[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]
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