On July 24, 2009, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Nevada Site Office announced its intent to prepare a SWEIS for the operation of U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA facilities and activities at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and off-site locations in the State of Nevada for a ten-year period.

The Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Continued Operation of the Nevada National Security Site and Off-Site Locations in the State of Nevada is now available and marks the beginning of the public comment period which extends from July 29 to October 27, 2011 December 2, 2011 (extension announced September 29, 2011).

Stakeholder and public participation is an important part of the regulatory process and is considered when making future decisions and preparing the final document. The Final SWEIS, and the subsequent Record of Decision (anticipated mid-2012), will replace the 1996 SWEIS and two Supplemental Analyses that followed.

These documents are prepared in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements that dictate government agencies to prepare Environmental Impact Statements analyzing how activities at their respective sites may be affecting the environment. Activities are analyzed using several scenarios referred to as alternatives. The Nevada Site Office SWEIS explores three alternatives:

The No Action Alternative reflects the use of existing facilities and ongoing projects to maintain operations consistent with those experienced in recent years at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and offsite locations in Nevada. For each of the three mission areas and their supporting programs, the level of operation for associated capabilities, projects, and activities is determined by operational levels actually realized since 1996.

The Expanded Operations Alternative includes the activities and level of operations under the No Action Alternative, plus the level of operations associated with expansion of existing activities and additional capabilities at the NNSS and offsite locations in Nevada. The additional capabilities and increased level of operations would include modification and/or expansion of existing facilities and construction of new facilities and greater numbers of activities than under the No Action Alternative.

The Reduced Operations Alternative reflects diminished activity levels, as well as decommissioned facilities and areas at the NNSS and other offsite locations in Nevada. The Reduced Operations Alternative includes continued implementation of previous NEPA decisions, but may not retain all capabilities from those decisions. No new projects or facilities are proposed under the Reduced Operations Alternative. Operational levels would be reduced relative to the No Action Alternative, and geographical and organizational constraints would be placed upon some activities under the Reduced Operations Alternative.

Please note that the comment period has been extended through December 2, 2011.

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Date Last Modified: April 27, 2012