"Many people within the fusion community have raised questions and concerns about the possible effects that a major burning plasma experiment would have on the present program of plasma and fusion science. Many of these questions are not technical in nature, and do not naturally fall under the rubric of the Snowmass 2002 meeting as laid out thus far by the conveners.

It is our purpose to make arrangements, within the formal structure of the meeting, to facilitate open and frank communication of community concerns and issues from the full spectrum of points of view within the fusion community. We expect that discussion of these questions in the context of the Snowmass meeting will foster understanding of different views, and will at least partially alleviate some anxieties and allow movement toward a consensus view."