Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Consolidation of Nuclear Operations Related to Production of Radioisotope Power Systems

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The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, for the proposed consolidation of nuclear activities related to production of radioisotope power systems (RPS) required for Government national security and space exploration missions at a single, highly secure DOE site. Currently, DOE's ongoing RPS-related production operations are located at three DOE sites in Idaho, New Mexico and Tennessee, requiring the transport of radioactive material that could be avoided by consolidation of these activities at a single site. The proposed consolidation of these operations, which includes production, purification, and encapsulation of plutonium-238 (Pu-238), would be consistent with DOE's approach on consolidating nuclear materials, increasing the security of nuclear materials, and reducing risks associated with transportation of nuclear materials. The EIS will analyze all reasonable alternatives for the consolidation of the RPS operations as well as the No Action alternative.