Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation's Proposed Idaho Spent Fuel Facility; Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), "Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Idaho Spent Fuel Facility at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in Butte County, Idaho," NUREG-1773, January 2004. This FEIS was prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts of the Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (FWENC) proposal to construct and operate an independent spent fuel storage installation as described in it's license application dated November 19, 2001, and docketed on June 27, 2002 (67 FR 43358). If approved, the proposed facility would be licensed in accordance with NRC regulations found at 10 CFR Part 72. The FEIS discusses the purpose and need for the proposed facility and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, including the no- action alternative. The FEIS also discusses the environment potentially affected by the proposed facility, presents and compares the potential environmental impacts resulting from the proposed action and its alternatives, and identifies mitigation measures that could eliminate or lessen the potential environmental impacts. The FEIS is being issued as part of the NRC's decision-making process on whether to issue a license to FWENC. Based on the evaluation in the FEIS, the NRC environmental review staff have concluded that the proposed action will have small effects on the public and existing environment. This FEIS reflects the final analysis of environmental impacts of FWENC's proposal and it's alternatives, including the consideration of public comments received by the NRC. In addition, the FEIS provides summaries of the substantive public comments on the draft EIS, and responses, as appropriate.