[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11621-11623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5636]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7635-8]


Waste Characterization Program Documents Applicable to 
Transuranic Radioactive Waste From the Rocky Flats Environmental 
Technology Site 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) is announcing the 
availability of, and soliciting public comments for 30 days on, 
Department of Energy (DOE) documents applicable to characterization of 
transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste at the Rocky Flats Environmental 
Technology Site (RFETS) proposed for disposal at the Waste Isolation 
Pilot Plant (WIPP). The documents are available for review in the 
public dockets listed in ADDRESSES. We will consider public comments 
received on or before the due date mentioned in DATES. EPA will conduct 
an inspection of waste streams, characterization systems and processes 
at RFETS to verify that the site can characterize transuranic waste in 
accordance with EPA's WIPP compliance criteria. EPA will perform this 
inspection the week of March 29, 2004. This notice of the inspection 
and comment period accords with 40 CFR 194.8.

DATES: EPA is requesting public comment on the documents. Comments must 
be received by EPA's official Air Docket on or before April 12, 2004 .

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail to: EPA Docket Center 
(EPA/DC), Air and Radiation Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
EPA West, Mail Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Attention Docket ID No. OAR-2004-0020. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/
courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.B of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Feltcorn, Office of Radiation and 
Indoor Air, (202) 343-9463. You can also call EPA's toll-free WIPP 
Information Line, 1-800-331-WIPP or visit our Web site at http://www.epa/gov/radiation/wipp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under Docket ID No. OAR-2004-0020. The official public docket 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any 
public comments received, and other information related to this action. 
Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not 
include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket 
is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at 
the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA 
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA 
Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number 
for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number 
for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742. These documents are 
also available for review in paper form at the official EPA Air Docket 
in Washington, DC, Docket No. A-98-49, Category II-A2, and at the 
following three EPA WIPP informational docket locations in New Mexico: 
in Carlsbad at the Municipal Library, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 
p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; in 
Albuquerque at the Government Publications Department, Zimmerman 
Library, University of New Mexico, Hours: vary by semester; and in 
Santa Fe at the New Mexico State Library, Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-
5 p.m. As provided in EPA's regulations at 40 CFR Part 2, and in 
accordance with normal EPA docket procedures, if copies of any docket 
materials are requested, a reasonable fee may be charged for 
photocopying.
    2. Electronic Access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket identification number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be 
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in 
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent 
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in 
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the 
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the 
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. 
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you 
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through 
the docket facility identified in Unit I.B. EPA intends to work towards 
providing electronic access to all of the publicly available docket 
materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
    For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is 
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
    Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public 
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will 
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where 
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph 
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.
    For additional information about EPA's electronic public docket 
visit EPA Dockets online or see 67 FR 38102, May 31, 2002.

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B. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or 
through hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, 
identify the appropriate docket identification number in the subject 
line on the first page of your comment. Please ensure that your 
comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments 
received after the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' 
EPA is not required to consider these late comments. However, late 
comments may be considered if time permits.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as 
prescribed below, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing 
address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in the body 
of your comment. Also include this contact information on the outside 
of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter accompanying 
the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be identified as the 
submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA 
cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further 
information on the substance of your comment. EPA's policy is that EPA 
will not edit your comment, and any identifying or contact information 
provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made 
available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. To 
access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet Home Page, 
select ``Information Sources,'' ``Dockets,'' and ``EPA Dockets.'' Once 
in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in Docket ID No. OAR-
2004-0020. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means 
EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected], Attention Docket ID No. OAR-2004-0020. In 
contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not 
an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly 
to the Docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, 
EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail 
addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public 
docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    2. By Mail. Send your comments to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Air 
and Radiation Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West, Mail 
Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Attention Docket ID No. OAR-2004-0020.
    3. By Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: Air and 
Radiation Docket, EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room B102, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. OAR-
2004-0020. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal 
hours of operation as identified in Unit I.A.1.
    4. By Facsimile. Fax your comments to: (202) 566-1741, Attention 
Docket ID. No. OAR-2004-0020.

C. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that 
support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternatives.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket 
identification number in the subject line on the first page of your 
response. It would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and 
Federal Register citation related to your comments.

II. Background

    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. Much of 
the existing TRU waste consists of items contaminated during the 
production of nuclear weapons, such as rags, equipment, tools, and 
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 stated that the WIPP will comply with EPA's 
radioactive waste disposal regulations at 40 CFR Part 191, Subparts B 
and C.
    The final WIPP certification decision includes conditions that (1) 
prohibit shipment of TRU waste for disposal at WIPP from any site other 
than the Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL) until the EPA 
determines that the site has established and executed a quality 
assurance program, in accordance with Sec. Sec.  194.22(a)(2)(i), 
194.24(c)(3), and 194.24(c)(5) for waste characterization activities 
and assumptions (Condition 2 of Appendix A to 40 CFR Part 194); and (2) 
(with the exception of specific, limited waste streams and equipment at 
LANL) prohibit shipment of TRU waste for disposal at WIPP (from LANL or 
any other site) until EPA has approved the procedures developed to 
comply with the waste characterization requirements of Sec.  
194.22(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, the DOE is required to submit 
to EPA appropriate documentation of quality assurance and 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, DC, and informational dockets in the State of New 
Mexico for public review and comment.
    EPA will perform an inspection of the waste characterization 
systems and processes for TRU waste at RFETS in accordance with 
Conditions 3 of the WIPP certification. The purpose of this inspection 
is for the annual re-evaluation of the transuranic (TRU) waste program 
at RFETS and to evaluate new activities (i.e., new equipment, such as 
the Multi Purpose Crate Counter) associated with a particular waste 
stream (soils/gravels). The

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inspection is scheduled to take place the week of March 29, 2004.
    EPA has placed a number of documents pertinent to the inspection in 
the public docket described in ADDRESSES. These documents can be found 
online in EDOCKET ID No. OAR-2004-0020 and also in hard copy form as 
item II-A2-48 in Docket A-98-49. In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, as 
amended by the final certification decision, EPA is providing the 
public 30 days to comment on these documents.
    If EPA determines as a result of the inspection that the proposed 
waste streams, processes, systems, and equipment at RFETS adequately 
control the characterization of transuranic waste, we will notify DOE 
by letter and place the letter in the official Air Docket in 
Washington, DC, as well as in the informational docket locations in New 
Mexico. A letter of approval will allow DOE to dispose of TRU waste at 
the WIPP using the approved characterization processes. 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 certification decision is filed in the official 
EPA Air Docket, Docket No. A-93-02 and is available for review in 
Washington, DC, and at 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 since the October 1992 enactment of the WIPP 
LWA.

    Dated: March 5, 2004.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 04-5636 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
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