[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19863-19864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9908]


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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Board Meeting; Yucca Mountain, NV

    Board Meeting: May 13-14, 2003--Washington, DC: The Nuclear Waste 
Technical Review Board will meet to discuss thermal aspects of the 
Department of Energy's regulatory design for Yucca Mountain, corrosion 
research, geophysical and hydrogeologic investigations of the Yucca 
Mountain site, performance confirmation plans, and a report by the 
Igneous Consequences Peer Review Panel.
    Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-203, 
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, on Tuesday, May 13, and on 
Wednesday morning, May 14, 2003, the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical 
Review Board (Board) will meet in Washington, DC, to discuss how heat 
from the radioactive decay of nuclear waste will affect the U.S. 
Department of Energy's (DOE) design of a repository for disposing of 
spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain 
in Nevada. Other technical and scientific issues related to the 
potential performance of such a repository also will be discussed. The 
meeting is open to the public, and opportunities for public comment 
will be provided. The Board was created by Congress in the Nuclear 
Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 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.
    The Board meeting will be held at the Watergate Hotel; 2650 
Virginia Avenue, NW.; Washington, DC 20037. The telephone number is 
202-965-2300; the fax number is 202-337-7915. The

[[Page 19864]]

meeting sessions will begin at 8 a.m. on both days.
    On Tuesday, the meeting will focus on the DOE's planned repository 
design and operating mode for Yucca Mountain. The Board has invited the 
DOE to describe clearly the thermal aspects of the repository design 
and operating mode, how the thermal aspects of the design and operating 
mode were analyzed for waste isolation, and the results of the 
analyses.
    The half-day meeting on Wednesday will include discussions of other 
scientific issues related to a Yucca Mountain repository, including a 
presentation on corrosion research by a representative of the Center 
for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses; a presentation on geophysical 
and hydrogeologic investigations by a representative of Inyo County, 
California; an update on the Yucca Mountain science and technology 
program; and a presentation by a representative of the Igneous 
Consequences Peer Review Panel. The session also will include a 
discussion of the DOE's performance confirmation plans.
    Opportunities for public comment will be provided before 
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. If time permits, the questions will 
be addressed 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 http://www.nwtrb.gov. Beginning 
on June 16, 2003, 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 Watergate Hotel. A 
meeting rate is available for reservations made by April 21, 2003. 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.

    Dated: April 17, 2003.
William D. Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 03-9908 Filed 4-21-03; 8:45 am]
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