FACILITATOR: Reed Hodgin, AlphaTRAC

Tom Marshall called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.

BOARD / EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Alan Aluisi, Carol Barker, Susan Barron, Tom Clark, Eugene DeMayo, Gerald DePoorter, Derek Dye, Tom Gallegos, Victor Holm, Jim Kinsinger, Tom Marshall, Bryan Taylor / Steve Gunderson, Jeremy Karpatkin, Joe Legare, Tim Rehder

BOARD / EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Meir Carasso, Tom Davidson, Mary Harlow, Bob Kanick, Beverly Lyne, David Navarro, Linda Sikkema

PUBLIC / OBSERVERS PRESENT: Joe F. Rippetoe (citizen); Kenneth Werth (citizen); Jerry Anderson (citizen); Jim Stone (RFCC); Tom Stewart (CDPHE-EMP); P. J. Timmerman (USGAO); Martha Crosland (DOE-HQ); Anna E. Martinez (DOE/RFFO); Patrick Etchart (DOE/RFFO); Alan Trenary (citizen); Patty Bubar (DOE-HQ); Jim Werner (DOE-HQ); Dave Huizenga (DOE-HQ); John Corsi (K-H); Jack Hoopes (K-H); Ken Korkia (CAB staff); Erin Rogers (CAB staff); Deb Thompson (CAB staff); Brady Wilson (CAB staff)

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No comments were received.

CONVERSATION WITH JAMES OWENDOFF AND MARTHA CROSLAND: Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management James Owendoff and the Acting Director of the DOE Office of Intergovernmental and Public Accountability were present at the beginning of the meeting to answer CAB member and audience questions. Mr. Owendoff fielded questions ranging from the opening of WIPP, changes he foresees with having a new Secretary of Energy, the use of commercial waste disposal facilities, and the prospects for a national dialogue on weapons complex issues. Mr. Owendoff stated that he is confident that the Los Alamos Laboratory will be able to certify its non-mixed transuranic waste streams for disposal at WIPP. With respect to a change in DOE policy with a new secretary, he stated that Mr. Richardson is committed to working with Congress to fund cleanup. In order for DOE to use commercial disposal sites, Mr. Owendoff stressed that DOE will not attempt to circumvent state licensing procedures to get sites open. Regarding a national dialogue, Mr. Owendoff stated that he believes that the proper focus for many of the issues is at the local site level, and he also expressed concern that DOE is often criticized for too much talk and not enough action.

Martha Crosland briefly addressed the Board regarding her role as the designated federal official for all the Site Specific Advisory Boards. She stated that there are more than 200 members of the entire DOE EM SSAB, of which Rocky Flats is a part. She hopes to see more intersite discussions and believes that there is great potential in sharing information at these discussions.

CAB 1999 WORK PLAN ISSUES DISCUSSION: A major activity for the meeting was for the Board to discuss its approach to developing a work plan for 1999. The discussion started with the Board members listing in a round robin the three top issues they would like to see the Board address. These items were written on large sheets of paper and displayed in the meeting room. Looking at the issues, the Board then began a discussion of how best to approach the issues. After much discussion, it was decided to group the issues into major category areas and then vote on the categories as to which should receive priority in being addressed first. With each Board member given three votes, the results of the voting are as follows: Waste Management (12 votes), Environmental Restoration (5 votes), D&D (4 votes), Special Nuclear Materials (4 votes), Reuse Designation (2 votes), and Stewardship/Natural Resources Management (1 vote). The Board also indicated that some issues are ongoing and should be tracked in some manner. Examples include the Soil Action Levels review and the Actinide Migration Studies.

Before beginning discussions on these issue areas, the Board will first have a discussion on the terms "closure" and "cleanup." It is hoped that this discussion will serve as a framework for moving into the issue topics.

To better develop the wording of the work plan, it was decided that the former focus group co-chairs should meet sometime before the next scheduled Board meeting. CAB staff was tasked with putting together a first cut of the work plan to serve as a basis for the co-chairs discussion. A draft work plan and accompanying budget will be presented to the Board for its approval on October 19.

LETTER TO DOE-HQ REGARDING LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR RETIRED/DISABLED WORKERS BENEFITS AT ROCKY FLATS: The Site Wide Issues / Budget Focus Group submitted a draft letter for the Board’s review and approval. This is a letter to Secretary Bill Richardson regarding retiree benefits. The letter states that the Board’s position on potential changes to retiree benefits is that DOE honor its commitments to these workers. The letter also states that it is essential that DOE separate the funding for benefits from funding for the closure of the site. In this manner, the contractor will be unable to justify any reduction in retired worker benefits by attempting to increase funding for D&D and closure activities. The last item in the letter requests information relating to the long-term funding for the retired work force and asks for information on any existing plans in this area.

ACTINIDE MIGRATION OVERSIGHT PROPOSAL: Another remnant of the September Board meeting was the proposal by the Plutonium Issues Focus Group to form a Technical Review Group (TRG) for the oversight of the Actinide Migration Studies (AMS). The proposal now states that the TRG will develop its own scope of work, as opposed to detailing the scope of work in the proposal. An individual will be chosen by the Board and the TRG to assist the group in understanding the highly technical sections of the study. The language used in the description of the technical contractor was strengthened to more clearly define the CAB role in selection and approval of a contractor. A section on peer review was removed by the focus group as a result of discussions at the last Board meeting. The Board chose to return this section to the proposal after removing the word "peer" and titling the section "Review Process." This process outlines the method by which the steps in the Actinide Migration Studies will be reviewed by an individual mutually agreed upon by CAB and K-H, and paid an honorarium by K-H. The section on autonomy outlines the method by which the TRG can remain somewhat autonomous to the Board, and yet be retained as an extension of the Board. The final change came in the section titled "Transmittal of Comments." The Board reserves the right to transmit the comments without comments of its own, with endorsements, with exceptions, or to return the comments to the TRG for continued work.

SURPLUS PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION EIS RECOMMENDATIONS: The Plutonium Issues Focus Group submitted its second cut at a recommendation on the Draft Surplus Plutonium Disposition Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The recommendation states that the Board supports the expeditious and safe removal of plutonium from the site. It also states that the Board does not support the No Action alternative listed in the EIS, which would require that all Surplus plutonium remain onsite. The reasons given for this recommendation are the condition and age of the storage facilities onsite. Due to varied stances within the Board on the ultimate disposition of this material, it seemed unwise to support one alternative over another. The recommendation lists criteria to be followed in choosing a receiver site for this material. The final section of the recommendation asks that DOE develop contingency plans, should political or technical uncertainties slow or halt the disposition of surplus plutonium.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No comments were received.

New Board Members. The Membership Committee recommended three individuals to serve on the Board. The Board approved the membership applications of Ray Betts, Shawn Burke, and LeRoy Moore. With these additions, CAB membership now stands at 22.

• Ray Betts is a resident of Westminster. He is a retired attorney who also holds a degree in electrical engineering. During his career, Ray has worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.
• Shawn Burke is a resident of Northglenn. He currently works as a programmer/analyst for IBM. Shawn is a member of the National Peace Corps Association and has worked in Kenya and Indonesia. He holds degrees in education and earth resources.
• LeRoy Moore is a returning CAB member, having left the Board in 1996. LeRoy is a resident of Boulder. He is affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, but will represent Physicians for Social Responsibility on the Board. LeRoy holds a Ph.D. in history and religion.

Date: October 19, 1998, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. (study session)

Location: Westminster City Hall, lower-level Multi-Purpose Room, 4800 West 92nd Avenue, Westminster

Agenda: Discussion and approval of CAB 1999 Work Plan; discussion of the terms "closure" and cleanup;" review start-up of Actinide Migration Studies Technical Review Group; pre-planning for waste management topic discussion

1. Prepare draft of CAB 1999 Work Plan for co-chair review - Staff
2. Meet with staff to review and finalize work plan - CAB co-chairs
3. Revise and forward letter of recommendation to DOE-HQ regarding long-term funding for retired workers benefits at Rocky Flats - Erin Rogers
4. Revise document on CAB oversight of Actinide Migration Studies, finalize and put together budget for project - Ken Korkia
5. Revise and forward recommendations to DOE-HQ on Surplus Plutonium Disposition EIS - Ken Korkia

(* Taped transcript of full meeting is available in CAB office.)

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The Rocky Flats Citizens Advisory Board is a community advisory group that reviews and provides recommendations on cleanup plans for Rocky Flats, a former nuclear weapons plant outside of Denver, Colorado.