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Dear Mr. Barrett: As you know, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of availability, in the Federal Register on May 4, 2001, of a supplement to its draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) (hereafter referred to as the SDEIS), for a proposed geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste (HLW) at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. In the context of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA), as amended, DOE is the lead agency for developing the proposed repository and considering potential environmental impacts. For its part, NRC is to adopt DOEs final environmental impact statement (FEIS), to the extent practicable, as part of any potential NRC licensing action related to the repository. Consistent with its NWPA responsibilities and its role as a DEIS commenting agency, the NRC provided comments to DOE on its DEIS in a letter dated February 22, 2000. NRCs comments on the recently published SDEIS are enclosed. The enclosed comments and NRCs February 2000 comments on the DEIS are provided to ensure that the FEIS is more complete. Please contact Charlotte E. Abrams, of my staff, if you have any questions about this letter or the enclosure. Ms. Abrams can be reached at (301) 415-7293