The diagram above is a typical NRC consultation process for WIR Evaluations or 3116 Basis Documents, which involves public participation.
DOE consults with NRC on most draft WIR Evaluations and all draft Section 3116 Basis Documents through an open public forum. In conjunction with NRC consultation, DOE publishes a notice in the Federal Register for state, public, and Tribal Nations comment on the draft documents. DOE considers supporting analysis, the NRC consultation comments as well as state, public, and Tribal Nation comments while developing the Final WIR Evaluation or Section 3116 Basis Document before making a determination.
During the NRC consultation process, DOE and NRC host a series of public meetings which are intended for DOE and NRC discussion with time allotted for public comment. DOE and NRC post summaries of all public meetings. In addition to the public meetings, DOE and NRC mutually agree to hold technical staff-to-staff, non-decision conference calls to ask clarification questions, which are also open to the public to observe.