[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63250-63251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24701]


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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD


Workshop; November 18-19, 2013 in Washington, DC

    The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board will hold a workshop 
on impacts of SNF canister design on the SNF waste-management system.
    Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-203, 
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, the U.S. Nuclear Waste 
Technical Review Board will hold a workshop on Monday, November 18, and 
Tuesday, November 19, 2013, to identify issues related to how the use 
of large dry-storage canisters by nuclear utilities for onsite storage 
will affect future handling, storage, transportation and geologic 
disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Unless these canisters can be 
directly disposed of in a geologic repository, it will be necessary to 
transfer the SNF they contain into disposal containers prior to 
permanent disposal.
    Repackaging the SNF would have significant implications for the 
waste management system: it likely will take a long time; it will 
involve extensive SNF handling operations; and, at decommissioned 
reactor sites, construction of a pool or dry-transfer facility may be 
necessary. However, direct disposal of the large dry-storage canisters 
without repackaging the SNF also would present significant challenges 
and may affect the geologic environments that would be considered for a 
repository.
    The workshop will look broadly at these issues. It will be open to 
all interested parties and opportunities will be provided for full 
participation by all attendees. The workshop will be held in 
conjunction with the Board's Winter Board meeting, which will be held 
on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. A separate Federal Register notice 
will be issued on that meeting.
    The workshop and the Board meeting will be held at the Embassy 
Suites, 1250 22nd Street NW., Washington, DC 20037; (Tel) 202-857-3388, 
(Fax) 202-293-3173. A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel. To 
make a reservation for either or both meetings, attendees may call 1 
800-EMBASSY (362-2779). The group code name for the workshop and 
meeting is ``UNW.'' Reservations also may be made on the hotel Web 
site: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/W/WASDNES-UNW-20131117/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG. All reservations must 
be made by October 25 to receive the group rate.
    The workshop will begin on Monday, November 18, at 1:00 p.m. with a 
series of presentations that will set the stage for discussion sessions 
that will take place on the second day of the workshop. On Tuesday, 
November 19, the workshop will resume at 8:00 a.m. with a call to order 
and orientation followed by two ``break-out'' sessions, one focused on 
the issues that will arise if the SNF stored in dry-storage containers 
needs to be repackaged and the other focused on the issues that will

[[Page 63251]]

arise if the dry-storage containers are to be disposed of directly 
without repackaging the SNF. The break-out sessions will be facilitated 
and will be held concurrently.
    Following a lunch break, there will be a facilitated plenary 
session at which the outcomes from both morning breakout sessions will 
be reported, with the opportunity for further discussion by all 
attendees. Key issues and ``takeaways'' will be pinpointed during a 
final plenary session, which will include another opportunity for open 
discussion. The workshop is scheduled to end at approximately 5:00 p.m.
    During the workshop, it may be necessary to set a time limit on 
individual remarks in order to maintain the schedule, but written 
comments of any length may be submitted during and after the workshop 
and will be entered into the record of the meeting. The workshop agenda 
is available on the Board's Web site: www.nwtrb.gov. Transcripts of the 
workshop discussions will be available on the Board's Web site after 
December 16, 2013.
    The Board was established in the 1987 amendments to the Nuclear 
Waste Policy Act (NWPA) as an independent agency in the Executive 
branch to perform an ongoing objective evaluation of the technical 
validity of activities undertaken by the U.S. Department of Energy 
related to implementing the NWPA. Board members are experts in their 
fields and are appointed by the President from a list of candidates 
submitted by the National Academy of Sciences. The Board is required to 
report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Congress and 
the Secretary. Board reports, correspondence, congressional testimony, 
and meeting transcripts and materials are posted on the Board's Web 
site.
    For information on the workshop contact Gene Rowe at [email protected] 
or Karyn Severson at [email protected]. For information on meeting 
logistics contact Linda Coultry at [email protected]. Gene Rowe can be 
reached by telephone at 703-236-7512. Karyn Severson and Linda Coultry 
can be reached by telephone at 703-235-4473.

    Dated: October 16, 2013.
Nigel Mote,
Executive Director, U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 2013-24701 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-AM-M