[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50431-50432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24716]


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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.

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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 
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-
[email protected]).

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 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, 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. 01-24716 Filed 10-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M