[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55597-55598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24637]


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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD


Sunshine Act; Notice of 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) two meetings 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 group to present any 
comments, technical information, or data concerning safety issues 
relates to the matters to be considered.


TIME AND DATE OF MEETING: 9 a.m., October 21, 2003, and 9 a.m., October 
23, 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 
meetings will be presented live throughout Internet video streaming. A 
link to these presentations will be available on the Board's Web site 
(http://ww.dnfsb.gov).

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

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Board has been 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. The second and third public meetings will 
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 
Federal contracting for essential and high risk government services; 
and possibly further presentations by Board staff.
    The Board has identified several key areas that will be better 
examined in public meetings. For example, during the October 21st 
meeting, DOE and NNSA will discuss their new approaches which increase 
DOE's and NNSA's reliance upon contractor self-assessment programs 
while decreasing Federal oversight. During the October 23rd meeting, 
the Board will hear from representatives from the aerospace industry. 
The information gathered at that time will explore Federal contract 
management and oversight experience and will provide relevant reference 
experience.
    In subsequent public meetings, the Board will explore in more depth 
the field application of Federal management and oversight policies 
being developed by DOE and NNSA for defense nuclear facilities. The 
public hearing portions are 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 hearings may be 
submitted in writing or by telephone. The Board asks that commentators 
describe the nature and scope of their oral presentation. Those who 
contact the Board prior to close of business on October 20, 2003, will 
be scheduled for time slots, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m., for 
the October 21st meeting. Those who contact the Board prior to close of 
business on October 22, 2003, will be scheduled for time slots, 
beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m., for the October 23rd meeting. 
The Board will post a schedule for those speakers who have contacted 
the Board before each hearing. The posting will be made

[[Page 55598]]

at the entrance to the Public Hearing Room at the start of each 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 Board will hold the record open until 
November 24, 2003, for the receipt of additional materials. Transcripts 
of the meetings 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 meetings and hearings, to recess, 
reconvene, postpone, or adjourn the meetings and hearings, conduct 
further reviews, and otherwise exercise its power under the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
John T. Conway,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 03-24637 Filed 9-24-03; 3:56 pm]
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