NWTRB to hold public meeting on SNF disposal and corrosion

The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, an independent federal agency that evaluates the Department of Energy's efforts to manage and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, will hold a two-day public meeting May 21-22 to review information on the DOE's research and development activities related to the disposal of SNF and HLW in crystalline host rocks and on the corrosion of commercial SNF after disposal.

The hybrid (in-person/virtual) meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. EDT on May 21 and is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m. EDT that day. The hybrid meeting will recommence at 8:00 a.m. EDT and conclude at 12:00 p.m. EDT the following day. The board meeting will be held in person at the Hilton Downtown Knoxville Hotel at 501 West Church Avenue in Knoxville, Tenn.

Details for joining and viewing the meeting, along with a detailed meeting agenda, will be available on the NWTRB website approximately one week before the meeting.

The agenda: On the first day, the initial speakers will provide an overview of the DOE's SNF and HLW disposal research programs. Additional speakers representing the national laboratories conducting the work for the DOE will report on R&D activities to advance the understanding of long-term waste disposal in crystalline rocks.

Presenters will also discuss R&D efforts related to the corrosion of commercial SNF. This includes the development of a corrosion model capable of accounting for complex physical and chemical processes for a wide range of repository conditions.

In addition, speakers from Finland and Canada will present information on their countries' disposal programs.

Further details: The NWTRB meeting will be open to the public, and there will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting. Comments submitted online during the day of the meeting may be read into the record by board staff during the public comment period if time allows.

Written comments of any length may be submitted to the board staff by mail or email. Comments received in writing will be included in the meeting record, which will be posted on the NWTRB website.

An archived recording of the meeting will be available on the NWTRB website following the meeting, and a transcript of the meeting will be available on the website by July 31.

Attendees are encouraged to preregister to reduce their time signing in.