[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 15837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8086]


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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Board Meeting: Yucca Mountain Repository

    May 7-8, 2002--Washington, DC: The Nuclear Waste Technical Review 
Board will hold a meeting to discuss efforts by the Department of 
Energy (DOE) related to developing a safety case for a potential Yucca 
Mountain repository. Other topics that will be discussed include staged 
repository concepts, repository design concepts, issues related to 
corrosion of waste package materials, and the DOE's plans for 
continuing technical and scientific investigations if the Yucca 
Mountain site recommendation is approved.
    Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-203, 
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, on Tuesday, May 7, and 
Wednesday, May 8, 2002, the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board 
(Board) will hold a meeting in Washington, D.C., to discuss efforts by 
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a safety case for a 
potential repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Also discussed will be ``staged'' 
concepts for the development of such a repository, the design of a 
potential repository, and issues related to corrosion of the materials 
that would be used for the waste packages at a potential repository. 
The meeting is open to the public, and opportunities for public comment 
will be provided. The Board is charged by Congress with reviewing the 
technical and scientific validity of DOE activities related to managing 
spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
    The Board meeting will be held at the Washington Marriott Hotel; 
1221 22nd Street, NW; Washington, D.C. 20037. The telephone number is 
202-872-1500; the fax number is 202-872-9899. The meeting sessions will 
begin at 8 a.m. on both days.
    The morning session on Tuesday will begin with comments by a 
representative of the State of Nevada, followed by a series of 
presentations by the DOE on the DOE's technical and scientific program, 
including scheduling and strategic planning. After lunch, the results 
of the DOE's Waste Package Materials Performance Peer Review will be 
presented, followed by an update on the State of Nevada's corrosion 
studies. The balance of the afternoon will be devoted to a discussion 
of the DOE's safety case for a potential Yucca Mountain repository, 
which will include the perspectives of the international community, the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the DOE, and the State of Nevada.
    On Wednesday morning, representatives of the international 
community, the DOE, and the State of Nevada will present their views on 
staged repository concepts. These presentations will be followed by a 
discussion of technical issues related to repository design concepts, 
including presentations on a flexible design concept and on a 
ventilation design concept. The afternoon session will begin with a 
discussion of the DOE's performance-confirmation and test and 
evaluation planning and activities, including a presentations on 
performance confirmation by the Electric Power Research Institute. An 
update on the DOE's performance assessment and design priorities will 
complete the afternoon agenda.
    Opportunities for public comment will be provided before lunch and 
bore adjournment on both days. Those wanting to speak during the public 
comment periods are encouraged to sign the ``Public Comment Register'' 
at the check-in table. A time limit may have to be set on individual 
remarks, but written comments of any length may be submitted for the 
record. Interested parties also will have the opportunity to submit 
questions in writing to the Board. As time permits, the questions will 
be answered during the meeting.
    A detailed agenda will be available approximately one week before 
the meeting. Copies of the agenda can be requested by telephone or 
obtained from the Board's Web site at www.nwtrb.gov. Beginning on June 
10, 2002, transcripts of the meeting will be available on the Board's 
Web site, via e-mail, on computer disk, and on a library-loan basis in 
paper format from Davonya Barnes of the Board staff.
    A block of rooms has been reserved at the Washington Marriott 
Hotel. A meeting rate will be available for reservations made by April 
19, 2002. When making a reservation, please state that you are 
attending the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board meeting. For more 
information, contact the NWTRB; Karyn Severson, External Affairs; 2300 
Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1300; Arlington, VA 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. The Board's purpose is 
to evaluate the technical and scientific validity of activities 
undertaken by the Secretary of Energy related to managing the disposal 
of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. In 
the same legislation, Congress directed the DOE to characterize a site 
at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to determine its suitability as the location 
of a potential repository for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear 
fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

    Dated: March 29, 2002.
William D. Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 02-8086 Filed 4-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-AM-M