[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 26341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12491]


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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Notice of Meeting

Board Meeting

    June 25-26, 1997--Las Vegas, Nevada: program status and the 
viability assessment, repository performance and uncertainties of the 
natural barrier system, performance and uncertainties of the repository 
design and the engineered barrier system, post-viability assessment 
plans for scientific studies and exploration at Yucca Mountain, 
performance confirmation,and an update on transportation planning.
    Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-203, 
the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, the Nuclear Waste 
Technical Review Board will hold its summer meeting on Wednesday and 
Thursday, June 25-26, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting will be 
held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4255 S. Paradise Road, Las Vegas, 
Nevada, 89109; Tel (702) 369-4400, Fax (702) 369-3770. To receive the 
preferred rate, reservations must be made by May 30, 1997. The meeting 
is open to the public and will begin at 8:30 a.m. both days.

Tentative Agenda

    The morning session on Wednesday, June 25, will begin with an 
update on the status of the Department of Energy's (DOE) high-level 
waste management program. The meeting then will focus on many of the 
DOE's ongoing activities related to the viability assessment planned 
for 1998, including repository performance and uncertainties in the 
natural barrier system. The Board will hear presentations by 
representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors 
on how performance assessment views the natural barriers, the DOE's 
unsaturated zone expert elicitation project, and saturated zone flow 
and transport.
    The afternoon session will look at the performance and 
uncertainties associated with repository design and the engineered 
barrier system. Presentations will include the status of regulatory 
development, the DOE waste containment and isolation strategy, 
repository design and operations, waste package design, and how 
performance assessment views waste package performance.
    On Thursday morning, June 26, the Board will hear presentations on 
the projected plans and costs of post-viability assessment scientific 
studies and exploration at Yucca Mountain, projected costs of 
repository construction and operation, performance confirmation after 
licensing, and an update on transportation planning.
    Time has been set aside for public comment and questions on both 
days. To ensure that everyone wishing to speak is provided time to do 
so, the Board encourages those who have comments to sign the Public 
Comment Register, which will be located at the registration table. A 
time limit may have to be set on the length of individual remarks; 
however, written comments of any length may be submitted for the 
record.

Transcripts

    Transcripts of this meeting will be available via e-mail, on 
computer disk, or on a library-loan basis in paper format from Davonya 
Barnes, Board staff, beginning July 24, 1997. For further information, 
contact Frank Randall, External Affairs, 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, 
Suite 1300, Arlington, Virginia 22201-3367; (Tel) 703-235-4473; (Fax) 
703-235-4495; (E-mail [email protected].
    The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board was created by Congress in 
the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 to evaluate the 
technical and scientific validity of activities undertaken by the DOE 
in its program to manage the disposal of the nation's spent nuclear 
fuel and defense high-level waste. In the same legislation, Congress 
directed the DOE to characterize a site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for 
its suitability as a potential location for a permanent repository for 
the disposal of that waste.

    Dated: May 7, 1997.
William Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 97-12491 Filed 5-12-97; 8:45 am]
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