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. 03-030 March 13, 2003

NRC LICENSING BOARD PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS

FOR MARCH 23-24 SESSIONS ON DIABLO CANYON SPENT FUEL STORAGE

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has firmed up its

schedule for hearing brief public statements later this month in California on the application of Pacific

Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for permission to construct and operate an independent spent fuel

storage installation at its Diablo Canyon Power Plant near San Luis Obispo, California. 

The sessions for members of the public, known as "oral limited appearance statement sessions,"

will be held on Sunday, March 23, from 3 to 7 p.m., PST; and on Monday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to

noon, PST; from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., PST; and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., PST. All sessions will be held in

the Embassy Suites Hotel, San Luis Obispo Room, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, California.

The Board noted previously (in a press release issued on February 12) that the Sunday afternoon

and Monday morning sessions were contingent on the amount of public interest in those sessions. 

Because several persons have pre-registered to speak, the Board now intends to hold all sessions as

scheduled, although the Board reserves the right to terminate a session early if all speakers present have

made a presentation.

Any members of the public who attend are strongly advised to arrive early, to allow time to pass

through a security screening checkpoint. Attendees are also requested not to bring any unnecessary

hand-carried items, such as packages, briefcases, backpacks, and other items that might need to be

examined individually. Items that could readily be used as weapons will not be permitted in the room. 

No facilities will be available for storing any items outside the room, and attendees with items requiring

inspection may be delayed in obtaining entry. Also, signs no larger than 18" by 18" will be permitted,

but may not be attached to sticks, held up, or moved about in the meeting room.

Each speaker will be given up to five minutes, but time may be further limited depending on the

number of requests to make a statement. Although an individual may request an opportunity to speak at

more than one session, the Board may defer an additional presentation by the same individual until after

it has heard from speakers who have not had an opportunity to make an initial presentation.

Those wishing to speak are encouraged to pre-register by noon EST on Friday, March 21. Those

pre-registered will have priority over ones who register on-site at the beginning of a session. 
Written requests to pre-register should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Rulemakings

and Adjudications Staff by fax to 301/415-1101, or by e-mail to hearingdocket@nrc.gov . A copy also

should be sent to the Chairman of the Licensing Board by fax to 301/415-5599, or by e-mail to

pah@nrc.gov and gpb@nrc.gov.

A written statement can be submitted at any time, in the same manner as pre-registration. 

Alternatively, written statements may be sent by regular mail to the Office of the Secretary,

Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-

0001, with a copy to Administrative Judge G. Paul Bollwerk, III, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board

Panel, Mail Stop T-3F23, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001.

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