Radiation protection programs: Transuranic radioactive waste for disposal at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant; waste characterization program documents availability,

[Federal Register: October 3, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 192)]

[Notices]

[Page 50431-50432]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr03oc01-61]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7072-9]

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.

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 programms applicable to certain transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste at the Iadhoo National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The documents are procedures for elements of the system of controls that INEEL proposes to use to charactize organic sludges that constitute transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste. The documents are available for review in the public dockets listed in ADDRESSES. We will use these and other documents to evaluate the waste characterization system at INEEL as it applies to organic sludge TRU waste, during an inspection conducted in accordance with EPA's WIPP Compliance Criteria in October 2001. The purpose of the inspection is to verify theat INEEL can characterize transuranic organic sludge waste adequately, consistent with the WIPP Compliance Criteria and Condition 3 of EPA's final certification decision for the WIPP. This notice of the inspection and comment period accords with 40 CFR 194.8.

DATES: The EPA is requesting public comment on these documents. Comments must be received by EPA's official Air Docket on or before November 2, 2001.

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.

DOE documents related to NDA systemms and AK pertaining to organic sludge waste 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 information docket locations in New Mexico: in Carlsbad at the Municipal Library, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10am-9pm, Friday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, 1pm-5pm; 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, 9am-5pm.

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 regulation at 40 CFR Part 2, and in accordance with normal EPA docket procedures, a reasonable fee may be charged for photocopying. Air Docket A-98-49 in Washington, DC, accepts comments sent electronically or by fax (fax no.: 202-260-4400; E-mail: a-and-r- docket@epa.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Feltcorn, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, (202) 564-9422, or call EPA's 24-hour, toll-free WIPP Information Line, 1-800-331-WIPP, or 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 (Pub. L. No. 102-579), as amended (Pub. L. No. 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.

[[Page 50432]]

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 relevant documentation of waste characterization programs at each DOE waste generator site seeking approval for shipment of TRU radioactive waste to the WIPP. In accordance with Sec. 194.8, EPA will place such documentation in the official Air Docket in Washington, DC, 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. INEEL has requested approval to characterize organic sludge waste using nondestructive assay systems and other processes previously approved for characterization of other waste streams. Several relevant INEEL documents related to nondestructive assay systems and acceptable knowledge have been placed in Air Docket A-98-49. They are as follows: (1) TPR-1573, Rev. 34, 8/10/01, Passive-Active Neutron (PAN) Assay System; (2) TPR-1588, Rev. 26, 1/4/01, SWEPP Gamma-Ray Spectrometer System; (3) TPR-1654, Rev. 2, 8/6/01, SWEPP Waste Assay Gamma Spectrometer (WAGS) System; (4) TPR-1719, Rev. 12, 7/17/01, Calibration of SWEPP Radioassay Systems; (5) MCP-2988, Rev. 14, 8/28/01, Confirmation, Resolution, and Reevaluation of Acceptable Knowledge Information; and (6) MCP-2989, Rev. 7, 11/29/00, Collection, Review, and Management of Acceptable Knowledge Documentation. These procedures are for processes that apply to organic sludges and other waste streams.

In accordance with Sec. 194.8 of the WIPP compliance criteria, we are providing the public 30 days to comment on the documents. In the event that the inspection occurs 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, DC, and also in the informational dockets located in New Mexico. A positive approval letter will allow DOE to ship TRU waste from INEEL to WIPP for disposal. 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 filedin 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, DC, 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, DC, plus those documents added to the official Air Docket after the October 1992 enactment of the WIPP LWA.

Dated: September 26, 2001. Robert Brenner, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 01-24716Filed10-2-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M