[SocialMedia] Final VTR EIS and Record of Decision

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Versatile Test Reactor Environmental Impact Statement (Final VTR EIS) (DOE/EIS-0542). The VTR will be a sodium-cooled, fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear energy technologies critical to tackling the climate crisis. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DOE prepared the Final VTR EIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of alternatives for constructing and operating a VTR and the associated facilities required for post-irradiation examination of test and experimental fuels and materials. The Final VTR EIS also evaluates the potential environmental impacts of options for VTR driver fuel (i.e., the fuel that powers the reactor) production and the management of spent nuclear fuel from the VTR. DOE has decided to implement its Preferred Alternative, the INL VTR Alternative, as described in the Final VTR EIS. The INL VTR Alternative is to construct and operate the VTR at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site, and to establish, through modification and through modification and construction, co-located facilities for post-irradiation examination of test products and for management of spent VTR driver fuel. As demonstrated in the Final VTR EIS, implementation of the INL VTR Alternative would have small environmental consequences. At this time, DOE has not decided whether to establish VTR driver fuel production capabilities for feedstock preparation and fuel fabrication at the INL Site, the Savannah River Site, or a combination of the two sites. Once a preferred alternative or option for VTR driver fuel production is identified, DOE will announce its preference in a Federal Register notice. DOE will then publish a ROD no sooner than 30 days after its announcement of a preferred alternative/option for VTR driver fuel production. The VTR ROD and Final VTR EIS are available for viewing or download at https://www.energy.gov/nepa/nepa-documents and https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/versatile-test-reactor. Inquiries regarding the Final VTR EIS or the ROD should be submitted to Mr. James Lovejoy, VTR EIS Document Manager at either of the following addresses: By mail: U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue MS 1235 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 By e-mail: VTR.EIS@nuclear.energy.gov