Functions of the Materials Review Board

The DOE has established a centralized organization for the assembly and critical review of materials data that are important to the process of licensing a nuclear waste repository. The MRB serves as an independent reviewing body, somewhat similar to standards organizations, that examines test methods and materials data. To a large extent, the criteria used in these reviews are codified, and the review process is highly visible and extensively documented. Approval of test methods or materials data for publication in the Nuclear Waste Materials handbook requires successful completion of three separate reviews that are sufficiently rigorous, yet in accord with the provisions of the NRC licensing approach, so that the resulting documents can be used by DOE with assurance that scientific scrutiny by others will affirm the conclusions of the MRB. The credibility of the review process is reflected in the credibility of the conclusions drawn from the data, thereby allowing the licensing of the repository to proceed expeditiously. 10 references.