
4.8.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-91
4.8.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-93
4.8.2.2 Accidents 4-93
4.9 Impacts of Managing Graphite Residues 4-98
4.9.1 Products and Wastes 4-98
4.9.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-100
4.9.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-100
4.9.2.2 Accidents 4-102
4.10 Impacts of Managing Inorganic Residues 4-105
4.10.1 Products and Wastes 4-105
4.10.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-107
4.10.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-107
4.10.2.2 Accidents 4-110
4.11 Impacts of Managing Scrub Alloy 4-113
4.11.1 Products and Wastes 4-115
4.11.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-115
4.11.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-117
4.11.2.2 Accidents 4-117
4.12 Air Quality 4-120
4.13 Water Quality 4-127
4.13.1 Rocky Flats 4-127
4.13.2 Savannah River Site 4-129
4.13.3 Los Alamos National Laboratory 4-129
4.14 Impacts of Post-Processing Storage 4-130
4.14.1 Impacts of Incident-Free Storage 4-130
4.14.1.1 Interim Storage of Stabilized Residues in the No Action Alternative 4-131
4.14.1.2 Lag Storage 4-131
4.14.1.3 Storage of Transuranic Waste if Shipments to WIPP are Delayed 4-131
4.14.2 Impacts of Accidents During Storage 4-132
4.15 Impacts of Final Transportation and Disposal/Disposition 4-132
4.15.1 Final Transportation 4-132
4.15.2 Disposal/Disposition 4-135
4.16 Environmental Justice 4-136
4.17 Costs, Processing Durations, and Uncertainties 4-136
4.17.1 Cost Estimation Procedures 4-136
4.17.2 Cost Factors 4-137
4.17.3 Cost of the Minimum Cost Management Approach 4-138
4.17.4 Cost of the Preferred Alternative 4-140 4.17.5 Cost of the No Action Alternative 4-143
4.17.6 Cost of the Minimum Duration Management Approach 4-143
4.17.7 Technical Uncertainties 4-145
4.18 Socioeconomics 4-147
4.18.1 The No Action Alternative at Rocky Flats 4-154
4.18.2 Other Management Approaches at Rocky Flats 4-155
4.18.3 Savannah River Site 4-156
4.18.4 Los Alamos National Laboratory 4-157
4.19 Materials, Utilities, and Energy 4-157
4.20 Impacts of the No Action Alternative 4-166
4.20.1 Products and Wastes 4-166
4.20.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-166
4.20.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-167
4.20.2.2 Accidents 4-168
4.20.2.3 Mitigation Measures 4-170
4.21 Impacts of the Preferred Alternative 4-170
4.21.1 Products and Wastes 4-170
4.21.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-171
4.21.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-171
4.21.2.2 Accidents 4-173
4.21.2.3 Mitigation Measures 4-174
4.22 Comparison of the Impacts of the Strategic Management Approaches 4-175
4.22.1 Products and Wastes 4-175
4.22.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-180
4.22.3 Other Impacts 4-184
4.23 Range of Impacts at Each Site 4-186
4.23.1 Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site 4-186
4.23.1.1 Products and Wastes 4-186
4.23.1.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-186
4.23.1.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-187
4.23.1.2.2 Accidents 4-188
4.23.2 Savannah River Site 4-189
4.23.2.1 Products and Wastes 4-189
4.23.2.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-190
4.23.2.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-190
4.23.2.2.2 Accidents 4-191
4.23.3 Los Alamos National Laboratory 4-192
4.23.3.1 Products and Wastes 4-192
4.23.3.2 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Impacts 4-192
4.23.3.2.1 Incident-Free Operations 4-192
4.23.3.2.2 Accidents 4-193
4.24 Range of Intersite Transportation Impacts 4-194
4.25 Key Cumulative Impacts at the Potential Processing Sites and During Intersite Transportation 4-195
4.25.1 Cumulative Impacts at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site 4-195
4.25.2 Cumulative Impacts at the Savannah River Site 4-198
4.25.3 Cumulative Impacts at Los Alamos National Laboratory 4-202
4.25.4 Cumulative Impacts of Intersite Transportation 4-203
4.26 Relationship Between Short-Term Uses of the Environment and Long-Term Productivity 4-204
4.27 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 4-204
4.28 Industrial Safety 4-204
4.29 References 4-205

5. APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS 5-1
5.1 Laws and Other Requirements 5-1
5.1.1 Federal Environmental Statutes and Regulations 5-1
5.1.2 Executive Orders 5-6
5.1.3 DOE Regulations and Orders 5-7
5.1.4 State Environmental Statutes and Regulations 5-9
5.1.4.1 The State of Colorado 5-9
5.1.4.2 The State of South Carolina 5-12
5.1.4.3 The State of New Mexico 5-12
5.2 Regulations for Radioactive Material Packaging and Transportation 5-12
5.2.1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Packaging Certification 5-12
5.2.2 Hazardous and Radioactive Materials Transportation Regulations 5-13
5.3 Emergency Management and Response Laws and Other Requirements 5-14
5.3.1 Federal Statutes 5-14
5.3.2 Executive Orders 5-16
5.3.3 Federal Regulations Concerning Emergency Management 5-16
5.3.4 Emergency Planning 5-17

6. LIST OF PREPARERS6-1

7. AGENCIES CONSULTED 7-1

8. GLOSSARY 8-1

9. OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS 9-1
9.1 Public Scoping for This EIS 9-1
9.2 Workshops for State and Local Officials Along Potential Transportation Routes 9-3
9.3 Issuance of the Draft EIS 9-4
9.4 Summary of Public Comments on the Draft EIS 9-4
9.4.1 Summary of Written Comments on the Draft EIS 9-4
9.4.2 Environmental Protection Agency Rating of EIS 9-13
9.4.3 Summary of Public Hearings and Comments Received 9-13
9.5 DOE Responses to Public Comments 9-14
9.5.1 Oral Comments at Public Hearings and DOE Responses 9-15
9.5.1.1 Rocky Flats Public Hearing 9-15
9.5.1.2 Los Alamos National Laboratory Public Hearing 9-17
9.5.1.3 Savannah River Site Public Hearing 9-21
9.5.2 Written Comments and DOE Responses 9-25

10. DISTRIBUTION LIST10-1