Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

2.13
Selection Plan. The current plan, described elsewhere (DOE 1980c), will be followed pending
adoption of a formal plan. An EA is being prepared as input to the decision on whether to
adopt or modify this plan.
The proposed plan includes:
* The methodology for identifying geographic regions for site studies.
* The methodology and criteria for screening these regions for areas, locations, and
candidate sites to be studied in detail.
The environmental impacts of the methodology and criteria in the proposed plan and
their reasonable alternatives will be assessed. In addition, the selection of areas for
further study and the anticipated range of site characterization activities, including the
environmental impacts of typical surface and subsurface activities in several environmental
settings, will be analyzed. Similarly, the criteria proposed to be used to qualify and dis-
qualify sites will be discussed.
It is believed that an EA, and not an EIS, is the appropriate level of NEPA review,
since it is unclear that the decision will result in significant environmental impacts.
However, upon completion of the EA, a decision will be made regarding the need to prepare
an EIS. The Department of Energy will consider the results of the NEPA review prior to
deciding whether to adopt or modify the proposed plan. The adopted site characterization
process will be repeated in diverse geologic environments and different host media until
four to five sites have been qualified.
Identification of Locations
Following completion of area studies for a particular region, in accordance with the
National Plan, an EA will be prepared as input for a decision to narrow the investigations
to a limited number of locations. The site-selection process to date will be described, and
the environmental factors pertinent to the proposal to limit more comprehensive exploratory
activities to the preferred locations will be analyzed. A comparison of environmental fac-
tors for preferred and alternate locations, based on data commensurate with the level of
site-specific information available, will be provided and the environmental impacts of the
range of potential exploratory activities anticipated in the location studies will be
considered.
Here, too, it is believed that an EA is the appropriate level of NEPA review, since it
is unclear that this decision will have environmental significance. Upon completion of the
EA, a decision will be made regarding the need to prepare an EIS.
Identifying Preferred Sites for Banking/Early Shaft
At the conclusion of the location studies, the DOE will propose one or more of the
sites in a location as a preferred site to be banked. Because a banked site ultimately may
become the location of a repository, it is appropriate to prepare an EIS prior to the deci-
sion to bank the preferred site(s). This EIS also would provide input to a decision to
acquire an interest in the site(s), if necessary, in order to maintain the integrity of the
site through the site-selection process.