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Waste Characterization Program Documents Applicable to Transuranic Radioactive Waste From the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Proposed for Disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 

[Federal Register: November 28, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 229)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70828-70829]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28no00-32]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 194

[FRL-6909-4]
RIN 2060-AG85


Waste Characterization Program Documents Applicable to
Transuranic Radioactive Waste From the Idaho National Engineering and
Environmental Laboratory Proposed for Disposal at the Waste Isolation
Pilot Plant

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, or ``we'') is
announcing the availability of, and soliciting public comments for 30
days on, Department of Energy (DOE) documents on waste characterization
programs applicable to certain transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste at
the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL)
proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The
documents are: ``Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Transuranic
Waste Characterization Program (PLN-190), Revision 4 (March 2000),''
``INEEL TRU Waste Characterization, Transportation, and Certification
Quality Program Plan (PLN-182), Revision 4 (March 2000),'' and
``Program Plan for Certification of INEEL Contact-Handled Stored
Transuranic Waste (PLN-579), Revision 0 (March 2000).'' The documents
are available for review in the public dockets listed in ADDRESSES. The
EPA will use these documents to evaluate waste characterization systems
and processes applicable to waste streams containing debris waste at
INEEL, as requested by DOE. In accordance with EPA's WIPP Compliance
Criteria, EPA will conduct an inspection of waste characterization
systems and processes at INEEL the week of December 4, 2000, to verify
that the proposed systems and processes at INEEL can characterize
transuranic solid waste properly, consistent with the Compliance
Criteria.

DATES: The EPA is requesting public comment on these documents.
Comments must be received by EPA's official Air Docket on or before
December 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to: Docket No. A-98-49, Air
Docket, Room M-1500 (LE-131), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401
M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    The DOE documents ``Quality Assurance Project Plan for the
Transuranic Waste Characterization Program (PLN-190), Revision 4 (March
2000),'' ``INEEL TRU Waste Characterization, Transportation, and
Certification Quality Program Plan (PLN-182), Revision 4 (March
2000),'' and ``Program Plan for Certification of INEEL Contact-Handled
Stored Transuranic Waste (PLN-579), Revision 0 (March 2000),'' are
available for review in the official EPA Air Docket in Washington,
D.C., Docket No. A-98-49, Category II-A-2, and at the following three
EPA WIPP informational docket locations in New Mexico: in Carlsbad at
the Municipal Library, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 am-9 pm, Friday-
Saturday, 10 am-6 pm, and Sunday, 1 pm-5 pm; in Albuquerque at the
Government Publications Department, General Library, University of New
Mexico, Hours: vary by semester; and in Santa Fe at the New Mexico
State Library, Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm.
    Copies of items in the docket may be requested by writing to Docket
A-98-49 at the address provided above, or by calling (202) 260-7548. As
provided in EPA's regulations at 40 CFR part 2, and in accordance with
normal EPA docket procedures, a reasonable fee may be charged for
photocopying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Monroe, Office of Radiation and
Indoor Air, (202) 564-9310, or call EPA's 24-hour, toll-free WIPP
Information Line, 1-800-331-WIPP, or

[[Page 70829]]

visit our website at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp/announce.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE is developing the WIPP near Carlsbad
in southeastern New Mexico as a deep geologic repository for disposal
of TRU radioactive waste. As defined by the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act
(LWA) of 1992 (Public Law 102-579), as amended (Public Law 104-201),
TRU waste consists of materials containing elements having atomic
numbers greater than 92 (with half-lives greater than twenty years), in
concentrations greater than 100 nanocuries of alpha-emitting TRU
isotopes per gram of waste. Most TRU waste consists of items
contaminated during the production of nuclear weapons, such as rags,
equipment, tools, and organic and inorganic sludges.
    On May 13, 1998, EPA announced its final compliance certification
decision to the Secretary of Energy (published May 18, 1998, 63 FR
27354). This decision states that the WIPP will comply with the EPA's
radioactive waste disposal regulations at 40 CFR part 191, subparts B
and C.
    The final WIPP certification decision includes a condition that
prohibits shipment of TRU waste for disposal at WIPP from any site
other than LANL until EPA has approved the procedures developed to
comply with the waste characterization requirements of
Sec. 194.24(c)(4) (condition 3 of appendix A to 40 CFR part 194). The
EPA's approval process for waste generator sites is described in
Sec. 194.8. As part of EPA's decision making process, DOE is required
to submit to EPA appropriate documentation of waste characterization
programs at each DOE waste generator site seeking approval for shipment
of TRU radioactive waste to WIPP. In accordance with Sec. 194.8, EPA
will place such documentation in the official Air Docket in Washington,
D.C., and in informational dockets in the State of New Mexico, for
public review and comment.
    We initially approved certain waste characterization processes at
INEEL following an inspection on July 28-30, 1998. EPA's approvals of
INEEL to date have limited the applicability of the approved waste
characterization processes and systems to debris wastes. DOE is
proposing to apply the processes that EPA inspected and approved for
debris wastes to solid waste streams as well. We will conduct an
inspection of INEEL to verify that these additional waste streams can
be characterized in compliance with 40 CFR 194.24.
    The INEEL documents submitted to EPA are: ``Quality Assurance
Project Plan for the Transuranic Waste Characterization Program (PLN-
190), Revision 4 (March 2000),'' ``INEEL TRU Waste Characterization,
Transportation, and Certification Quality Program Plan (PLN-182),
Revision 4 (March 2000),'' and ``Program Plan for Certification of
INEEL Contact-Handled Stored Transuranic Waste (PLN-579), Revision 0
(March 2000).'' The ``Quality Assurance Project Plan for the
Transuranic Waste Characterization Program (PLN-190), Revision 4 (March
2000)'' and the ``INEEL TRU Waste Characterization, Transportation, and
Certification Quality Program Plan (PLN-182), Revision 4 (March 2000)''
set forth the quality assurance program applied to TRU waste
characterization at INEEL. The ``Program Plan for Certification of
INEEL Contact-Handled Stored Transuranic Waste (PLN-579), Revision 0
(March 2000)'' sets forth the waste characterization procedures for TRU
wastes at INEEL. We will conduct an inspection of INEEL the week of
December 4, 2000, to determine whether the requirements set forth in
these documents are being adequately implemented in accordance with
Condition 3 of the EPA's WIPP certification decision (appendix A to 40
CFR part 194). In accordance with Sec. 194.8 of the WIPP compliance
criteria, we are providing the public 30 days to comment on the
documents placed in EPA's docket relevant to the site approval process.
Because the inspection will occur during the comment period, we will
respond to relevant comments received prior to, during, and after the
inspection.
    If EPA determines that the provisions in the documents are
adequately implemented, we will notify DOE by letter and place the
letter in the official Air Docket in Washington, D.C., and in the
informational docket locations in New Mexico. A positive approval
letter will allow DOE to ship additional TRU waste from INEEL. We will
not make a determination of compliance prior to the inspection or
before the 30-day comment period has closed.
    Information on EPA's radioactive waste disposal standards (40 CFR
part 191), the compliance criteria (40 CFR part 194), and EPA's
certification decision is filed in the official EPA Air Docket, Dockets
No. R-89-01, A-92-56, and A-93-02, respectively, and is available for
review in Washington, D.C., and at the three EPA WIPP informational
docket locations in New Mexico. The dockets in New Mexico contain only
major items from the official Air Docket in Washington, D.C., plus
those documents added to the official Air Docket after the October 1992
enactment of the WIPP LWA.

    Dated: November 21, 2000.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 00-30416 Filed 11-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U

 
 

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