[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 109 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 31815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12726]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Office of the Secretary; Defense Science Board

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Advisory Committee Meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Defense Science Board Task Force on Employment of the 
National Ignition Facility (NIF) will meet in closed session on June 
21-22, 2004, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This Task Force 
will review the experimental program under development for the National 
Ignition Facility, NIF is a key component of the National Nuclear 
Security Administration's (NNSA's) Stockpile Stewardship Program to 
maintain the nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing. The NIF 
is a 192-beam laser designed to achieve fusion ignition and produce 
high-energy-density condition approaching those of nuclear weapons. 
NNSA and the high-energy-density physics community have developed a 
plan for activation and early use of NIF which includes a goal to 
demonstrate ignition by 2010 and also supports high priority, non-
ignition experiments required for stockpile stewardship. In this 
assessment, the task force will assess the proposed ignition and ``non-
ignition'' high-energy-density experimental programs at NIF. Review the 
overall balance and priority of activities within the proposed plan and 
the degree to which the proposed program of NIF experiments supports 
the near and long term goals of stockpile stewardship and the overall 
NIF mission. Assess the potential for NIF to support the design and 
development of new weapons. Focus on the extent to which major 
stakeholders in NIF are effectively integrated into the plan.
    The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary 
of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, 
Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they 
affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At these 
meetings, the Defense Science Board Task Force will assess the proposed 
ignition and ``non-ignition'' high-energy-density experimental programs 
at NIF. Review the overall balance and priority of activities within 
the proposed plan and the degree to which the proposed program of NIF 
experiments supports the near and long term goals of stockpile 
stewardship and the overall NIF mission. Assess the potential for NIF 
to support the design and development of new weapons. Focus on the 
extent to which major stakeholders in NIF are effectively integrated 
into the plan.
    In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, Pub. L. No. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. app. II), it has been 
determined that these Defense Science Board Task Force meetings concern 
matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and (4) and that, accordingly, 
these meetings will be closed to the public.

    Dated: May 28, 2004.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 04-12726 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M