[Federal Register: September 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 187)]
[Notices]
[Page 55597-55598]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se03-57]
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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD
Sunshine Act; Notice of Meeting
Pursuant to the provisions of the ``Government in the Sunshine
Act'' (5 U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given of the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board's (Board) two meetings described below. The
Board will also conduct a series of public hearings pursuant to 42
U.S.C. 2286b and invites any interested persons or group to present any
comments, technical information, or data concerning safety issues
relates to the matters to be considered.
TIME AND DATE OF MEETING: 9 a.m., October 21, 2003, and 9 a.m., October
23, 2003.
PLACE: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Public Hearing Room,
625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004-2001.
Additionally, as a part of the Board's E-Government initiative, the
meetings will be presented live throughout Internet video streaming. A
link to these presentations will be available on the Board's Web site
(http://ww.dnfsb.gov).
STATUS: Open. While the Government in the Sunshine Act does not require
that the scheduled discussions be conducted in a meeting, the Board has
determined that open meetings in this specific case further the public
interests underlying both the Sunshine Act and the Board's enabling
legislation.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Board has been reviewing the Department
of Energy's (DOE) current oversight and management of the contracts and
contractors it relies upon to accomplish the mission assigned to DOE
under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. We will focus on what
impact, if any, DOE's new initiatives may have upon assuring adequate
protection of the health and safety of the public and workers at DOE's
defense nuclear facilities. The second and third public meetings will
collect information needed to understand and address any health or
safety concerns that may require Board action. This will include, but
is not limited to, presentations by DOE and the National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) to explain their contract management and
oversight initiatives, presentations by Federal and industry experts in
Federal contracting for essential and high risk government services;
and possibly further presentations by Board staff.
The Board has identified several key areas that will be better
examined in public meetings. For example, during the October 21st
meeting, DOE and NNSA will discuss their new approaches which increase
DOE's and NNSA's reliance upon contractor self-assessment programs
while decreasing Federal oversight. During the October 23rd meeting,
the Board will hear from representatives from the aerospace industry.
The information gathered at that time will explore Federal contract
management and oversight experience and will provide relevant reference
experience.
In subsequent public meetings, the Board will explore in more depth
the field application of Federal management and oversight policies
being developed by DOE and NNSA for defense nuclear facilities. The
public hearing portions are independently authorized by 42 U.S.C.
2286b.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth M. Pusateri, General Manager,
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite
700, Washington, DC 20004-2901, (800) 788-4016. This is a toll-free
number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests to speak at the hearings may be
submitted in writing or by telephone. The Board asks that commentators
describe the nature and scope of their oral presentation. Those who
contact the Board prior to close of business on October 20, 2003, will
be scheduled for time slots, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m., for
the October 21st meeting. Those who contact the Board prior to close of
business on October 22, 2003, will be scheduled for time slots,
beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m., for the October 23rd meeting.
The Board will post a schedule for those speakers who have contacted
the Board before each hearing. The posting will be made
[[Page 55598]]
at the entrance to the Public Hearing Room at the start of each 9 a.m.
meeting.
Anyone who wishes to comment or 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. Documents will be accepted at the meeting or
may be sent to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's
Washington, DC, office. The Board will hold the record open until
November 24, 2003, for the receipt of additional materials. Transcripts
of the meetings will be made available by the Board for inspection by
the public at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Washington
office and at DOE's public reading room at the DOE Federal Building,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
The Board specifically reserves its right to further schedule and
otherwise regulate the course of the meetings and hearings, to recess,
reconvene, postpone, or adjourn the meetings and hearings, conduct
further reviews, and otherwise exercise its power under the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Dated: September 24, 2003.
John T. Conway,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 03-24637 Filed 9-24-03; 3:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3670-01-M