[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 232 (Monday, December 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63833-63834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30782]


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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    Pursuant to the provisions of the ``Government in the Sunshine 
Act'' (5 U.S.C. Sec. 552b), notice is hereby given of the Defense 
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's (Board) fifth meeting in a series, 
described below, regarding the Department of Energy's (DOE) standards-
based safety management program. The Board will also conduct a public 
hearing pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2286b to gather additional 
information on the status of the Board's oversight of the DOE's 
initiatives to simplify existing safety orders and to promulgate new 
rules and invites any interested persons or groups, as well as DOE 
contractors, to present any comments, technical information, or data 
concerning this matter.

TIME AND DATE: December 12, 1996, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Public Hearing 
Room, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Board will reconvene and continue the 
open meeting conducted on November 7, 1996, regarding the adequacy of 
DOE's standards-based safety management program. The Department of 
Energy is scheduled to provide a status report and to respond to 
questions concerning the open issues identified at the Board's public 
meeting on November 7, 1996. DOE contractors, public representatives, 
and others will be given an opportunity to present their comments on 
these safety orders and proposed rules.
    Some of the open issues that were identified by the Board's staff 
during the November 7, 1996 meeting are included in the appendix to 
this notice.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Robert M. Andersen, General 
Counsel , Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, 
NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004, (800) 788-4016. This is a toll-
free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board has a responsibility for oversight 
of DOE's development and implementation of nuclear health and

[[Page 63834]]

safety requirements. DOE is endeavoring to change existing safety 
orders to revised safety orders and rules. The Board wants to make sure 
that the requirements-based safety program now embodied in the DOE's 
safety orders and existing regulations is not compromised.
    The Board has held four public Board meetings, to date, in 
connection with DOE initiatives to revise and improve its nuclear 
safety requirements. This will be the fifth in that series. On May 31, 
1995, the board met in open session, to lay the groundwork for a full 
assessment of how Standards/Requirements Identification Documents, 
rules, orders, and other safety requirements are integrated into an 
overall safety management program for defense nuclear facilities. That 
public meeting was continued on July 18, 1995. The Board's staff 
reported on its comprehensive review of existing orders and rules, 
their adequacy, and the status of DOE revisions to safety orders and 
rules. Individual Board members presented their views. Then, in a joint 
meeting with DOE officials on September 20, 1995, DOE's representative 
reported on the status of DOE's review and proposed revision of nuclear 
safety orders and rules. The Board at that time identified safety 
issues requiring resolution, including inappropriate application of 
``sunset provisions'' to safety orders, the need for ``corsswalks'' 
showing the disposition of requirements in superseded safety orders and 
the need to preserve sound engineering practices embodied in guidance 
documents. The Board reserved its right to further comment after it 
completed its integrated review of how rules, orders, and other safety 
requirements are being revised and integrated into an overall safety 
management program for defense nuclear facilities. The Board reiterated 
its concern that DOE's streamlining and conversion process not 
compromise the requirements-based safety program currently embodied in 
contracts which incorporate applicable DOE safety orders.
    On November 7, 1996, the Board held its fourth public meeting to 
assess DOE's progress in streamlining the safety orders and 
promulgating new safety rules pertaining to its defense nuclear 
facilities, and to assure that DOE's activities in streamlining DOE's 
nuclear safety order system and converting to its new regulatory system 
did not eliminate the sound engineering practices now codified in its 
safety orders that are necessary to adequately protect public health 
and safety. Transcripts of each of the four previous public meetings 
are on file and may be reviewed at the Board's public document room.
    In accordance with the authority granted to the Board, and in 
furtherance of its continuing responsibility for oversight of these 
matters vital to the public health and safety, a public hearing is to 
be conducted by the Board on December 12, 1996, in an open meeting. 
This hearing is an information-gathering function. Examination of those 
appearing before the Board will be limited to questions put to them by 
the Board. Requests to speak at the hearing may be submitted in writing 
or by telephone. We ask that commentators describe the nature and scope 
of their oral presentation. Those who contact the Board prior to close 
of business on December 11, 1996, will be scheduled for time slots, 
beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m. The Board will post a schedule for 
those speakers who have contacted the Board before the hearing. The 
posting will be made at the Reception Area (room 346) at the start of 
the 9:00 a.m. meeting.
    Anyone who wishes to comment, provide technical information or 
data, may do so in writing, either in lieu of, or in addition to making 
an oral presentation. The Board Members may question presenters to the 
extent deemed appropriate. The Board will hold the record open until 
December 27, 1996, for the receipt of materials. A transcript of this 
proceeding will be made available by the Board for inspection by the 
public at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Washington 
office.
    The Board reserves its right to further schedule and otherwise 
regulate the course of this meeting and hearing, to recess, reconvene, 
and otherwise exercise its authority under the Atomic Energy Act of 
1954, as amended.

    Dated: November 27, 1996
John T. Conway,
Chairman.

Appendix--Issues Identified During November 7, 1996 Meeting

     Technical issues, finalization and issuance of 
Implementation Guides associated with DOE Order 420.1, Facility 
Safety.
     Preparation of a nuclear design handbook to capture and 
document the extensive years of sound engineering practices 
developed during many years of experience.
     Previous Board comments regarding DOE Order 251.1A, 
Directives System, and the associated manual.
     Issuance of a Glossary of Terms to include definitions 
previously contained in DOE orders and rules.
     Revision of DOE Order 435.1 and its associated 
Implementation Guide.
     The removal of the decommissioning chapter from DOE 
Order 5820.2A and addition of appropriate requirements and guidance 
on decommissioning in DOE Order 430.1, Life Cycle Asset Management.
     Board comments and issuance of the Weapons Orders and 
Implementation Guide, DOE Orders 452.1 and 452.2.
     DOE's action plan for DOE Order 210.1, that has 
included a performance indicator program to provide an acceptable 
level of protection for the health and safety of workers and the 
public at defense nuclear facilities.
     Completion of Implementation Guide, DOE G 460.1-1 for 
use with DOE Order 460.1, Packaging and Transportation Safety, and 
Implementation Guide, DOE G 460.2-1 for use with DOE Order 460.2, 
Departmental Materials Transportation and Packaging Management.
     Compatibility of the Nuclear Safety Rules (10 CFR Part 
830) with the integrated safety management concepts of Board 
Recommendation 95-2, and clarification of the process for submitting 
Implementation Plans by the contractors.
     Technical issues relative to Nuclear Safety Rules, 10 
CFR Part 830.
     Criteria for worker protection and related issues, 
including: the requirements contained in the proposed Rules 10 CFR 
Part 830.110, Safety Analysis Report; 10 CFR Part 830.320, Technical 
Safety Requirements, and 10 CFR Part 830.112, Unreviewed Safety 
Questions.
     Revised DOE Manual 232.1-1, Occurrence Reporting and 
Processing of Operations Information, and discussion regarding the 
impact of the proposed rule to provide for reporting consistency 
throughout the complex.
     DOE's proposed changes to the exemption rule relative 
to the ``adequate protection'' and ``special circumstances'' 
determination changes discussed by DOE.
     Status of Board staff's comments to the nine 
Implementation Guides, and planned revisions to the remaining three 
Implementation Guides and the standards related to Internal 
Dosimetry, and issuance of the amendment to 10 CFR Part 835 
regarding Occupational Radiation Protection.

[FR Doc. 96-30782 Filed 11-27-96; 3:01 pm]
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