The U.S. Department of Energy and the state of Idaho announced today the publication of the Idaho High-level Waste and Facilities Disposition Draft Environmental Impact Statement. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, the EIS examines the potential environmental impacts of various alternatives for managing high-level waste and related radioactive wastes and facilities at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

The EIS analyzes the environmental impacts of implementing two sets of alternatives:

1. For treating calcined high-level waste and liquid mixed transuranic waste at INEEL's Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center to a form suitable for disposal. Treatment could be onsite or offsite.

2. For closing associated waste management facilities.

The wastes comprise 4,200 cubic meters of high-level waste and 1.4 million gallons of liquid mixed-transuranic waste resulting from 40 years of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing at INEEL.

The state of Idaho is a cooperating agency with DOE in preparation of the EIS. The state will eventually have to approve key decisions based on the EIS that relate to the Idaho Settlement Agreement and permit any new high-level waste treatment facilities.

DOE will use data in the EIS, along with other factors including public comment, as the basis for making a number of decisions:

* Whether to continue operating the New Waste Calcining Facility

* How to treat the liquid waste, then empty and close the liquid waste storage tanks

* Whether to treat the calcined waste onsite or offsite, which could be a delayed decision.

DOE will hold public hearings on the draft EIS in the following cities:

Idaho Falls, Idaho, Shilo Inn, Monday, Feb. 7
Pocatello, Idaho, Idaho State University Tuesday, Feb. 8
Jackson, Wyoming, Snow King Lodge Wednesday, Feb. 9
Twin Falls, Idaho College of Southern Idaho Tuesday, Feb. 15
Boise, Idaho Doubletree Riverside Thursday, Feb. 17
Portland, Oregon Doubletree Lloyd Center Tuesday, Feb. 22
Pasco, Washington Doubletree Pasco Thursday, Feb. 24

DOE and the state welcome public input on the draft EIS during the 60-day comment period, which extends through March 20, 2000.

For more information, to request a copy of the EIS, or for information about submitting public comments, interested individuals may call toll free, 1-888-918-5100 or write to:

Thomas L. Wichmann
U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office
850 Energy Drive, MS 1108
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401-1563

-DOE-