[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59643-59644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26135]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste; Procedures for Meetings
Background
This notice describes procedures to be followed with respect to
meetings conducted pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act by
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Advisory Committee on
Nuclear Waste (ACNW). These procedures are set forth so that they may
be incorporated by reference in future notices for individual meetings.
The ACNW advises the NRC on technical issues related to nuclear
materials and waste management. The bases of ACNW reviews include 10
CFR parts 20, 60, 61, 63, 70, 71, and 72 and other applicable
regulations and legislative mandates, such as the Nuclear Waste Policy
Act as amended, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act and
amendments, and the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, as
amended. The Committee's reports become a part of the public record.
The ACNW meetings are normally open to the public and provide
opportunities for oral or written statements from members of the public
to be considered as part of the Committee's information gathering
process. The meetings are not adjudicatory hearings such as those
conducted by the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel as part
of the Commission's licensing process. ACNW meetings are conducted in
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
General Rules Regarding ACNW Meetings
An agenda is published in the Federal Register for each full
Committee meeting and is available on the Internet at http://www.nrc.gov/ACRSACNW. There may be a need to make changes to the agenda
to facilitate the conduct of the meeting. The Chairman of the Committee
is empowered to conduct the meeting in a manner that, in his/her
judgment, will facilitate the orderly conduct of business, including
making provisions to continue the discussion of matters not completed
on the scheduled day during another meeting. Persons planning to attend
a meeting may contact the Designated Federal Official (DFO) specified
in the individual Federal Register notice prior to the meeting to be
advised of any changes to the agenda that may have occurred.
The following requirements shall apply to public participation in
ACNW meetings:
(a) Persons who plan to make oral statements and/or submit written
comments at the meeting should provide 35 copies to the DFO at the
beginning of the meeting. Persons who cannot attend the meeting but
wishing to submit written comments regarding the agenda items may do so
by sending a readily reproducible copy addressed to the DFO specified
in the Federal Register notice for the individual meeting in care of
the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Comments should be in the
possession of the DFO prior to the meeting to allow time for
reproduction and distribution. Comments should be limited to topics
being considered by the Committee.
(b) Persons desiring to make oral statements at the meeting should
make a request to do so to the DFO. If possible, the request should be
made five days before the meeting, identifying the topics to be
discussed and the amount of time needed for presentation so that
orderly arrangements can be made. The Committee will hear oral
statements on topics being reviewed at an appropriate time during the
meeting as scheduled by the Chairman.
(c) Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the
agenda, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, and the
time allotted to present oral statements can be obtained by contacting
the DFO specified in the individual Federal Register notice.
(d) The use of still, motion picture, and television cameras will
be permitted at the discretion of the Chairman and subject to the
condition that the physical installation and presence of such equipment
will not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. The DFO will have
to be notified prior to the meeting and will authorize the installation
or use of such equipment after consultation with the Chairman. The use
of such equipment will be restricted as is necessary to protect
proprietary or privileged information that may be in documents,
folders, etc., in the meeting room. Electronic recordings will be
permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are open to
the public.
(e) A transcript is kept for certain open portions of the meeting
and will be available in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR), One White
Flint North, Room O-1F21, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-
2738. ACNW meeting agenda, transcripts, and letter reports are
available through the NRC
[[Page 59644]]
Public Document Room at [email protected], by calling the PDR at 1-800-394-
4209, or from the Publicly Available Records System (PARS) component of
NRC's document system (ADAMS) which is accessible from the NRC Web site
at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/. A copy of the certified minutes of the
meeting will be available at the same location up to three months
following the meeting. Copies may be obtained upon payment of
appropriate reproduction charges.
(f) Video teleconferencing service is available for observing open
sessions of some ACNW meetings. Those wishing to use this service for
observing ACNW meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACNW Audio
Visual Technician, (301-415-8066) between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
eastern time at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the
availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting
this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for
providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the
video teleconferencing link. The availability of video teleconferencing
services is not guaranteed.
ACNW Working Group Meetings
From time to time the ACNW may sponsor an in-depth meeting on a
specific technical issue to understand staff expectations and review
work in progress. Such meetings are called Working Group meetings.
These Working Group meetings will also be conducted in accordance with
these procedures noted above for the ACNW meeting, as appropriate. When
Working Group meetings are held at locations other than at NRC
facilities, reproduction facilities may not be available at a
reasonable cost. Accordingly, 25 additional copies of the materials to
be used during the meeting should be provided for distribution at such
meetings.
Special Provisions When Proprietary Sessions Are To Be Held
If it is necessary to hold closed sessions for the purpose of
discussing matters involving proprietary information, persons with
agreements permitting access to such information may attend those
portions of the ACNW meetings where this material is being discussed
upon confirmation that such agreements are effective and related to the
material being discussed.
The DFO should be informed of such an agreement at least five
working days prior to the meeting so that it can be confirmed, and a
determination can be made regarding the applicability of the agreement
to the material that will be discussed during the meeting. The minimum
information provided should include information regarding the date of
the agreement, the scope of material included in the agreement, the
project or projects involved, and the names and titles of the persons
signing the agreement. Additional information may be requested to
identify the specific agreement involved. A copy of the executed
agreement should be provided to the DFO prior to the beginning of the
meeting for admittance to the closed session.
Dated: October 9, 2003.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-26135 Filed 10-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P