[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