[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19753-19754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10073]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Stakeholder Forum on Central Internet Database

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of a National Stakeholder Forum.

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SUMMARY: DOE is sponsoring a forum on the development of a Central 
Internet Database (``CID'' or ``database'') that will contain specified 
information on DOE managed waste, contaminated environmental media, and 
facilities. DOE is developing this database and sponsoring this forum 
pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement between DOE, the 
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., and several other 
organizations. The purposes of this forum are: (1) To inform and 
discuss with stakeholders the current status of the development of the 
database and review the data that will be contained in the database; 
(2) to engage in a dialogue with stakeholders about the continued 
development of, and possible enhancements to, the outline and structure 
of the database; (3) to discuss Internet linkages to other data 
sources; and (4) to discuss opportunities for on-going stakeholder 
involvement in the development and implementation of the database. The 
forum is open to the public. However, pre-registration is strongly 
recommended to assist DOE in logistical planning for the forum. 
Detailed registration information is provided below.

DATES: June 3-4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Columbia Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 10207 Wincopia 
Circle, Columbia, MD 21044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James D. Werner, 202-586-9280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    On December 12, 1998, DOE and the Natural Resources Defense 
Council, Inc. (NRDC), on its own behalf and that of 38 other plaintiff 
organizations, settled a lawsuit (Natural Resources Defense Council, et 
al. v. Richardson, et al., Civ No. 97-936 (SS)). The terms of the 
settlement agreement require DOE to complete three major items: (1) 
Develop and implement a Central Internet Database (CID) containing 
specified information on DOE waste, facilities, and contaminated media, 
as well as information on waste transfers; (2) conduct a study of DOE's 
long-term stewardship activities; and (3) establish a $6.25 million 
fund, to be administered by an independent organization (RESOLVE, 
Inc.), enabling recipient organizations to conduct technical and 
scientific reviews of DOE's environmental management activities. In 
connection with the development of this database, DOE agreed to hold at 
least two national stakeholders forums to discuss with members of the 
public issues relating to the development of the database. The first of 
these forums is the subject of this notice.
    Additional information on the settlement agreement is available 
through an Internet web site (see URL given below) or by contacting the 
DOE point of contact, James D. Werner, at the address listed below.

2. Central Internet Database Requirements

    From 1980 to 1996, the Department compiled, on a national basis, 
information about its waste, contaminated media, and spent nuclear fuel 
in a system, called the ``Integrated Database'' or ``IDB.'' The new 
database (the CID) will, in part, supplant the IDB and will include 
more information and make it more readily accessible than the IDB. The 
CID will contain specified information on the wastes, contaminated 
media, facilities, spent nuclear fuel, and materials in inventory 
managed by DOE's Offices of Environmental Management, Defense Programs, 
Science, and Nuclear Energy. The database will also include data from 
the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites, if 
they have been returned to DOE for management, as well as sites 
governed by Section 151(b) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that have 
been transferred to DOE ownership. (To date, no sites have been 
transferred to DOE under section 151(b). FUSRAP sites that have not 
already been cleaned up, are currently managed by the Army Corps of 
Engineers).
    Under the terms of the settlement, DOE will include in the CID, 
data that are presently available and collected by DOE on a national 
level, or that are presently planned to be collected in the future by 
DOE on a national level. For example, specific information will be 
provided on waste types and volumes of material and waste in storage, 
as well as newly generated, treated, and disposed waste; the mass of 
spent nuclear fuel in storage and the annual receipts of spent nuclear 
fuel; the major chemical constituents and radionuclides of concern; the 
program responsible for generation and disposition; and the location, 
managing program, approximate square footage, status, and type of 
contamination for DOE facilities. The database will not include any 
information that is classified,

[[Page 19754]]

controlled, or proprietary. DOE also committed to make the database 
available to the public on the Internet through a web-based reporting 
tool (e.g., web site) that provides the capacity to generate standard 
reports and perform searches and queries.
    As explained above, this notice announces the first national 
stakeholder forum to discuss the development of the CID. DOE will 
sponsor at least one additional stakeholder forum; the second forum 
will be held no sooner than one year after the date on which DOE 
announces that the database is operational. The subject of the second 
forum will be the operation of the database, including its structure 
and linkages to other databases. DOE is required to maintain the 
database for a minimum of five years following the second national 
stakeholder forum. Before the expiration of this five-year period, upon 
request, DOE will hold a third national stakeholder forum to discuss 
whether the Department should continue operation of the database.

3. Draft Forum Agenda

    The following is a draft agenda for the forum. Members of the 
public are invited to review the draft agenda and provide comments on 
it in the manner described below.

June 3

8:30--Welcome and Introductions
9:30--Overview and Status Reports on the Database by DOE and 
Stakeholders
11:00--Public Comments and General Discussion
12:00--Lunch
1:00--Sessions on Specific Topics--Topics may include the following:
     Data sources, level of detail, and availability
     User Interface--Look and feel of interface
     Database search and query capabilities
     Database deployment, training, and documentation
     Updating and maintaining the database
     Opportunities for ongoing stakeholder involvement with 
database development and deployment
5:45--Adjourn

June 4

8:30--Agenda Review and Announcements
9:00--Reports from Previous Day Sessions
10:30--Discussion Regarding Sessions
12:00--Lunch
1:00--Discussion of Outstanding Issues
1:45--Next Steps--Upcoming Activities and Action Items
2:15--Closing Comments
2:30--Adjourn

    Comments on the draft agenda should be sent to James D. Werner at 
the following address: Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis (EM-
24), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, 
DC 20585.
    The Department will consider comments received on the draft agenda 
in reaching its determination on the final agenda. The final agenda 
will be made available through the Internet Web Site referenced below.

4. Ongoing Communication Mechanisms

    In order to communicate current information about activities 
related to the settlement to stakeholders and the public, DOE has 
established an Internet Web Site at http://www.em.doe.gov/settlement. 
This site includes:

 Text of Settlement Agreement
 Stakeholder Forum Information
 Forum Agenda
 Registration Information
 Background Materials (available 5/22/99)
 Project Plan--provides an overview of the proposed design of 
the database and the tentative implementation schedule
 Fact Sheets and Updates on Settlement-Related Activities
 Overall Status of Settlement Implementation

5. Registration Information

    Registration information can be obtained from the Internet Web Site 
referenced above, or by calling the Center for Environmental Management 
Information at 1-800-736-3282 (in the Washington, DC area, 202-863-
5084). In addition, any member of the public desiring further 
information concerning the database and forum can contact James D. 
Werner at the address provided above. The deadline for registration is 
May 19, 1999.
    Pursuant to the settlement agreement, DOE will consider providing 
funding for reasonable travel expenses (not to exceed $50,000 per 
forum) associated with attendance at the forum by members of the 
plaintiff organizations or other organizations that can demonstrate 
need and are working on issues related to DOE's environmental 
management activities. The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) will 
process and evaluate these applications and determine eligibility. 
Applications are due no later than May 14, 1999. For further 
information about how to apply for funding of travel expenses, please 
contact ELI as outlined below:

Eric Feldman, Environmental Law Institute, 1616 P Street, NW, Suite 
200, Washington, DC 20036, Phone: 202-939-3823, Fax: 202-939-3868, 
Email: [email protected]

    Information on how to apply for travel expense funding can also be 
obtained from the Internet Web Site referenced above or by calling the 
Center for Environmental Management Information at 1-800-736-3282 (in 
the Washington, DC area, 202-863-5084).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 16, 1999.
James D. Werner,
Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis, Office of 
Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 99-10073 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P