National Stakeholder Forum on Central Internet Database

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Stakeholder Forum on Central Internet Database

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of a National Stakeholder Forum.

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SUMMARY: DOE is sponsoring a forum on the development of a Central

Internet Database (``CID'' or ``database'') that will contain specified

information on DOE managed waste, contaminated environmental media, and

facilities. DOE is developing this database and sponsoring this forum

pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement between DOE, the

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., and several other

organizations. The purposes of this forum are: (1) To inform and

discuss with stakeholders the current status of the development of the

database and review the data that will be contained in the database;

(2) to engage in a dialogue with stakeholders about the continued

development of, and possible enhancements to, the outline and structure

of the database; (3) to discuss Internet linkages to other data

sources; and (4) to discuss opportunities for on-going stakeholder

involvement in the development and implementation of the database. The

forum is open to the public. However, pre-registration is strongly

recommended to assist DOE in logistical planning for the forum.

Detailed registration information is provided below.

DATES: June 3-4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Columbia Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 10207 Wincopia

Circle, Columbia, MD 21044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James D. Werner, 202-586-9280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

On December 12, 1998, DOE and the Natural Resources Defense

Council, Inc. (NRDC), on its own behalf and that of 38 other plaintiff

organizations, settled a lawsuit (Natural Resources Defense Council, et

al. v. Richardson, et al., Civ No. 97-936 (SS)). The terms of the

settlement agreement require DOE to complete three major items: (1)

Develop and implement a Central Internet Database (CID) containing

specified information on DOE waste, facilities, and contaminated media,

as well as information on waste transfers; (2) conduct a study of DOE's

long-term stewardship activities; and (3) establish a $6.25 million

fund, to be administered by an independent organization (RESOLVE,

Inc.), enabling recipient organizations to conduct technical and

scientific reviews of DOE's environmental management activities. In

connection with the development of this database, DOE agreed to hold at

least two national stakeholders forums to discuss with members of the

public issues relating to the development of the database. The first of

these forums is the subject of this notice.

Additional information on the settlement agreement is available

through an Internet web site (see URL given below) or by contacting the

DOE point of contact, James D. Werner, at the address listed below.

2. Central Internet Database Requirements

From 1980 to 1996, the Department compiled, on a national basis,

information about its waste, contaminated media, and spent nuclear fuel

in a system, called the ``Integrated Database'' or ``IDB.'' The new

database (the CID) will, in part, supplant the IDB and will include

more information and make it more readily accessible than the IDB. The

CID will contain specified information on the wastes, contaminated

media, facilities, spent nuclear fuel, and materials in inventory

managed by DOE's Offices of Environmental Management, Defense Programs,

Science, and Nuclear Energy. The database will also include data from

the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites, if

they have been returned to DOE for management, as well as sites

governed by Section 151(b) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that have

been transferred to DOE ownership. (To date, no sites have been

transferred to DOE under section 151(b). FUSRAP sites that have not

already been cleaned up, are currently managed by the Army Corps of

Engineers).

Under the terms of the settlement, DOE will include in the CID,

data that are presently available and collected by DOE on a national

level, or that are presently planned to be collected in the future by

DOE on a national level. For example, specific information will be

provided on waste types and volumes of material and waste in storage,

as well as newly generated, treated, and disposed waste; the mass of

spent nuclear fuel in storage and the annual receipts of spent nuclear

fuel; the major chemical constituents and radionuclides of concern; the

program responsible for generation and disposition; and the location,

managing program, approximate square footage, status, and type of

contamination for DOE facilities. The database will not include any

information that is classified,

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controlled, or proprietary. DOE also committed to make the database

available to the public on the Internet through a web-based reporting

tool (e.g., web site) that provides the capacity to generate standard

reports and perform searches and queries.

As explained above, this notice announces the first national

stakeholder forum to discuss the development of the CID. DOE will

sponsor at least one additional stakeholder forum; the second forum

will be held no sooner than one year after the date on which DOE

announces that the database is operational. The subject of the second

forum will be the operation of the database, including its structure

and linkages to other databases. DOE is required to maintain the

database for a minimum of five years following the second national

stakeholder forum. Before the expiration of this five-year period, upon

request, DOE will hold a third national stakeholder forum to discuss

whether the Department should continue operation of the database.

3. Draft Forum Agenda

The following is a draft agenda for the forum. Members of the

public are invited to review the draft agenda and provide comments on

it in the manner described below.

June 3

8:30--Welcome and Introductions

9:30--Overview and Status Reports on the Database by DOE and

Stakeholders

11:00--Public Comments and General Discussion

12:00--Lunch

1:00--Sessions on Specific Topics--Topics may include the following:

Data sources, level of detail, and availability

User Interface--Look and feel of interface

Database search and query capabilities

Database deployment, training, and documentation

Updating and maintaining the database

Opportunities for ongoing stakeholder involvement with

database development and deployment

5:45--Adjourn

June 4

8:30--Agenda Review and Announcements

9:00--Reports from Previous Day Sessions

10:30--Discussion Regarding Sessions

12:00--Lunch

1:00--Discussion of Outstanding Issues

1:45--Next Steps--Upcoming Activities and Action Items

2:15--Closing Comments

2:30--Adjourn

Comments on the draft agenda should be sent to James D. Werner at

the following address: Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis (EM-

24), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave, SW, Washington,

DC 20585.

The Department will consider comments received on the draft agenda

in reaching its determination on the final agenda. The final agenda

will be made available through the Internet Web Site referenced below.

4. Ongoing Communication Mechanisms

In order to communicate current information about activities

related to the settlement to stakeholders and the public, DOE has

established an Internet Web Site at http://www.em.doe.gov/settlement.

This site includes:

Text of Settlement Agreement

Stakeholder Forum Information

Forum Agenda

Registration Information

Background Materials (available 5/22/99)

Project Plan--provides an overview of the proposed design of

the database and the tentative implementation schedule

Fact Sheets and Updates on Settlement-Related Activities

Overall Status of Settlement Implementation

5. Registration Information

Registration information can be obtained from the Internet Web Site

referenced above, or by calling the Center for Environmental Management

Information at 1-800-736-3282 (in the Washington, DC area, 202-863-

5084). In addition, any member of the public desiring further

information concerning the database and forum can contact James D.

Werner at the address provided above. The deadline for registration is

May 19, 1999.

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, DOE will consider providing

funding for reasonable travel expenses (not to exceed $50,000 per

forum) associated with attendance at the forum by members of the

plaintiff organizations or other organizations that can demonstrate

need and are working on issues related to DOE's environmental

management activities. The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) will

process and evaluate these applications and determine eligibility.

Applications are due no later than May 14, 1999. For further

information about how to apply for funding of travel expenses, please

contact ELI as outlined below:

Eric Feldman, Environmental Law Institute, 1616 P Street, NW, Suite

200, Washington, DC 20036, Phone: 202-939-3823, Fax: 202-939-3868,

Email: [email protected]

Information on how to apply for travel expense funding can also be

obtained from the Internet Web Site referenced above or by calling the

Center for Environmental Management Information at 1-800-736-3282 (in

the Washington, DC area, 202-863-5084).

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 16, 1999.

James D. Werner,

Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis, Office of

Environmental Management.

[FR Doc. 99-10073 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]

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