North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources

The meeting included a review of the council's purpose, which is to advise the Industrial Commission on high-level radioactive waste storage and disposal. Discussion included site suitability reviews, recommendations on rules and standards, and other matters related to high-level radioactive waste. Presentations were given by the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Water Resources, focusing on geologic history and data relevant to waste disposal in North Dakota. The council's role in the process of potential site nomination and the issuance of a notice of disapproval were also discussed.

The meeting included a welcome to two new appointees to the Advisory Board. A discussion was held regarding the council's duties and reporting requirements to legislative management and the industrial commission. The main presentation focused on the Department of Energy's (DOE) package performance demonstration for spent nuclear fuel transportation casks, addressing public and stakeholder concerns regarding safety and security. The DOE is seeking input on the design and scope of full-scale demonstrations, including the types of tests to be conducted (regulatory, scenario-based, retrieval), cask selection, facility requirements, and data analysis and distribution methods.

The meeting focused on reviewing and voting on the draft high-level radioactive waste rules. Presentations were given on the regulation of low-level radioactive waste in the state and the timetable/process for adopting the high-level waste rules. Discussion followed the rule review, and suggestions for future meeting topics and dates were also addressed.

The meeting included a welcome of two new council members from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Transportation. The council reviewed and approved the meeting minutes from June 14th. A presentation was given by the EPA associate director for the center for Waste Management and regulation, covering the EPA's role in managing spent fuel and high-level waste, developing repositories, and establishing safety standards to protect public health and the environment. Discussion included the EPA's statutory authorities, the standards development process, and compliance demonstrations. The presentation also addressed the timeframes for applying these standards, considering the long-term nature of repository operations.

The Administrative Rules Committee meeting includes presentations from various state agencies regarding their proposed rules for January 2017. These agencies include the North Dakota Racing Commission, the Office of Management and Budget, the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the State Board of Cosmetology, the Industrial Commission, the North Dakota Board of Massage, the State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.