FACACLASSIC

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NRC - 1104 - Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel	Agency Name	Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1104
Original Establishment Date	10/3/1989	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/lsn/index.html
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	12/16/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Russell
Date Of Renewal Charter	12/16/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	E
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Chazell
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	42 U.S.C. 2201	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 415-7469
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 415-1672
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 2201	Designated Federal Officer Email*	russell.chazell@nrc.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	1/19/1975
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Nuclear Regulatory Commission relied on the Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel (LSNARP) for advice and recommendations on the design and operation of the searchable electronic database (Licensing Support Network (LSN)) for documents that were relevant to the licensing of a geologic repository for the storage of high-level nuclear waste as defined in 10 CFR 2.1003. The document collection contained electronic copies of all of the material that was used by parties in the NRC's licensing proceeding for a high-level radioactive waste repository. The LSN was loaded with more than 3.7 million documents beginning in FY-2004 and continuing through FY-2011. Document addition continued during FY-2011, however, no committee meetings were held since December 2003. DOE had planned on submitting an application to build a high-level waste disposal facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada in December 2004, however delays occurred, and, in the spring of 2006, DOE issued a revised schedule. DOE certified their LSN document collection in late 2007 and submitted a License application to the NRC in June 2008. The delay in DOE's program negated any need for LSN meetings during this period. During FY 2010 DOE asked to withdraw the Yucca Mountain License Application pending before the NRC. In FY-2011 through FY2018, Congress did not appropriate any funds for DOE or NRC for the Licensing of the Yucca Mountain Application. NRC shut down the licensing review in FY-2011 and preserved the record of the proceeding. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that presided over the application hearing ordered the parties to submit their LSN document collections to the NRC Secretary for preservation. The LSN system was decommissioned at the close of FY-2011. Litigation continued before the DC Circuit Court in FY-2012 and in August 2013 the DC Circuit issued a Writ of Mandamus. During FY-2017 the NRC staff worked on documentation of their Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Yucca Mtn repository using carryover funding. In FY 2017 the Commission authorized moving forward with information gathering activities to prepare for reestablishing a Document system should funding be appropriated for resuming the Adjudicatory Proceeding. A virtual meeting was held in FY 2018.
How is membership balanced?*	The LSNARP is a Representational Committee and the membership was balanced by being drawn from among the full spectrum of parties to NRC's licensing proceeding for the burial of high level radioactive waste. Since the site under review is in Nevada, the membership includes the State of Nevada, local county governments of both Nevada and California, Indian tribes (represented by the National Congress of American Indians), and an environmental group (the Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force). It also included the nuclear industry, the potential licensee (DOE) and the licensing agency (NRC). Input by these representatives was essential to the success of the LSN project. In preparation for the FY2018 meeting, the members, as necessary, have designated new representatives.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	A meeting in was held in FY2018. No meetings have been held since that time.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Committee was formed as part of a negotiated rulemaking to oversee the operation of the LSN. The advice provided by the state, county and tribal governmental units, together with other parties and potential users of the LSN and EHD, was unique to this particular computer application. It was not available from other existing committees or within the NRC itself. NRC considers it essential that advice on the design of the software and hardware should come from representatives of the hands-on users of the LSN.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The LSNARP did not hold any closed meetings in FY 2024. If a meeting needed to be closed, it would be done in accordance with 5 U.S.C 552(b).
Recommendation Remarks	In FY2024, Congress did not appropriate any funds for DOE or NRC for the Licensing of the Yucca Mountain Application. In August 2013 the DC Circuit Court issued a Writ of Mandamus ordering the NRC to "promptly continue with the legally mandated licensing process" for DOE's Yucca Mountain application using the carry over funds available. During FY2017 the Commission used available carryover funding to continue the documentation that supported the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement issued in 2016. Cleanup and documentation of the 2016 loading of 3.7 million documents from the LSN into a publicly accessible electronic library as part of the NRC's ADAMS document management system to fulfill the Courts mandate was completed. A Commission decision to gather the information necessary to move forward with the HLW Adjudication was made and a Letter was sent to all of the former Organizations and contacts seeking updated information in preparation for a virtual meeting of the Committee in FY 2018. In FY2018, a meeting of the LSNARP was held to provide information to, and gather input from, LSNARP members and the public regarding reconstitution or the Licensing Support Network (LSN) or a suitable replacement system. Future actions are dependent on Congressional appropriations.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Issuance of Guidelines, procedures, regulations for operation of the LSN and electronic submittal of documents to the NRC.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The Nuclear industry estimated in Congressional testimony in 1999 that the cost of adding waste storage at reactors was roughly $537 million per year. The LSN was intended to enable an expedited discovery process. The exact time savings is unknown, but even several months saves a considerable amount in during the adjudicatory process.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	0	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The meeting held in FY2018 was intended to provide information to, and gather input from, the LSNARP members and the public regarding reconstitution of the LSN or a suitable replacement system. No final recommendations were made.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Data not available.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Data not available.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Not Applicable	Access Comment	All Committee documents are in the NRC Public Documents Collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback has been provided through follow up meetings and/or written reports.	Narrative Description*	Under the Nuclear waste Policy Act the NRC is responsible for Licensing a High Level Radioactive Waste facility. The Committee supports the Commission in providing advice on making all of the relevant documents electronically available to the parties and/or potential parties to the licensing proceeding. The comprehensive document collection is intended to expedite the adjudicatory process by providing an easily searchable document collection.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	1/22/2025 9:10 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Computer Technology Information Technology Energy Nuclear Power Environment Waste Disposal

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