NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

 Web Site: www.nrc.gov

No. 02-132 November 13, 2002

 NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE

 TO MEET NOVEMBER 19 - 21 IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) has

scheduled a meeting on November 19-21 in Rockville, Maryland, to discuss, among other issues, the

testing and analysis performed to assess the safety of spent fuel transportation packages. 

The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day. As shown on the

attached agenda, some portions of the meeting will be held in the Auditorium of the agency’s Two

White Flint North building, at 11545 Rockville Pike. Other portions will be held in Room T-2B3 of the

same building. 

For additional information or schedule changes, contact Howard Larson at 301-415-6805,

between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 
ACNW Meeting Agenda

NOVEMBER 19, NRC AUDITORIUM, TWO WHITE FLINT NORTH

8:30 - 8:40 a.m. Introductory Comments, Statement of Objectives and Overview (Open) 

The Chairman will open the meeting and then turn it over to the Working

Group Chairman who will state the objectives of the Workshop and provide

an overview of the sessions.

TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP WORKSHOP

8:40 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. The Committee will hear presentations from and hold

discussions with staff, industry, and government

representatives regarding testing and analysis performed to

assess the safety of spent fuel transportation packages. 

Overview of Research Program Objectives

8:40 - 9:00 a.m. Presentation by a representative from the NRC’s Spent Fuel

Projects Office (SFPO).

9:00 - 9:20 a.m. Discussion

Summary of Sandia National Laboratory (SNL)

Research

9:20 - 10:05 a.m. Presentation by a representative from SNL.

10:05 - 10:35 a.m. Discussion

10:35 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. ***BREAK***

Summary of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

(LLNL) Research

10:50 - 11:35 a.m. Presentation by a representative from LLNL.

11:35 - 12:05 p.m. Discussion

12:05 - 12:30 p.m. Public Comments

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. ***LUNCH***

1:30 - 4:10 p.m. Vendor Analysis and Testing
1:30 - 1:50 p.m. Presentation by a representative from Holtec International.

1:50 - 2:10 p.m. Presentation by a representative from the Transnuclear Corporation.

2:10 - 2:30 p.m. Presentation by a representative from NAC International.

2:30 - 3:15 p.m. Discussion

3:15 - 3:30 p.m. ***BREAK***

Analysis of Fires

3:30 - 3:50 p.m. Presentation by a representative from the NRC’s SFPO.

3:50 - 4:10 p.m. Discussion

4:10 - 4:50 p.m. Comparison of Analysis and Testing to Actual Railway Experience

4:10 - 4:30 p.m. Presentation by a representative from the Association of American 

Railroads (AAR).

4:30 - 4:50 p.m. Discussion

4:50 - 5:15 p.m. Public Comments

5:15 - 5:45 p.m. Committee Discussion

NOVEMBER 20, CONFERENCE ROOM T-2B3

10:00 - 10:05 a.m. Opening Statement

The Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the

conduct of today’s sessions.

10:05 - 11:30 a.m. Igneous Activity Update

Presentation by a representative of the NRC staff updating the Committee

on recent activities on the igneous activity issue at Yucca Mountain.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ***LUNCH***

NRC AUDITORIUM

TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP WORKSHOP (CONTINUED)

12:30 - 12:35 p.m. Opening Remarks
The Working Group Chairman will provide opening remarks for this session. The

Committee will hear presentations from and hold discussions with staff, industry,

and government representatives regarding spent fuel transportation safety in the U.S.

12:35 - 1:45 p.m. Transportation Safety in the U.S. and Worldwide

12:35 - 1:15 p.m. Representatives from the Department of Transportation will provide a summary of

DOT experience with spent nuclear fuel shipments by Rail.

1:15 - 1:45 p.m. Discussion

1:45 - 3:30 p.m. Summary of DOE Shipping Experience

1:45 - 2:05 p.m. Presentation by a DOE representative on WIPP shipping experience.

2:05 - 2:25 p.m. Presentation by a DOE representative on foreign fuel shipment experience.

2:25 - 2:45 p.m. Presentation by a DOE representative on Navy fuel shipment experience.

2:45 - 3:30 p.m. Discussion

3:30 - 3:45 p.m. ***BREAK***

3:45 - 4:45 p.m. Summary of Utility Experience

3:45 - 4:15 p.m. Presentation by a U.S. Utility representative.

4:15 - 4:45 p.m. Discussion

4:45 - 5:25 p.m. Summary of International Experience

4:45 - 5:05 p.m. Presentation by a representative from Transnuclear Cogema.

5:05 - 5:25 p.m. Discussion

5:25 - 5:45 p.m. Public Comments

5:45 - 6:30 p.m. Workshop Summary and General Discussion

Discussion among Members and meeting participants as to

workshop findings and a summarization of key observations

resulting from this two-day workshop.

6:30 p.m. Workshop Concluded
NOVEMBER 21, CONFERENCE ROOM T-2B3

8:30 - 8:35 a.m. Opening Statement

The Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the

conduct of today’s sessions.

8:35 - 10:30 a.m. Commission Presentation

The Committee will discuss its presentation for the December 18

public meeting with the Commission. Topics proposed:

HLW Program Risk Insights Initiative 

Spent Fuel Transportation 

Waste Package Performance 

Igneous Activity at Yucca Mountain 

Yucca Mountain Review Plan 

10:30 - 10:45 a.m. ***BREAK***

10:45 - 12:00 Noon Preparation of ACNW Reports

The Committee will discuss proposed reports on the following topics:

Principal Observations from September Trip to Yucca Mountain and 

Environs 

Observations from October Trip to Swedish Waste Management Facilities

and Berlin Quadripartite Meeting

Comparison of TSPA and TPA Results 

Conclusions Regarding the Safety of Spent Nuclear

Fuel Transportation 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ***LUNCH***

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Preparation of ACNW Reports

The Committee will continue preparation of reports previously noted.
3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Miscellaneous

The Committee will discuss matters related to the conduct of

Committee activities and matters and specific issues that

were not completed during previous meetings, as time and

availability of information permit.

3:15 p.m. Meeting Adjourns

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