[Federal Register: January 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 3054-3055]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ja03-82]
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NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD
Notice of Meeting
Board Meeting: February 24 and 25, 2003--Las Vegas, Nevada: panels of
the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board will meet to review (1)
seismic issues and (2) waste management system operations associated
with a Yucca Mountain repository.
Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Public Law 100-203,
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, on Monday, February 24,
2003, and Tuesday, February 25, 2003, panels of the Nuclear Waste
Technical Review Board will meet in Las Vegas, Nevada, to review
matters associated with a potential Yucca Mountain repository. The
meetings are open to the public, and opportunities for public comment
will be provided. The Board is charged by Congress with reviewing the
technical and scientific validity of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
activities related to managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level
radioactive waste.
The Board panel meetings will be held at the Best Western Tuscany
Suites and Casino, 255 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109. The
telephone number is (702) 947-5918; the fax number is (702) 732-2564.
The meeting will start at 8 a.m. each day.
On February 24, the Board's Panel on the Repository and Panel on
Site Characterization will meet jointly to discuss seismic issues.
Following he call to order and introductory statements, the panel will
review how probabilistic earthquake ground motions were developed by
the DOE. Project ground motions developed for the Yucca Mountain
Project (YMP) will be discussed. The DOE will outline the YMP approach
to both preclosure design and postclosure performance analyses for
seismic events. The evaluation will include very low probability site-
specific seismic ground motions, plans and/or conclusions, and the
significance of geological observations on limiting ground motions. The
presentations will include consideration of a general approach to
postclosure seismic events on the response of waste package, drip
shield, and the in-drift configuration as incorporated into performance
and drift stability analyses. Following the technical presentations, a
round-table will specifically address: Are ground motions realistic
and/or appropriate in light of their intended use? If not, what might
be an alternate approach? are the approaches to seismic preclosure and
postclosure issues appropriate? If not, what might be some alternate
approaches? Representatives of the State of Nevada will also
participate in the meeting.
On February 25, the Board's Waste Management System Panel will meet
to review the DOE's plans for operating the waste management system
associated with a Yucca Mountain repository. Following the call to
order and introductory statements, the panel will review the DOE's
plans for waste acceptable at nuclear power plants and other points of
origin. The DOE will then discuss its efforts to develop a
transportation plan for transporting spent fuel and high-level
radioactive waste to a Yucca Mountain repository. A presentation on
industry experience in transporting highly radioactive materials will
be followed by
[[Page 3055]]
presentation giving the view of state and local governments potentially
affected by transportation to the repository. The meeting will conclude
with DOE presentations of its plans for designing and operating the
surface facilities and the underground emplacement areas of a Yucca
Mountain repository.
At the conclusion of each meeting, a public comment period has been
scheduled. Those wanting to speak during the public comment periods are
encouraged to sign the ``Public Comment Register'' at the check-in
table. A time limit may have to be set on individual remarks, but
written comments of any length may be submitted for the record.
A detailed agenda will be available approximately one week before
each meeting. Copies of the agendas can be requested by telephone or
obtained from the Board's Web site at www.nwtrb.gov. Beginning about
March 31, 2003, transcripts of the meetings will be available on the
Board's Web site, via e-mail, on computer disk, and on a library-loan
basis in paper format from Davonya Barnes of the Board staff.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western Tuscany
Hotel. Reservations must be made by February 3, 2003, to obtain the
meeting rate. When making a reservation, please state that you are
attending the Nuclear Waste Technical Review meeting. For more
information, contact the NWTRB; Karyn Severson, External Affairs; 2300
Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1300; Arlington, VA 22201-3367; telephone
703-235-4473; fax 703-235-4495; or by ``contact form'' at http://www.nwtrb.gov
.
The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board was created by Congress in
the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987. The Board's purpose is
to evaluate the technical and scientific validity of activities
undertaken by the Secretary of Energy related to disposal of the
nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. In the
same legislation, Congress directed the DOE to characterize a site at
Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to determine its suitability as the location of
a potential repository for permanently disposing of spent nuclear fuel
and high-level radioactive waste.
Dated: January 15, 2003.
William D. Barnard,
Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
[FR Doc. 03-1258 Filed 1-21-03; 8:45 am]