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FONSI for DOE/EA-1455, Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory-East.

In the early 1990s, the Department of Energy (Department) began to transition some of its sites and facilities from missions in support of nuclear weapons production to environmental cleanup. At about the same time, legislation was enacted establishing regional community reuse organizations throughout the country. These organizations were established to assist local communities with the transition from economic dependence on the Federal government to reliance on private industry. The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET) was established for this purpose.null"?n

Utility System Leases at the East Tennessee Technology Park

The Department of Energy manages about 2,500 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel generated from research and development, plutonium production, and the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (Naval Reactors). Under current national policy, the Department is to permanently dispose of its spent fuel in an underground repository, but an appropriate repository is not expected to be available until at least 201 0. Until then, the Department plans to consolidate its spent fuel at interim storage sites deemed to have the most appropriate skills, facilities, and technologies: the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory; and, the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.}e

The Department of Energy’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters and Transportation Casks

The Department of Energy must maintain a variety of nuclear materials to meet its mission needs and, based on the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the principle of centralized civilian control of such materials, the nuclear material needs of other Federal agencies. For example, the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) depend on the Department of Energy to supply plutonium-23 8 to meet certain mission requirements involving national defense and space exploration. Plutonium-238 is used in the manufacture of radioisotope power systems that have a number of national security and scientific applications.ÿÿÿ

Plutonium-238 Production