[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9924]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 25, 1994]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
10 CFR Part 960
Process for Evaluating the Suitability of the Yucca Mountain Site
for Development as a Repository for High-Level Radioactive Waste and
Spent Nuclear Fuel
AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry and of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: Through this Notice of Inquiry (Notice) the Department of
Energy (Department) desires to elicit the views of members of the
general public on the process of evaluation of the suitability of Yucca
Mountain, Nevada, as a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and
high-level radioactive waste. In addition, the Department invites
comments on opportunities for and types of public involvement in the
process of site suitability evaluation. The Department invites
interested parties to provide written comments during the term
specified in this Notice.
The Department will conduct a public meeting on May 21, 1994, in
Las Vegas, Nevada, for the purpose of providing interested parties with
an opportunity to present their views on these and other issues. The
public meeting will also provide a forum to discuss the subject of
stakeholder involvement generally, as a follow-up to a previous
stakeholder meeting held in August 1993. An update on Civilian
Radioactive Waste Management Program developments will be provided to
meeting attendees. Additional information on the public meeting may be
obtained from the individuals noted below.
DATES: Written comments are due on or before June 24, 1994. The Meeting
will be on May 21, 1994, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Dr. Jane R.
Summerson, Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste
Management RW-22, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC 20585.
The meeting will be held at: The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wolf Repke, Yucca Mountain Site
Characterization Project Office, M/S 523, Phase 2, suite 200, 101
Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109, (702) 794-7943.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (Act), 42 U.S.C.
10101 et seq., provides a comprehensive framework for the development
of repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and
spent nuclear fuel. Section 112(a) of the Act directed the Department
of Energy (the Department) to do the following: (1) Issue general
guidelines for the recommendation of sites for repositories; and (2)
use such guidelines in considering candidate sites for recommendation.
Section 112(a) further provides that the Secretary of Energy may revise
such guidelines from time to time. Section 112(a) of the Act provides
that the guidelines developed pursuant to Section 112(a) have to be
concurred in by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and submitted to the
Governor or legislature of the State of Nevada for their review and
comment.
Section 113(b) of the Act, which concerns site characterization, in
effect, directs the Department to develop guidelines to be used to
determine the suitability of a candidate site for the location of a
repository, developed pursuant to section 112(a) of the Act.
In accordance with sections 112(a) and 113(b)(1), the Department
promulgated, as a regulation, General Guidelines for the Recommendation
of Sites for Nuclear Waste Repositories (10 CFR part 960).
In accordance with Section 113 of the Act, the Department is
conducting site characterization activities at the Yucca Mountain site
to provide data required for evaluation of the suitability of the site
for construction and operation of a repository for disposal of spent
nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in accordance with the
Act and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.).
In view of the importance of the site suitability evaluation, the
Department is seeking the views of interested parties regarding an
evaluation process which can earn public trust and confidence in the
suitability of the Yucca Mountain Site.
The Department will use the information obtained in response to
this Notice as it proceeds with the development of the site suitability
evaluation process.
II. Site Suitability Evaluation
A. Public Involvement
The Department seeks comments of interested parties on mechanisms
and timing for providing input to the Department on the evaluation of
site suitability. The Department seeks comments on the type of
information the public needs in order to understand the site
suitability evaluation, the public's preferences regarding involvement
methods such as workshops and public meetings, and any other
considerations.
B. Adequacy of Guidelines
The guidelines referenced above (10 CFR part 960) provide that the
Department may consider revision if necessary. The Department
periodically reviews the guidelines for that purpose. The Department
seeks the views of interested parties regarding the guidelines, and in
particular their role in the evaluation of site suitability. The
options on which the Department seeks comments include using the
guidelines as they stand and conducting a rulemaking to amend the
guidelines. DOE also requests comment on the desirability of removing
portions of 10 CFR part 960 which have been made obsolete by the
Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments of 1987 (Title V of Pub. L. 100-
203) and which may cause confusion because they continue to appear in
the Code of Federal Regulations.
C. Peer Review of Scientific and Technical Information
Site Suitability Evaluations will include the review of scientific
and technical information by experts who are recognized as such by
their peers in their fields of knowledge. The Department seeks comments
on the appropriate use of peer reviews in site suitability evaluations,
how to select peer reviewers, the roles of existing expert groups such
as the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board and the National Academy of
Sciences, and other considerations.
D. Other Considerations
In addition to the topics mentioned above, the Department seeks
other comments regarding the evaluation of site suitability.
E. Public Meeting
The Department will hold a public meeting at the Mirage Hotel, Las
Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, May 21, 1994. The purposes of this meeting
are to provide: (1) A follow-up to the stakeholder meeting held last
August; (2) an update on Yucca Mountain site characterization
activities; and (3) an opportunity for continued dialogue among
interested parties. In addition, the afternoon session will give
attendees an opportunity to discuss the evaluation of site suitability.
The preliminary agenda is as follows:
7:30 a.m.-7:45 a.m.--Welcome and Introductions
7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m.--Discussion of the August 1993 Stakeholders'
Meeting
8:45 a.m.-9 a.m.--Introduction of the Administration's Proposal
9 a.m.-12 p.m.--Roundtable Discussion of Administration's Proposal
12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.--Lunch
1:30 p.m.-5 p.m.--Discussion on Site Suitability Evaluation
Brief Presentation
Break-out Sessions
Round-up
5 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.--Discussion of Agenda and the process for future
OCRWM stakeholder meetings
The Department seeks comments from the public on the Agenda and
topics to be covered, and encourages participation in the meeting.
Issued in Washington DC April 19, 1994.
Lake H. Barrett,
Deputy Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
[FR Doc. 94-9924 Filed 4-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
