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Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 68 / Thursday, April 8, 2004 / Notices
plans to ship spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The training of public safety officials will cover procedures required for safe routine transportation of these materials and for dealing with emergency response situations. Pursuant to the NWPA, spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste will be transported in casks certified by the NRC. The NRC regulates and certifies the design, manufacture, testing and use of these casks. Additionally, the NWPA requires that DOE comply with NRC regulations regarding advance notification of State and local governments prior to transportation of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste. At this stage in the decision-making, the Department believes it has incorporated all practicable mitigation measures. The Department will continue to identify and evaluate potential mitigation measures as the transportation system develops and as a result of the lessons learned from the shipping of spent nuclear fuel and high- level radioactive waste. Part II. Record of Decision for Nevada Rail Corridor Background As noted above, the mostly rail scenario assumes that DOE will ultimately construct a rail line in Nevada to ship spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to the repository. To implement that scenario, DOE therefore needs to select among alternative rail corridors within which to study possible alignments in which it will pursue construction of a rail line that would connect the repository at Yucca Mountain to an existing main rail line in Nevada in the event the NRC authorizes construction of a repository at Yucca Mountain. In the Final EIS, DOE analyzed five potential rail corridors—Caliente, Carlin, Caliente- Chalk Mountain, Jean and Valley Modified—for this potential rail line. Additional descriptive information, including variations associated with each corridor, may be found in section 2.1.3.3 and Appendix J, section J.3.1.2, of the Final EIS. The Final EIS did not specify a corridor preference, but in December 2003, DOE announced its preference for the Caliente corridor ( Notice of Preferred Nevada Rail Corridor ; 68 FR 74951; December 29, 2003.
radioactive waste shipments would be in the most rugged casks (Type B, which range from small containers of sealed radioactive sources to heavily shielded steel casks that sometimes weigh as much as 150 tons). The NRC has promulgated rules (10 CFR 73.37) and interim compensatory measures (March 4, 2002; 67 FR 9792) specifically aimed at protecting the public from harm that could result from sabotage of spent nuclear fuel casks. These security rules are designed to minimize the possibility of sabotage and facilitate recovery of spent nuclear fuel shipments that could come under the control of unauthorized persons. The use of armed escorts for all shipments; safeguarding the detailed shipping schedule information, monitoring of shipments through satellite tracking and a communication center with 24-hour staffing; and coordinating logistics with state and local law enforcement agencies all contribute to shipment security. Additionally, the cask safety features that provide containment, shielding, and thermal protection provide protection against sabotage. The Department and other agencies continue to examine the protections built into their physical security and safeguards systems for transportation shipments. DOE is now developing its transportation security plan and its design basis threat for transportation. The transportation security plan will be developed in cooperation with other Federal agencies, including the NRC, DOT, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management is exploring the use of armed Federal agents as escorts for all shipments and other operational techniques employed by the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Secure Transportation as well as the design of special security cars for rail transport, to further mitigate the potential threat of a terrorist act. In addition to its domestic efforts, the Department is a member of the International Working Group on Sabotage for Transport and Storage Casks, which is investigating the consequences of a potential act of sabotage and is exploring opportunities to enhance the physical protection of casks. As a result of the above efforts, DOE will modify its methods and systems as appropriate between now and the time shipments start. In compliance with section 180(c) of the NWPA, DOE will provide technical assistance and funds to states for training public safety officials of appropriate units of local government and Native American tribes through whose jurisdictions the Department
Proposed Action and Nevada Rail Corridors Considered in the Final EIS A. Caliente Rail Corridor—Preferred Alternative The Caliente corridor originates at an existing siding to the mainline railroad near Caliente, Nevada. The corridor extends in a westerly direction to the northwest corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range (previously known as Nellis Air Force Range), before turning south-southeast to the repository at Yucca Mountain. The corridor ranges between 318 miles (512 kilometers) and 344 miles (553 kilometers), depending on the variations to the corridor considered in the Final EIS. Construction of a rail line within the Caliente corridor would take about 46 months. The total life-cycle cost for construction and operation of the rail line is estimated to be $880 million (2001 dollars). B. Carlin Rail Corridor The Carlin corridor originates at the mainline railroad near Beowawe in north central Nevada. The Carlin and Caliente corridors converge near the northwest boundary of the Nevada Test and Training Range. Past this point, they are identical. The Carlin corridor ranges between 319 miles (513 kilometers) and 338 miles (544 kilometers) long, depending on the variations to the corridor. Construction of a rail line within the Carlin corridor would take about 46 months. The total life-cycle cost for construction and operation of the rail line is estimated to The Caliente-Chalk Mountain corridor is identical to the Caliente corridor until it approaches the northern boundary of the Nevada Test and Training Range. At that point the Caliente-Chalk Mountain corridor turns south through the Nevada Test and Training Range and the Nevada Test Site to the Yucca Mountain site. Depending on the variations, the corridor is between 214 miles (344 kilometers) and 242 miles (382 kilometers) long from the tie-in at the mainline near Caliente to the Yucca Mountain site. Construction of a rail line within the Caliente-Chalk Mountain corridor would take about 43 months. The total life-cycle cost for construction and operation of the rail line is estimated to be $622 million (2001 dollars). The Department designated the Caliente-Chalk Mountain alternative as non-preferred in the Final EIS due to national security concerns raised by the U.S. Air Force. be $821 million (2001 dollars). C. Caliente-Chalk Mountain Rail Corridor
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