[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 94 (Monday, May 17, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 26713-26714] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-12459] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 194 [FRL-6344-8] RIN 2060-AG85 Waste Characterization Program Documents Applicable to Transuranic Radioactive Waste at the Los Alamos National 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) 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 Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The documents are: ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Quality Assurance Project Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999'' and ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Certification Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999''. These 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 at LANL that primarily utilize a High Efficiency Neutron Counter (HENC) and other methods of solid coring and sampling to measure important waste characteristics. In accordance with EPA's WIPP Compliance Criteria at 40 CFR 194.8, EPA will conduct an inspection of waste characterization systems and processes at LANL the week of June 14, 1999, to verify that the proposed systems and processes at LANL can characterize transuranic waste at issue properly, consistent with the Compliance Criteria. This notice of the inspection and comment period accords with 40 CFR 194.8. DATES: The EPA is requesting public comment on these documents as they apply to the scope of the inspection announced in this notice. Comments must be received by EPA's official Air Docket on or before June 16, 1999. 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 ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Quality Assurance Project Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999'' and ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Certification Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999'' 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, Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 am-9 pm, Friday, 8 am-5 pm, Saturday-Sunday, 1 pm-5 pm; and in Santa Fe at the Fogelson Library, College of Santa Fe, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 am-12 pm, Friday, 8 am-5 pm, Saturday, 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday, 1 pm-9 pm. Copies of items in the docket may be requested by writing 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: Jim Oliver, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, (202) 564-9310, or call EPA's 24-hour, toll-free WIPP Information Line, [[Page 26714]] 1-800-331-WIPP, or visit our website at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/ wipp/announce.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General background for this document is identical to that provided in previous Federal Register documents. (See 64 FR 18870, 64 FR 14418) EPA inspected certain waste characterization processes at LANL prior to certification of the WIPP. DOE is proposing to use processes that EPA did not previously inspect at LANL that use the High Efficiency Neutron Counter (HENC) or solid coring and sampling as primary methods for measuring important waste characteristics. The LANL documents submitted to EPA are: ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Quality Assurance Project Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999'' and ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Certification Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999''. The ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Quality Assurance Project Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999 `` sets forth the quality assurance program applied to TRU waste characterization at LANL. The ``Los Alamos National Laboratory Transuranic Waste Certification Plan, Revision 2, April 26, 1999'' sets forth the waste characterization procedures for TRU wastes at LANL. After EPA reviews these documents, EPA will conduct an inspection of LANL the week of June 14, 1999, 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, EPA is providing the public 30 days to comment on the documents placed in EPA's docket relevant to the site approval process. If EPA determines that the provisions in the documents are adequately implemented, EPA will notify the 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 LANL. The EPA will not make a determination of compliance prior to the inspection or before the 30-day comment period has closed. Information on the EPA's radioactive waste disposal standards (40 CFR part 191), the compliance criteria (40 CFR part 194), and the 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: May 12, 1999. Robert D. Brenner, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 99-12459 Filed 5-14-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P