Meetings: Waste package concepts and identification of research needs; workshop,

[Federal Register: April 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 74)]

[Notices]

[Page 19276-19277]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17ap98-84]

NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD

Board Workshop; May 18-19, 1998--Falls Church, Virginia; Waste Package Concepts and Identification of Research Needs

Pursuant to its authority under section 5051 of Pub. L. 100-203, Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) will sponsor a workshop May 18-19, 1998, beginning at 8:30 a.m. both days. The workshop, which is open to the public, will use a facilitated, brainstorming approach that should allow participants to explore and discuss waste package concepts for direct disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel in a hypothetical repository designed for Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The purpose of the workshop is to develop a firm technical basis for the Board to review and evaluate the scientific and technical merits of any waste package designs that may arise from the Department of Energy's program for managing the geologic disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste.

The workshop will be held at the Doubletree Hotel at Tysons Corner, 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia; Tel (703) 893-1340; Fax (703) 749-8528. Reservations for accommodations should be made by April 29, 1998. Please mention that you are attending the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board's workshop to receive the preferred rate.

The format of the workshop will be a roundtable discussion among invited panelists and members of the Board and its staff, assisted by an impartial facilitator. Beginning with several short

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presentations describing the current Department of Energy repository and waste package designs, the workshop will move to discussion by the participants to alternative design concepts that are compatible with the Department of Energy's current repository design for Yucca Mountain, or other repository designs that reasonably could be implemented there. The discussion also will include research and development that might be required to support each design concept.

Time will be set aside during the workshop for technical comments from the public that pertain to the discussion. Depending on the number of people wanting to make comments, time limits may have to be set. Written comments of any length may be submitted for the record. Those wanting to make comments will be asked to sign up at the registration table.

Transcripts of this meeting will be available on computer disk, via e-mail, or on a library-loan basis in paper format from Davonya Barnes, Board staff, beginning June 30, 1998. For further information, contact Frank Randall, External Affairs, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 1300, Arlington, Virginia 22201; (tel) 703-235-4473; (fax) 703-235-4495; (e- mail) info@nwtrb.gov.

The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board was created by Congress in the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 to evaluate the technical and scientific validity of activities undertaken by the DOE in its program to manage the disposal of the nation's high-level radioactive waste and commercial spent nuclear fuel. In that same legislation, Congress directed the DOE to characterize a site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada for its suitability as a potential location for a permanent repository for disposing of that waste.

Dated: April 14, 1998. William Barnard, Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.

[FR Doc. 98-10220Filed4-16-98; 8:45 am]

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