21 January 2013
Pantex Megadeath Nuclear Plant Safety Culture
A sends:
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/01/22/2013-01256/sunshine-act-notice
[FR Doc. 2013-01256 Filed 01/17/2013 at 11:15 am; Publication Date: 01/22/2013]
3670-01
DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD
Sunshine Act Notice
AGENCY: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting and Hearing.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine
Act (5 U.S.C. § 552b), and as authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 2286b,
notice is hereby given of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Boards
(Board) public meeting and hearing described below. The Board invites any
interested persons or groups to present any comments, technical information,
or data concerning safety issues related to the matters to be considered.
TIME AND DATE OF MEETING: Session I: 1:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m., March 14,
2013; Session II: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m., March 14, 2013.
PLACE: Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan Street, Amarillo, Texas 79101.
The Board will convene the hearing in the Regency Room which is accessible
from Entrance 4 on the Johnson Street side of the Civic Center.
STATUS: Open. While the Government in the Sunshine Act does not require that
the scheduled discussion be conducted in a meeting, the Board has determined
that an open meeting in this specific case furthers the public interests
underlying both the Government in the Sunshine Act and the Boards enabling
legislation.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: In Session I of this public meeting and hearing,
the Board will receive testimony from the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) and its contractor concerning the safety culture at
the Pantex Plant. Areas of inquiry will include identification of shortfalls
in the Pantex safety culture, potential impacts that a flawed safety culture
may have on nuclear explosives operations, and management approaches to improving
safety culture. The Board will also examine the status of emergency preparedness
at the Pantex Plant. The Board will focus on plans and capabilities to respond
to a site emergency, demonstrated performance in drills and exercises, and
preparation for severe events resulting from natural phenomena, such as the
event that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi complex.
During Session II, the Board will receive testimony concerning safety at
Pantex defense nuclear facilities. The Board will examine issues related
to nuclear explosive safety, fire protection systems, and facility structures.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Debra H. Richardson, Deputy 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: Public participation in the hearing is invited.
The Board is setting aside time at the end of each session of the hearing
for presentations and comments from the public. Requests to speak may be
submitted in writing or by telephone. The Board asks that commenters describe
the nature and scope of their oral presentations. Those who contact the Board
prior to close of business on March 11, 2013, will be scheduled to speak
at the session of the hearing most relevant to their presentations. At the
beginning of Session I, the Board will post a schedule for speakers at the
entrance to the hearing room. 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 hearing
or may be sent to the Boards Washington, DC office. The Board will
hold the record open until April 15, 2013, for the receipt of additional
materials. The hearing will be presented live through Internet video streaming.
A link to the presentation will be available on the Boards web site
(www.dnfsb.gov).
A transcript of the hearing, along with a DVD video recording, will be made
available by the Board for inspection and viewing by the public at the
Boards Washington office and at DOEs 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 meeting and hearing, to recess, reconvene, postpone,
or adjourn the meeting and hearing, conduct further reviews, and otherwise
exercise its power under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Date: January 17, 2013
Peter S. Winokur,
Chairman.
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