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The Department of Energy (DOE) today released a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for supporting civilian nuclear energy research and development and isotope production missions in the United States, including the role of the Fast Flux Test Facility in Hanford, Wash. This Draft PEIS is a first step in ensuring that the department has the nuclear technology infrastructure necessary to meet these important national needs.

"In keeping with the tradition of the department, we will work with the communities affected by the options for maintaining the country's nuclear infrastructure to ensure their voices are heard," said Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "I encourage the public to participate in a full and complete discussion of the issues and to give us feedback on these options."

The Draft PEIS analyzes the possible environmental impacts that may result from expanding the department's nuclear research facility infrastructure to accommodate the demand for medical and industrial isotopes, produce fuel to power future space exploration missions, and support civilian nuclear energy research and development missions. The department has evaluated several alternatives that include using operating facilities within the DOE complex, building a new research reactor, building one or two new accelerators, restarting the Fast Flux Test Facility which is currently being maintained in standby, and procuring irradiation services from a commercial light water reactor to produce fuel to power NASA spacecraft. The department has also evaluated the possible impacts of not expanding its nuclear facility infrastructure, but instead forgoing new research and isotope production in the U.S. and purchasing material to fuel NASA spacecraft from Russia. The Draft PEIS does not identify a preferred alternative.

Comments on the Draft PEIS will be accepted during the public comment period, that will begin on July 28, 2000, and end on September 18, 2000. DOE will consider comments received after this period to the extent practicable. The comments will be taken into consideration and a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be released in November. After the comment period, the department will issue a Record of Decision, outlining its final decision in December 2000.

In addition, the department plans to release two additional studies as recommended by DOE's Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee. These studies, which will be released in the fall, will address cost and nonproliferation impacts from the alternatives considered in the EIS and will be used to inform the Record of Decision.

The department will also conduct seven public hearings during the public comment period. These will take place in:

• Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on August 22, 2000
• Idaho Falls, Idaho, on August 25, 2000
• Hood River, Oregon, on August 28, 2000
• Portland, Oregon, on August 29, 2000
• Seattle, Washington, on August 30, 2000
• Richland, Washington, on August 31, 2000
• Crystal City, Virginia, on September 6, 2000.

These hearings will provide an additional opportunity for the public to submit comments to DOE. The department will publish detailed information on the locations, times, and format of the public hearings in the Federal Register on July 28, 2000, and in appropriate local news media.

The Draft PEIS is accessible on the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology's Web site. Copies of the Draft PEIS Summary or the complete Draft PEIS (on CD-ROM or paper) may also be requested by calling the toll-free information line at 1-877/562-4593.

The Draft PEIS will also be available for review at eight public reading rooms across the country. Names and locations of these reading rooms will be published in the Federal Register notice on July 28, 2000, and are also available on the above web site.

Comments may be submitted by mail to Colette E. Brown, U.S. Department of Energy, NE-50, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290; by fax (toll-free) at 1-877/562-4592; by phone (toll-free) at 1-877/562-4593; or by electronic mail to Nuclear.Infrastructure-PEIS@hq.doe.gov

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R-00-192