[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 232 (Monday, December 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63833-63834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30782]
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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. Sec. 552b), notice is hereby given of the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's (Board) fifth meeting in a series,
described below, regarding the Department of Energy's (DOE) standards-
based safety management program. The Board will also conduct a public
hearing pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2286b to gather additional
information on the status of the Board's oversight of the DOE's
initiatives to simplify existing safety orders and to promulgate new
rules and invites any interested persons or groups, as well as DOE
contractors, to present any comments, technical information, or data
concerning this matter.
TIME AND DATE: December 12, 1996, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Public Hearing
Room, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Board will reconvene and continue the
open meeting conducted on November 7, 1996, regarding the adequacy of
DOE's standards-based safety management program. The Department of
Energy is scheduled to provide a status report and to respond to
questions concerning the open issues identified at the Board's public
meeting on November 7, 1996. DOE contractors, public representatives,
and others will be given an opportunity to present their comments on
these safety orders and proposed rules.
Some of the open issues that were identified by the Board's staff
during the November 7, 1996 meeting are included in the appendix to
this notice.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Robert M. Andersen, General
Counsel , Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue,
NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004, (800) 788-4016. This is a toll-
free number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board has a responsibility for oversight
of DOE's development and implementation of nuclear health and
[[Page 63834]]
safety requirements. DOE is endeavoring to change existing safety
orders to revised safety orders and rules. The Board wants to make sure
that the requirements-based safety program now embodied in the DOE's
safety orders and existing regulations is not compromised.
The Board has held four public Board meetings, to date, in
connection with DOE initiatives to revise and improve its nuclear
safety requirements. This will be the fifth in that series. On May 31,
1995, the board met in open session, to lay the groundwork for a full
assessment of how Standards/Requirements Identification Documents,
rules, orders, and other safety requirements are integrated into an
overall safety management program for defense nuclear facilities. That
public meeting was continued on July 18, 1995. The Board's staff
reported on its comprehensive review of existing orders and rules,
their adequacy, and the status of DOE revisions to safety orders and
rules. Individual Board members presented their views. Then, in a joint
meeting with DOE officials on September 20, 1995, DOE's representative
reported on the status of DOE's review and proposed revision of nuclear
safety orders and rules. The Board at that time identified safety
issues requiring resolution, including inappropriate application of
``sunset provisions'' to safety orders, the need for ``corsswalks''
showing the disposition of requirements in superseded safety orders and
the need to preserve sound engineering practices embodied in guidance
documents. The Board reserved its right to further comment after it
completed its integrated review of how rules, orders, and other safety
requirements are being revised and integrated into an overall safety
management program for defense nuclear facilities. The Board reiterated
its concern that DOE's streamlining and conversion process not
compromise the requirements-based safety program currently embodied in
contracts which incorporate applicable DOE safety orders.
On November 7, 1996, the Board held its fourth public meeting to
assess DOE's progress in streamlining the safety orders and
promulgating new safety rules pertaining to its defense nuclear
facilities, and to assure that DOE's activities in streamlining DOE's
nuclear safety order system and converting to its new regulatory system
did not eliminate the sound engineering practices now codified in its
safety orders that are necessary to adequately protect public health
and safety. Transcripts of each of the four previous public meetings
are on file and may be reviewed at the Board's public document room.
In accordance with the authority granted to the Board, and in
furtherance of its continuing responsibility for oversight of these
matters vital to the public health and safety, a public hearing is to
be conducted by the Board on December 12, 1996, in an open meeting.
This hearing is an information-gathering function. Examination of those
appearing before the Board will be limited to questions put to them by
the Board. Requests to speak at the hearing may be submitted in writing
or by telephone. We ask that commentators describe the nature and scope
of their oral presentation. Those who contact the Board prior to close
of business on December 11, 1996, will be scheduled for time slots,
beginning at approximately 2:30 p.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 Reception Area (room 346) at the start of
the 9:00 a.m. meeting.
Anyone who wishes to comment, 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. The Board will hold the record open until
December 27, 1996, for the receipt of materials. A transcript of this
proceeding will be made available by the Board for inspection by the
public at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Washington
office.
The Board reserves its right to further schedule and otherwise
regulate the course of this meeting and hearing, to recess, reconvene,
and otherwise exercise its authority under the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, as amended.
Dated: November 27, 1996
John T. Conway,
Chairman.
Appendix--Issues Identified During November 7, 1996 Meeting
Technical issues, finalization and issuance of
Implementation Guides associated with DOE Order 420.1, Facility
Safety.
Preparation of a nuclear design handbook to capture and
document the extensive years of sound engineering practices
developed during many years of experience.
Previous Board comments regarding DOE Order 251.1A,
Directives System, and the associated manual.
Issuance of a Glossary of Terms to include definitions
previously contained in DOE orders and rules.
Revision of DOE Order 435.1 and its associated
Implementation Guide.
The removal of the decommissioning chapter from DOE
Order 5820.2A and addition of appropriate requirements and guidance
on decommissioning in DOE Order 430.1, Life Cycle Asset Management.
Board comments and issuance of the Weapons Orders and
Implementation Guide, DOE Orders 452.1 and 452.2.
DOE's action plan for DOE Order 210.1, that has
included a performance indicator program to provide an acceptable
level of protection for the health and safety of workers and the
public at defense nuclear facilities.
Completion of Implementation Guide, DOE G 460.1-1 for
use with DOE Order 460.1, Packaging and Transportation Safety, and
Implementation Guide, DOE G 460.2-1 for use with DOE Order 460.2,
Departmental Materials Transportation and Packaging Management.
Compatibility of the Nuclear Safety Rules (10 CFR Part
830) with the integrated safety management concepts of Board
Recommendation 95-2, and clarification of the process for submitting
Implementation Plans by the contractors.
Technical issues relative to Nuclear Safety Rules, 10
CFR Part 830.
Criteria for worker protection and related issues,
including: the requirements contained in the proposed Rules 10 CFR
Part 830.110, Safety Analysis Report; 10 CFR Part 830.320, Technical
Safety Requirements, and 10 CFR Part 830.112, Unreviewed Safety
Questions.
Revised DOE Manual 232.1-1, Occurrence Reporting and
Processing of Operations Information, and discussion regarding the
impact of the proposed rule to provide for reporting consistency
throughout the complex.
DOE's proposed changes to the exemption rule relative
to the ``adequate protection'' and ``special circumstances''
determination changes discussed by DOE.
Status of Board staff's comments to the nine
Implementation Guides, and planned revisions to the remaining three
Implementation Guides and the standards related to Internal
Dosimetry, and issuance of the amendment to 10 CFR Part 835
regarding Occupational Radiation Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-30782 Filed 11-27-96; 3:01 pm]
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