The Department of Energy plans small meetings by invitation only rather than public hearings to gather information to decide the fate of Hanford's Fast Flux Test Facility.

Michael Holland, who's heading the review, will meet with opponents of restarting the reactor Friday in Portland and Monday in Seattle. Tuesday he will meet with supporters of the reactor in Richland.

Numerous public hearings have been held on the reactor over the last decade. By holding smaller meetings with representatives of interest groups on both sides, participants hope to spend more time presenting their information and less time debating those who disagree with them, Holland said.

Holland, who is visiting Hanford for the third time this week as part of the FFTF review, is the manager of DOE's Brookhaven, N.Y., area office and has been named to head the review of the reactor's future.

In January the Clinton administration ordered the reactor permanently shut down. The reactor is not being used now, but once sodium is drained from its cooling system, it can never be restarted.

However, new Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham suspended that decision for three months. By July 31, Holland will present him with a summary of information drawn from the invitation-only meetings, public comments and other sources.

"My charge is pretty clear," Holland said. "It's not to make the decision."

Although he and his working group will not make a specific recommendation, they can draw some conclusions as they pull together information for the secretary to consider.

He's already toured FFTF, noting it's much different than the water-cooled reactors he's worked with. He's had 25 years experience in the operation of nuclear reactors, including as manager of the Brookhaven office. Although Brookhaven has no operating reactors now, he's worked with its High Flux Beam Reactor and the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor.

Supporters of restarting FFTF want it used to make isotopes for medicine and the space program and for research.

The invitation-only meetings in Portland and Seattle will include representatives of Hanford watchdog groups and representatives of elected officials who oppose restarting the reactor.

Among those invited to the Richland meeting are representatives of labor, local government and Citizens for Medical Isotopes.

Others who want to comment have until July 3. They may call toll-free 888-680-8450 or send a fax to DOE at 888-680-9509. The e-mail address is fftf.review@hq.doe.gov.

The mailing address is FFTF Review, 20201 Century Blvd., 3rd Floor, Germantown, MD 20874.