[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48648-48649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20748]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Board Meeting

    September 16-17, 2003--Amargosa Valley, Nevada: The U.S. Nuclear 
Waste Technical Review Board will meet to discuss U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) work related to the natural features of a spent nuclear 
fuel and high-level radioactive waste repository proposed for Yucca 
Mountain in Nevada. The DOE also will present updates on chlorine-36 
studies, on

[[Page 48649]]

performance confirmation, and on transportation activities.
    Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-103, 
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, on Tuesday, September 16, 
and for a half day on Wednesday, September 17, 2003, the U.S. Nuclear 
Waste Technical Review Board (Board) will meet in Amargosa Valley, 
Nevada. Among other topics, the Board will discuss U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) work related to the natural features of a possible 
repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
radioactive waste. The DOE is preparing a license application to be 
submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for construction of 
such a repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The meeting is open to 
the public, and several 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 Longstreet Inn; HCR 70, Box 
559; Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The telephone number is (775) 372-1777; 
the fax number is (775) 372-1280. The meeting will start at 8 a.m. on 
both days.
    On Tuesday, the meeting will begin with a program update and 
project overview. These will be followed by a status report on progress 
in estimating the performance of the engineered components of the 
proposed repository and on efforts to reconcile various chlorine-36 
studies. The agenda then will turn to several presentations relating to 
flow and transport in the unsaturated and saturated zones.
    On Wednesday, a representative of the Nye County Board of 
Commissioners has been invited to present opening remarks. These will 
be followed by a status report on the DOE's performance confirmation 
plans and by updates on igneous issues and on DOE activities related to 
the transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
waste. The meeting will end around noon on Wednesday.
    Opportunities for public comment will be provided before the lunch 
break and at the end of the session on Tuesday and at the end of the 
half-day session on Wednesday. In addition, interested members of the 
public are invited to join Board members for coffee from 7:15 a.m. to 
7:55 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, at the Longstreet Inn. 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. If interested parties do 
not want to speak during the public comment session, they may 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 www.nwtrb.gov. Beginning on 
October 18, 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 Longstreet Inn. When 
making a reservation, please state that you are attending the Nuclear 
Waste Technical Review Board meeting. For more information, contact 
Karyn Severson; Director, External Affairs; 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, 
Suite 1300; Arlington, VA 22201-3367; (tel) 703-235-4473; (fax) 703-
235-4495.

    Dated: August 11, 2003.
William D. Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 03-20748 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-AM-M