Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/884

 96 STAT. 2246

Environmental assessment.

PUBLIC LAW 97-425—JAN. 7, 1983

mental Quality, and such other Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate, is authorized to issue, pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, general guidelines for the selection of a site for a test and evaluation facility. Under such guidelines the Secretary shall specify factors that qualify or disqualify a site for development as a test and evaluation facility, including factors pertaining to the location of valuable natural resources, hydrogeophysics, seismic activity, and atomic energy defense activities, proximity to water supplies, proximity to populations, the effect upon the rights of users of water, and proximity to components of the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, or National Forest Lands. Such guidelines shall require the Secretary to consider the various geologic media in which the site for a test and evaluation facility may be located and, to the extent practicable, to identify sites in different geologic media. The Secretary shall use guidelines established under this subsection in considering and selecting sites under this title. (b) SITE IDENTIFICATION BY THE SECRETARY.—(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and following promulgation of guidelines under subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to identify 3 or more sites, at least 2 of which shall be in different geologic media in the continental United States, and at least 1 of which shall be in media other than salt. Subject to Commission requirements, the Secretary shall give preference to sites for the test and evaluation facility in media possessing geochemical characteristics that retard aqueous transport of radionuclides. In order to provide a greater possible protection of public health and safety as operating experience is gained at the test and evaluation facility, and with the exception of the primary areas under review by the Secretary on the date of the enactment of this Act for the location of a test and evaluation facility or repository, all sites identified under this subsection shall be more than 15 statute miles from towns having a population of greater than 1,000 persons as determined by the most recent census unless such sites contain high-level radioactive waste prior to identification under this title. Each identification of a site shall be supported by an environmental assessment, which shall include a detailed statement of the basis for such identification and of the probable impacts of the siting research activities planned for such site, and a discussion of alternative activities relating to siting research that may be undertaken to avoid such impacts. Such environmental assessment shall include— (A) an evaluation by the Secretary as to whether such site is suitable for siting research under the guidelines established under subsection (a); (B) an evaluation by the Secretary of the effects of the siting research activities at such site on the public health and safety and the environment; (C) a reasonable comparative evaluation by the Secretary of such site with other sites and locations that have been considered; (D) a description of the decision process by which such site was recommended; and (E) an assessment of the regional and local impacts of locating the proposed test and evaluation facility at such site. (2) When the Secretary identifies a site, the Secretary shall as soon as possible notify the Governor of the State in which such site

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