AGENCY:
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM).
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Proposed Rule; Announcement of Public Hearings

SUMMARY:
On November 30, 1999, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the general guidelines for evaluating the suitability of Yucca Mountain, Nevada as a site for development of a nuclear waste repository (64 FR 67054). That notice established a 75 day public comment period ending February 14, 2000, and announced that DOE would hold two public hearings on the proposal. This notice announces the dates, times and locations of these public hearings and an alternative contact person for the proposed rulemaking.

DATES:
Written comments must be received by February 14, 2000. DOE will consider comments after February 14, 2000, to the extent practicable. DOE requests one copy of the written comments.

Public hearings have been scheduled for the following dates and locations:

• January 18, 2000, from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Terrible's Lakeside Casino, 5870 South Homestead Road, Pahrump, Nevada 89048.

• January 19, 2000, from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History Auditorium, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154.

ADDRESSES:
Written comments should be addressed to Dr. William J. Boyle or Dr. Jane Summerson, U.S. Department of Energy, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, P.O. Box 98608, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8608, or provided by electronic mail to 10CFR963@notes.ymp.gov, or by Facsimile at 1-800-967-0739.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. William J. Boyle or Dr. Jane Summerson, U.S. Department of Energy, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, P.O. Box 98608, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8608, Telephone 1-800-967-3477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
To schedule a time to provide oral comments during the hearings, please call Dr. Summerson at 1-800-967-3477. Persons wishing to provide oral comments who have not registered in advance may register at the hearings. Dr. Summerson is also being included as an alternative contact person for this proposed rule and can be reached at the address and phone number listed above.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 8, 1999.

________________________

Lake H. Barrett
Deputy Director
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management