[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45796-45797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19957]


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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    Pursuant to the provisions of the ``Government in the Sunshine 
Act'' (5 U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board's (Board) meeting described below. The Board 
will also conduct a series of public hearings pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 
2286b and invites any interested persons or groups to present any 
comments, technical information, or data concerning safety issues 
related to the matters to be considered.

Time and Date of Meeting: 9-12 a.m.; September 10, 2003.

Place: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Public Hearing Room, 
625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004-2001. 
Additionally, as a part of the Board's E-Government initiative, the 
meeting will be presented live through Internet video streaming. A link 
to this presentation will be available on the home page of the Board's 
Web site (www.dnfsb.gov).

Status: Open. While the Government in the Sunshine Act does not require 
that the scheduled discussion be conducted in a meeting, the Board has 
determined that an open meeting in this specific case furthers the 
public interests underlying both the Sunshine Act and the Board's 
enabling legislation.

Matters to be Considered: The Board is reviewing the Department of 
Energy's (DOE) current oversight and management of the contracts and 
contractors it relies upon to accomplish the mission assigned to DOE 
under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. We will focus on what 
impact, if any, DOE's new initiatives may have upon assuring adequate 
protection of the health and safety of the public and workers at DOE's 
defense nuclear facilities. Over the next several months, we will 
conduct a series of public meetings to collect information needed to 
understand and address any health or safety concerns that may require 
Board Action. This will include, but is not limited to, presentations 
by DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to 
explain their contract management and oversight initiatives; 
presentations by federal and industry experts in contracting for 
essential and high risk government services; and possibly further 
presentations by DNFSB staff.
    The Board has identified several key areas that will be better 
examined in a public meeting. In the September 10th meeting, the Board 
will hear from representatives from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the 
commercial nuclear sector, and the aerospace industry. The information 
gathered at that time will explore federal contract management and 
oversight experience in various organizations and will provide relevant 
reference experience. In subsequent public meetings, the Board will 
explore in more depth federal management and oversight policies being 
developed by DOE and NNSA for defense nuclear facilities. DOE and NNSA 
will be invited to discuss their new approaches to contract reform, 
contractor self-assessment, and federal oversight. The public hearing 
portion is independently authorized by 42 U.S.C. 2286b.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth M. Pusateri, General Manager, 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite 
700, Washington, DC 20004-2901, (800) 788-4016. This is a toll-free 
number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests to speak at the hearing may be 
submitted in writing or by telephone. We ask that commentators describe 
the nature and scope of their oral presentation. Those who contact the 
Board prior to close of business on September 9, 2003, will be 
scheduled for time slots, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. The 
Board will post a schedule for those speakers who have contacted the 
Board before the hearing. The posting will be made at the entrance to 
the Public Hearing Room at the start of the 9 a.m. meeting.
    Anyone who wishes to comment or provide technical information or 
data may do so in writing, either in lieu of, or in addition to, making 
an oral presentation. The Board Members may question presenters to the 
extent deemed appropriate. Documents will be accepted at the meeting or 
may be sent to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's 
Washington, DC, office. The

[[Page 45797]]

Board will hold the record open until October 10, 2003, for the receipt 
of additional materials. A transcript of the meeting will be made 
available by the Board for inspection by the public at the Defense 
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Washington office and at DOE's public 
reading room at the DOE Federal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585.
    The Board specifically reserves its right to further schedule and 
otherwise regulate the course of the meeting and hearing, to recess, 
reconvene, postpone, or adjourn the meeting and hearing, conduct 
further reviews, and otherwise exercise its power under the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

John T. Conway,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 03-19957 Filed 7-31-03; 3:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3670-01-P