[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 215 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60112-60113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29331]


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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Field trip: December 3-4, 1997--Amargosa Valley, Nevada, Ground-
Water Discharge, Yucca Mountain Area Geology, Volcanism, and Tour of 
Yucca Mountain

    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 (Board) will conduct two field trips, December 3 
and 4, 1997, beginning at 8:30 a.m. both days. The field trips, which 
are open to the public, will focus on ground-water discharge, geology, 
and volcanism in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain on December 3 and the 
Yucca Mountain site on December 4.
    During the morning of December 3, participants on the first field 
trip will stop at and hear presentations on Franklin Lake Playa (alkali 
flats where water beneath Yucca Mountain is likely to discharge), Ash 
Meadows (an oasis formed by discharging groundwater), and Devil's Hole 
(a site where much climate data has been gathered). Participants will 
return to the Longstreet Inn for lunch. In the afternoon, participants 
will stop and hear presentations at Steves Pass (with a view of Crater 
Flat and other geologic surroundings of Yucca Mountain), the Lathrop 
Wells volcanic cone (a possible site of evidence for predicting the 
likelihood of future volcanic activity), Lathrop Wells diatomite (a 
past discharge area near Yucca Mountain), an Amargosa Valley farming 
area (the likely basis for defining the future Yucca Mountain 
biosphere), Travetine Point (another past discharge area), and, time 
permitting, Death Valley.
    Participants on the second field trip (December 4) will visit the 
Yucca Mountain site. Visits and presentations will include the crest of 
Yucca Mountain and the view of surrounding volcanic cones, geologic 
features, and the exploratory studies facility portals. Other stops 
will include well pad UZ 7a, which offers a view of the Ghost Dance 
Fault, and the large block test facility. Following a break for lunch, 
the field trip will split. One portion will go undergound to tour the 
exploratory studies facility, including the thermal response test 
alcove. Due to health and safety requirements at the site, the number 
participating in this portion of the tour will be extremely limited. 
The other portion will visit the C-well complex, the sample-management 
facility, or other sites at Yucca Mountain.
    The Board will provide bus transportation for both field trips, 
which will begin and end at the Longstreet Inn & Casino, HCR 70, Box 
559, Amargosa Valley, Nevada 89020; telephone (702) 372-1777; fax (702) 
372-1280. Rooms are available. You must mention that you are attending 
the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board's field trip to receive the 
preferred rate.
    You may register for either field trip by telephoning Davonya 
Barnes or Frank Randall at (703) 235-4473. You will be required to 
provide your full name, social security number, date of birth, place of 
birth, current address, and telephone number. To prevent potential 
reservation errors, FAX and EMAIL requests will not be honored. As 
seating is limited, spaces will be filled on a first-come/first-served 
basis. If there are more requests than space available, a waiting list 
will be maintained in case there are cancellations.
    Itineraries for both field trips will be available on or about 
November 19 at the Board's website, www.nwtrb.gov or by fax or first 
class mail upon request. For further information, contact Frank 
Randall, External Affairs, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., 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

[[Page 60113]]

undertaken by the DOE in its program to manage the disposal of the 
nation's high-level radioactive waste and commercial spent nuclear 
fuel. In that 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: October 31, 1997.
William Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 97-29331 Filed 11-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-AM-M