“Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program” – Federal Register on December 16, 2020
“Public scoping” comment period begins December 16, 2020 and runs to February 1, 2021 – these comments will shape what goes into the draft EIS. “Dilute & dispose” – downblending for disposal in WIPP in New Mexico – at Savannah River Site is the “preferred alternative”
Notice posted here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-16/pdf/2020-27674.pdf
SUMMARY: “The National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA), a
semi-autonomous agency within the
United States (U.S.) Department of
Energy (DOE), announces its intent,
consistent with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), to prepare a Surplus Plutonium
Disposition Program (SPDP)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
to evaluate alternatives for the safe and
timely disposition of plutonium surplus
to the defense needs of the United
States. NNSA will prepare a SPDP EIS
to evaluate the dilute and dispose
alternative, also known as ‘‘plutonium
downblending,’’ and any other
identified reasonable alternatives for the
disposition of surplus plutonium. The
dilute and dispose approach would
require new, modified, or existing
capabilities at the Savannah River Site
(SRS), Los Alamos National Laboratory
(LANL), Pantex Plant (Pantex), and the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The
purpose of this Notice is to invite public
participation in the process and to
encourage public involvement on the
scope and alternatives that should be
considered.”
“NNSA proposes
implementing the dilute and dispose
approach to disposition surplus
weapons-usable plutonium. The effort
would require new, modified, or
existing capabilities at SRS, LANL,
Pantex, and WIPP. Under the dilute and
dispose approach, NNSA would convert
pit and non-pit metal plutonium to
oxide, blend surplus plutonium in oxide
form with an adulterant, and emplace
the resulting CH–TRU waste
underground in WIPP. NNSA believes
that implementing a proven method is
the most efficient way to move forward
with the Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Program.”
etc.
DOE photo: plutonium storage drums in old K-Reactor at SRS