[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51967-51968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25995]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste; Procedures for Meetings

Background

    This notice describes procedures to be followed with respect to 
meetings conducted pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act by 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Advisory Committee on 
Nuclear Waste (ACNW). These procedures are set forth so that they may 
be incorporated by reference in future notices for individual meetings.
    The ACNW advises the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on nuclear waste 
disposal issues. This includes facilities covered under 10 CFR Parts 61 
and the proposed Part 63 and other applicable regulations and 
legislative mandates, such as the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Low-
Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act and amendments, and the Uranium Mill 
Tailings Radiation Control Act, as amended. The Committee's reports 
become a part of the public record.
    The ACNW meetings are normally open to the public and provide 
opportunities for oral or written statements from members of the public 
to be considered as part of the Committee's information gathering 
process. The meetings are not adjudicatory hearings such as those 
conducted by the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel as part 
of the Commission's licensing process. ACNW meetings are conducted in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

General Rules Regarding ACNW Meetings

    An agenda is published in the Federal Register for each full 
Committee meeting and is available on the internet at http://
www.nrc.gov/ACRSACNW. There may be a need to make changes to the agenda 
to facilitate the conduct of the meeting. The Chairman of the Committee 
is empowered to conduct the meeting in a manner that, in his/her 
judgment, will facilitate the orderly conduct of business, including 
making provisions to continue the discussion of matters not completed 
on the scheduled day during another meeting. Persons planning to attend 
the meeting may contact the Chief of the Nuclear Waste Branch, ACNW, 
prior to the meeting to be advised of any changes to the agenda that 
may have occurred. This individual can be contacted (telephone: 301/
415-7366) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time.
    The following requirements shall apply to public participation in 
ACNW meetings:
    (a) Persons wishing to submit written comments regarding the agenda 
items may do so by sending a readily reproducible copy addressed to the 
Designated Federal Official specified in the Federal Register Notice 
for the individual meeting in care of the Advisory Committee on Nuclear 
Waste, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. 
Comments should be in the possession of the Designated Federal Official 
at least five days prior to the meeting to allow time for reproduction 
and distribution. Comments should be limited to topics being considered 
by the Committee.
    Written comments may also be submitted by providing a readily 
reproducible copy to the Designated Federal Official at the beginning 
of the meeting.

[[Page 51968]]

    (b) Persons desiring to make oral statements at the meeting should 
make a request to do so to the Designated Federal Official. If 
possible, the request should be made five days before the meeting, 
identifying the topics to be discussed and the amount of time needed 
for presentation so that orderly arrangements can be made. The 
Committee will hear oral statements on topics being reviewed at an 
appropriate time during the meeting as scheduled by the Chairman.
    (c) Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the 
agenda, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled and the 
time allotted to present oral statements can be obtained by contacting 
the Chief of the Nuclear Waste Branch, ACNW (telephone: 301/415-7366) 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time.
    (d) During the ACNW meeting presentations and discussions, 
questions may be asked by ACNW members, Committee consultants, NRC 
staff, and the ACNW staff.
    (e) The use of still, motion picture, and television cameras will 
be permitted at the discretion of the Chairman and subject to the 
condition that the physical installation and presence of such equipment 
will not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. The Designated 
Federal Official will have to be notified prior to the meeting and will 
authorize the installation or use of such equipment after consultation 
with the Chairman. The use of such equipment will be restricted as is 
necessary to protect proprietary or privileged information that may be 
in documents, folders, etc., in the meeting room. Electronic recordings 
will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are 
open to the public.
    (f) A transcript is kept for certain open portions of the meeting 
and will be available in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20555, for use within one week following the 
meeting. A copy of the certified minutes of the meeting will be 
available at the same location on or before three months following the 
meeting. Copies may be obtained upon payment of appropriate 
reproduction charges. ACNW meeting agenda, meeting transcripts, and 
letter reports are available for downloading or viewing on the Internet 
at http://www.nrc.gov/ACRSACNW. 
    (g) Video teleconferencing service is available for observing open 
sessions of some ACNW meetings. Those wishing to use this service for 
observing ACNW meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACNW Audio 
Visual Technician, (301-415-8066) between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. 
Eastern Time at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the 
availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting 
this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for 
providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the 
video teleconferencing link. The availability of video teleconferencing 
services is not guaranteed.

ACNW Working Group Meetings

    ACNW Working Group meetings will also be conducted in accordance 
with these procedures, as appropriate. When Working Group meetings are 
held at locations other than at NRC facilities, reproduction facilities 
may not be available at a reasonable cost. Accordingly, 25 additional 
copies of the materials to be used during the meeting should be 
provided for distribution at such meetings.

Special Provisions When Proprietary Sessions Are To Be Held

    If it is necessary to hold closed sessions for the purpose of 
discussing matters involving proprietary information, persons with 
agreements permitting access to such information may attend those 
portions of the ACNW meetings where this material is being discussed 
upon confirmation that such agreements are effective and related to the 
material being discussed.
    The Designated Federal Official should be informed of such an 
agreement at least five working days prior to the meeting so that it 
can be confirmed, and a determination can be made regarding the 
applicability of the agreement to the material that will be discussed 
during the meeting. The minimum information provided should include 
information regarding the date of the agreement, the scope of material 
included in the agreement, the project or projects involved, and the 
names and titles of the persons signing the agreement. Additional 
information may be requested to identify the specific agreement 
involved. A copy of the executed agreement should be provided to the 
Designated Federal Official prior to the beginning of the meeting for 
admittance to the closed session.

    Dated: September 23, 1998.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-25995 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P