NRC working on system to allow public access to licensing documents

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is working on an electronic computer system to allow the public access to millions of documents relating to licensing of a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Called the Licensing Support Network, the system will make scientific and technical information available to the public without restrictions, Dan Graser of the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel said.

The network is expected to be ready six months before the Energy Department submits a license application to build a repository to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The department has said it will submit an application next December.

The Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel met in Las Vegas on Tuesday to discuss the system with the Energy Department, nuclear industry, state and local representatives who will be using the system when the Energy Department files an application for a construction license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Making Yucca Mountain information available to the public and others watching the progress of the nuclear repository has been a concern since 1986.

Seventeen years ago the NRC established the concept of a computer access system, Jeff Ciocco of NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards said.

So far the NRC has received 40 comments on the regulatory guidelines for the computer-based system, Ciocco said.

The public has until Jan. 12, 2004 to comment on the final regulatory guidelines before they are adopted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"We expect minor revisions to the draft regulatory guidelines," Ciocco said.

Public access for those without computers at home is available at the DOE's Yucca Mountain Science Center, 4101-B Meadows Lane, DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration Office, 2621 Losee Road, Building B-3, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lied Library, the University of Nevada, Reno, DOE's Yucca Mountain Science Centers in Beatty and in Pahrump.

To learn how to navigate the LSN site, click on the "Help" button on the navigation bar at the top of the page for a list of help topics.

The website is www.lsnnet.gov. Comments may be submitted there.