Two open forums will take place at UNLV in October to explore the public's attitude toward the issue of low-level radioactive waste disposal in Nevada.

The goal of the forum organizers is to form a focus group to examine the issue.

The first forum will be 7:30-10 p.m. Oct. 16. The second will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 18. Both meetings will take place in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History on the UNLV campus.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Energy ships 670 truckloads of low-level waste per year to the Nevada Test Site, said Kathy Lauckner, who is in charge of risk communications for the Nevada Risk Assessment Management Program (NRAMP).

Lauckner said she hopes the focus group will be able to send a clear message to DOE officials that the public wants to be involved in the decisions about radioactive waste management and the disposal of low-level radioactive waste in Nevada.

For additional information, call 895-1459.