[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 52793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22157]



[[Page 52793]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Public Workshop to Discuss Current Issues Associated with the 
Design and Placement of Erosion Protection

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a Public Workshop to discuss current 
issues associated with the design and placement of erosion protection. 
The goal of the workshop will be to provide a forum for NRC staff to 
discuss, with the NRC licensees and other interested stakeholders, 
NRC's process for evaluating the erosion protection aspects of 
reclamation plans, decommissioning plans, and completion reports. Other 
erosion protection issues associated with the closure and reclamation 
of radioactive waste sites will also be discussed.

DATES: The workshop will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Grand 
Junction, Colorado on October 3-4, 2000, beginning at 8:15 a.m.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Over the past 15 years, various licensees 
and the Department of Energy (DOE) have completed reclamation 
activities at over 20 uranium mill tailings sites across the United 
States. At most of these sites, a significant amount of rock riprap 
erosion protection was placed to protect the reclaimed tailings piles 
from erosion. NRC staff review of construction activities at these 
sites indicated that some were deficient in meeting construction 
specifications, particularly in the placement of the rock layers and in 
achieving the proper in-place gradations. The NRC staff has determined 
that some of the placement problems were related to inadequate quality 
assurance and testing programs, inexperience of contractor construction 
personnel with rock placement, an insufficient knowledge of standard 
industry practice, and an insufficient understanding of the quality of 
rock placement expected by the NRC staff to meet regulatory 
requirements.
    The NRC staff held a rock placement workshop in 1999 for the 
benefit of agreement states to discuss various technical issues 
associated with rock placement. As part of our continuing efforts to 
involve the regulated community and other stakeholders in our 
reclamation approval activities, we will hold an expanded workshop on 
October 3-4, 2000 to discuss current issues related to riprap design 
and placement at various types of waste disposal facilities. The 
workshop will focus primarily on riprap placement, with recommendations 
for improving rock placement by using proper placement techniques and 
specific design techniques. The staff seeks to obtain perspectives from 
other regulators, agreement states, licensees, consultants, and other 
interested stakeholders.
    The workshop will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Grand 
Junction, Colorado on October 3-4, 2000, beginning at 8:15 a.m. The 
preliminary agenda for the first day includes presentations by:
    (1) NRC staff, discussing experiences, regulatory requirements, 
expectations, and recommendations for achieving acceptable rock 
placement;
    (2) NRC consultants, presenting the history and development of 
design guidance, including videotapes of prototype flume studies that 
simulate large flood flows over riprap layers;
    (3) regulators from agreement states, providing their perspectives 
and experiences with rock placement;
    (4) NRC licensees, discussing their perspective and experiences in 
meeting regulatory requirements;
    (5) licensee contractors, discussing actual construction techniques 
that have been used to achieve acceptable rock placement and providing 
recommendations for designers;
    (6) DOE representatives discussing the history of the DOE Title I 
program, the long-term surveillance and maintenance program, and the 
evolution and development of successful rock placement techniques;
    (7) licensee consultants, discussing their experiences with riprap 
design and placement; and
    (8) other interested parties, who may wish to provide input.
    On October 4, 2000, site tours will be conducted at several sites 
where rock placement has been reviewed and approved by the NRC staff. 
These sites include Grand Junction (Cheney Reservoir) and Naturita 
(Umetco Upper Burbank). In addition, rock placement at the Umetco Title 
II site, regulated by the State of Colorado, will be observed.
    The workshop is free and will be open to the public. Hotel 
accommodations and transportation are the responsibility of each 
participant. A block of rooms has been set aside at the Adam's Mark 
Hotel, (970) 241-8888, until September 22, 2000. These rooms are 
available at the government rate of $55 plus tax, and reservations 
should be made as early as possible. Rental cars are available from 
major rental car companies at the Grand Junction airport.
    The NRC staff strongly encourages all interested stakeholders to 
attend and participate in this workshop. It will offer a unique 
opportunity for NRC staff and the industry to provide insights, 
perspectives, and information that is important for the NRC staff to 
consider as it seeks ways to improve its regulatory program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Johnson, Fuel Cycle Licensing 
Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS/FCSS/FCLB), at (301) 415-6658 or 
e-mail at [email protected]. In addition, to obtain an approximate estimate 
of the total number of participants and equipment needed, please 
contact Mr. Johnson if you plan to attend the workshop or if you have 
specific audio-visual requirements.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 24th day of August, 2000.
    For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Philip Ting,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and 
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 00-22157 Filed 8-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P