[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9924]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 25, 1994]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

10 CFR Part 960

 

Process for Evaluating the Suitability of the Yucca Mountain Site 
for Development as a Repository for High-Level Radioactive Waste and 
Spent Nuclear Fuel

AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry and of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: Through this Notice of Inquiry (Notice) the Department of 
Energy (Department) desires to elicit the views of members of the 
general public on the process of evaluation of the suitability of Yucca 
Mountain, Nevada, as a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and 
high-level radioactive waste. In addition, the Department invites 
comments on opportunities for and types of public involvement in the 
process of site suitability evaluation. The Department invites 
interested parties to provide written comments during the term 
specified in this Notice.
    The Department will conduct a public meeting on May 21, 1994, in 
Las Vegas, Nevada, for the purpose of providing interested parties with 
an opportunity to present their views on these and other issues. The 
public meeting will also provide a forum to discuss the subject of 
stakeholder involvement generally, as a follow-up to a previous 
stakeholder meeting held in August 1993. An update on Civilian 
Radioactive Waste Management Program developments will be provided to 
meeting attendees. Additional information on the public meeting may be 
obtained from the individuals noted below.

DATES: Written comments are due on or before June 24, 1994. The Meeting 
will be on May 21, 1994, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Dr. Jane R. 
Summerson, Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste 
Management RW-22, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC 20585.
    The meeting will be held at: The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wolf Repke, Yucca Mountain Site 
Characterization Project Office, M/S 523, Phase 2, suite 200, 101 
Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109, (702) 794-7943.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (Act), 42 U.S.C. 
10101 et seq., provides a comprehensive framework for the development 
of repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and 
spent nuclear fuel. Section 112(a) of the Act directed the Department 
of Energy (the Department) to do the following: (1) Issue general 
guidelines for the recommendation of sites for repositories; and (2) 
use such guidelines in considering candidate sites for recommendation. 
Section 112(a) further provides that the Secretary of Energy may revise 
such guidelines from time to time. Section 112(a) of the Act provides 
that the guidelines developed pursuant to Section 112(a) have to be 
concurred in by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and submitted to the 
Governor or legislature of the State of Nevada for their review and 
comment.
    Section 113(b) of the Act, which concerns site characterization, in 
effect, directs the Department to develop guidelines to be used to 
determine the suitability of a candidate site for the location of a 
repository, developed pursuant to section 112(a) of the Act.
    In accordance with sections 112(a) and 113(b)(1), the Department 
promulgated, as a regulation, General Guidelines for the Recommendation 
of Sites for Nuclear Waste Repositories (10 CFR part 960).
    In accordance with Section 113 of the Act, the Department is 
conducting site characterization activities at the Yucca Mountain site 
to provide data required for evaluation of the suitability of the site 
for construction and operation of a repository for disposal of spent 
nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in accordance with the 
Act and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.).
    In view of the importance of the site suitability evaluation, the 
Department is seeking the views of interested parties regarding an 
evaluation process which can earn public trust and confidence in the 
suitability of the Yucca Mountain Site.
    The Department will use the information obtained in response to 
this Notice as it proceeds with the development of the site suitability 
evaluation process.

II. Site Suitability Evaluation

A. Public Involvement

    The Department seeks comments of interested parties on mechanisms 
and timing for providing input to the Department on the evaluation of 
site suitability. The Department seeks comments on the type of 
information the public needs in order to understand the site 
suitability evaluation, the public's preferences regarding involvement 
methods such as workshops and public meetings, and any other 
considerations.

B. Adequacy of Guidelines

    The guidelines referenced above (10 CFR part 960) provide that the 
Department may consider revision if necessary. The Department 
periodically reviews the guidelines for that purpose. The Department 
seeks the views of interested parties regarding the guidelines, and in 
particular their role in the evaluation of site suitability. The 
options on which the Department seeks comments include using the 
guidelines as they stand and conducting a rulemaking to amend the 
guidelines. DOE also requests comment on the desirability of removing 
portions of 10 CFR part 960 which have been made obsolete by the 
Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments of 1987 (Title V of Pub. L. 100-
203) and which may cause confusion because they continue to appear in 
the Code of Federal Regulations.

C. Peer Review of Scientific and Technical Information

    Site Suitability Evaluations will include the review of scientific 
and technical information by experts who are recognized as such by 
their peers in their fields of knowledge. The Department seeks comments 
on the appropriate use of peer reviews in site suitability evaluations, 
how to select peer reviewers, the roles of existing expert groups such 
as the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board and the National Academy of 
Sciences, and other considerations.

D. Other Considerations

    In addition to the topics mentioned above, the Department seeks 
other comments regarding the evaluation of site suitability.

E. Public Meeting

    The Department will hold a public meeting at the Mirage Hotel, Las 
Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, May 21, 1994. The purposes of this meeting 
are to provide: (1) A follow-up to the stakeholder meeting held last 
August; (2) an update on Yucca Mountain site characterization 
activities; and (3) an opportunity for continued dialogue among 
interested parties. In addition, the afternoon session will give 
attendees an opportunity to discuss the evaluation of site suitability.
    The preliminary agenda is as follows:

7:30 a.m.-7:45 a.m.--Welcome and Introductions
7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m.--Discussion of the August 1993 Stakeholders' 
Meeting
8:45 a.m.-9 a.m.--Introduction of the Administration's Proposal
9 a.m.-12 p.m.--Roundtable Discussion of Administration's Proposal
12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.--Lunch
1:30 p.m.-5 p.m.--Discussion on Site Suitability Evaluation

     Brief Presentation
     Break-out Sessions
     Round-up

5 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.--Discussion of Agenda and the process for future 
OCRWM stakeholder meetings

    The Department seeks comments from the public on the Agenda and 
topics to be covered, and encourages participation in the meeting.

    Issued in Washington DC April 19, 1994.
Lake H. Barrett,
Deputy Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 94-9924 Filed 4-22-94; 8:45 am]
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