NNSA, a semi-autonomous agency within DOE, intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update the environmental analyses in DOE’s 1999 EIS for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light Water Reactor (CLWR EIS; DOE/EIS–0288). The CLWR EIS addressed the production of tritium in Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reactors using tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs). In the Record of Decision (ROD) for the CLWR EIS, NNSA selected TVA’s Watts Bar Unit 1 and Sequoyah Units 1 and 2, located in Spring City and Soddy‐Daisy, Tennessee, respectively, for tritium production. TVA has been producing tritium for NNSA at Watts Bar Unit 1 since 2004.
After several years of tritium production experience at TVA’s Watts Bar Unit 1, NNSA has determined that tritium permeation through TPBAR cladding into the reactor cooling water occurs at a higher rate than previously projected. The proposed SEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with increased tritium permeation levels observed since 2004; DOE’s revised estimate of the maximum number of TPBARs required based on the current Nuclear Posture Review tritium supply requirements; and proposed changes to TVA facilities that may be used for future tritium production. TVA will be participating as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the SEIS.
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Southeast Tennessee Trade and Conference Center
122 Regional Park Drive (2405 Decatur Pike), Athens, TN
Open House: 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light Water Reactor [1]
- Scoping Meeting Notice [2]
- Scoping Meeting Transcript [3]
SCOPING MATERIALS
- Public Scoping Presentation [4]
- Written Comment Form [5]
- NEPA Fact Sheet [6]
- Tritium Fact Sheet [7]
- Tritium Production and Environmental Impacts [8]
- TVA Fact Sheet [9]
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light Water Reactor (DOE/EIS-0288)
- DOE-EIS0288-Summary [10]
- DOE-EIS0288-Volume 1 [11]
- DOE-EIS0288-Volume 2 [12]
