Preparing scientists and engineers to interact with NRC

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing a Civilian Radioactive Waste Management System (CRWMS) pursuant to the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended. This task includes investigations which are being carried out at the frontiers of earth science and involves DOE and many of the scientists and engineers working on its behalf in interactions with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), i.e., in the NRC licensing process. Because this process is one with which the DOE and most of its participants have not been familiar, DOE decided that it should provide its personnel and the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the CRWMS with an understanding of the licensing process and their role in the process. This paper discusses DOE`s experience in developing and conducting workshops to help provide this understanding.