Approved April 1, 2003
Attending:
Carol McKenzie, Lund Representative
Kevin Kirkeby, White Pine County Commission
Russel Peacock, Director, Office of Emergency Management
Ross Rivera, Ely Volunteer Fire Department
Karen Rajala, White Pine Economic Diversification Council (arrived 9:30 a.m.)
Jerry Charles, Ely Shoshone Tribe Representative
JoAnne Garrett, Baker Representative
Josie Larson, Director, WPC Nuclear Waste Project Office
Heidi Williams, Administrative Assistant, WPC Nuclear Waste Project Office
Absent:
Matthew Hibbs, McGill Alternate
Roger Edwards, McGill Representative
Wayne Cameron, Ruth Representative
Bernie Romero, White Pine County Sheriff
Susan Lujan, Ely-at-Large Representative
Dorothy Phillips, Ely City Council Representative
Guests:
Walter Vodrazka, Jr., Transportation System Analyst, UNLV Transportation Research Center
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Carol McKenzie, Chairman, at 8:23 a.m. at the Courthouse Annex, White Pine County Commission Chambers. Due to lack of a quorum at that time, Carol declared the meeting informational only.
Presentation of UNLV-TRC Accident Rate Study for White Pine County
Walter Vodrazka, Jr., a Transportation System Analyst at the UNLV Transportation Research Center (TRC), presented preliminary crash data for White Pine County for the years 1999-2001. There were nine high crash segments located on highways that are potential routes for high-level nuclear waste transportation. The TRC will analyze these segments and suggest mitigative measures for these areas in their final report.
After some discussion, it was suggested and agreed that the TRC expand their research beyond the county boundaries to include segments of highway that White Pine County EMS routinely or potentially responds to.
In addition to the high crash segments already identified, the TRC will also analyze:
Karen Rajala's arrival at 9:30 a.m. made a quorum present.
Approval of July 31, 2002 minutes
Russel Peacock moved to approve the minutes as written with JoAnne Garrett seconding. The motion passed with Ross Rivera abstaining. Carol informed the Board that she had received a legal opinion that it was not necessary to abstain from approving minutes if you were not at the meeting, you were only approving the minutes as written. Ross then approved the minutes as written.
Discussion/Action/Approval of White Pine County Comments to FEIS
Josie Larson explained to the Board that the EPA published its Notice of Availability of the Yucca Mountain FEIS on October 25, 2002. This is deemed a 30-day "waiting period" per the National Environmental Policy Act. No action is supposed to be taken at this time. Although this is not an official comment period, White Pine County reviewed the document and made comparisons between it and the earlier FEIS that accompanied the Secretary of Energy's recommendation to the President. The comments White Pine County is making include discrepancies between the documents and outstanding issues that DOE has failed to address throughout the FEIS.
Kevin Kirkeby made the motion to approve the comments as written, and JoAnne Garrett seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Update on Yucca Mountain appropriations and FY03 predictions
Josie reminded the Board that the House had approved $524.7 million out of the $527 million DOE requested, and the Senate Appropriations approved $336 million. It appears the appropriations will be part of an omnibus bill and will be lumped with other bills. It appears likely that Congress will be on continuing resolution into January 2003. The $66 million budget amendment requested by DOE was not considered in conference. DOE may submit this $66 million as a budget supplement after the first of the year in an attempt to secure additional funding to meet the December 2004 license application deadline.
Update on meeting with NNSA public outreach representatives
Josie informed the Board that public outreach representatives met with some members of the Board on October 17 to discuss ways to encourage public awareness regarding current activities at the Nevada Test Site and shipments of low-level waste. Dona Merritt sent out a follow-up e-mail indicating that our concerns and questions were being reviewed for response.
Informational materials regarding LLW shipments are included as an attachment to these minutes and were not discussed due to time constraints.
New Business
Josie informed the Board that there is to be an increase (possibly 200%) in the number of LLW shipments for FY03.
She also mentioned a recent Transportation Protocol Working Group meeting. The TPWG meets quarterly, but due to scheduling conflicts, Josie has been unable to attend. There was some discussion as to whether someone else should attend these meetings when Josie is not available. Russel Peacock was mentioned as a possible alternate, but no action was taken.
Josie informed the Board that WIPP personnel are moving into managerial positions in Quality Assurance and at the Yucca Mountain office in Las Vegas, which has been renamed the Office of Repository Development. It appears that WIPP experience is being used as a pattern for Yucca Mountain program development.
Heidi informed the Board that terms of three members, Matt Hibbs, Wayne Cameron and Carol McKenzie, expire on December 31, 2002. With Gene McNutt's recent resignation from the Board, there is also an opening for a representative from NDOT.
Josie informed the Board of a recent low level radioactive waste shipment from a California nuclear power plant enroute for disposal at Envirocare in Utah. The truck experienced a mechanical breakdown on Murry Summit and was stranded until a part could be shipped from Utah. The Sheriff's office handled security of the stranded shipment, and the situation was handled without incident.
It was informally agreed that the next meeting would be scheduled for the end of February 2003.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m.