[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1699-1700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-695]


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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 a.m., February 3, 2004.

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 the presentation will be available on the Board's Web site (http://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 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 or might have had upon 
assuring adequate protection of the health and safety of the public and 
workers at DOE's defense nuclear facilities. The seventh public meeting 
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 the Department of Energy and the 
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to explain their 
contract management and oversight initiatives.
    The Board has identified several key areas that will be examined in 
public meetings. In the February 3rd meeting, the Board will hear from 
DOE's Office of Environment, Safety, and Health concerning its roles 
and responsibilities in the oversight process, and from NNSA regarding 
its review of applicable lessons learned from the Columbia Accident 
Investigation Board Report. The Board will continue to explore in more 
depth Federal management and oversight policies being developed by DOE 
and NNSA for defense nuclear facilities. The information gathered will 
explore Federal contract management and oversight experience and will 
provide relevant reference experience. 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. 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 February 2, 2004, will 
be scheduled for

[[Page 1700]]

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 Board will hold the record open until March 
3, 2004, 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.

    Dated: January 8, 2004.
John T. Conway,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 04-695 Filed 1-8-04; 3:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3670-01-P