UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

JAN 1 2 2007

OFF~e OF

AIR AND RADIA~

Dr. David Moody, Manager

Carlsbad Field Office

U.S. Department of Energy

P.O. Box 3090

Carls bad, NM 88221-3090

Dear Dr. Moody

This letter provides the results of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

baseline inspection of the remote-handled (RH) transuranic (TRU) waste characterization

program implemented by the Central Characterization Project (CCP) at the Idaho National

Laboratory (INL) (Inspection Number EP A-INL-RH-CCP-06.06-08).

In June and August 2006, EPA conducted a baseline inspection ofINL-CCP's RH TRU

waste characterization program to assess the characterization ofRH TRU waste in accordance

with EPA regulations (40 CFR 1 94.8(b)(3), 40 CFR 1 94.8(c) and 40 CFR 194.24). During the

inspection, EP A assessed the technical adequacy of the characterization performed through

acceptable knowledge, dose-to-curie, and visual examination. EP A's inspection team identified

one finding and six concerns in the areas of visual examination and acceptable knowledge. The

Department of Energy's (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) adequately responded to EPA's

findings and concerns and there are no open issues resulting from this inspection.

In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, EP A issued a Federal Register notice on November 8,

2006, announcing EP A's proposed approval of the RH TRU waste characterization program at

INL-CCP. This Federal Register notice also opened a 45-day public comment period on our

proposed approval and announced the availability of the inspection report (Air Docket No: A-98-

49; II-A4-69). EP A received one set of public comments on the proposed INL-CCP inspection

report. Both Section 9 and attachment C of the enclosed inspection report, include the public

comments and EP A's responses.

Although this letter and inspection report establish a baseline for the RH TRU waste

characterization program at INL-CCP, this approval does not authorize DOE to dispose ofRH

TRU waste from INL-CCP at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WiPP). As stated in the enclosed

inspection report, the waste tracking system known as the WIPP Waste Information System

Intemet AOff86s (URL) 8 hI1p:/'-.epa.gov

Recycled/Recyclabie 8 Printed with Vegetable 011 Bued k*s on 100% Postconsumer. p~ C~ Free R~ Paper
2

(WWIS) was not operational for RH waste at the time of EPA's baseline inspection. EPA's

baseline approval designates the initiation of the WWIS for RH waste as a Tier 1 change and

therefore requires EP A approval prior to implementation.

As a result of comments submitted by DOE on the proposed baseline approval, EP A is

also evaluating a modified visual examination procedure as a Tier 1 change and DOE's request

for Tier 1 change addressing real-time radiography (RTR) to the INL-CCP waste characterization

program. The results of these INL-CCP Tier 1 evaluations will be communicated to DOE under

separate correspondence and will be posted on the EPA website at www.e~a.gov/radiation/wi~~

Approval Summar\'

EPA approves the disposal ofretrievably-stored, RH TRU, debris waste, as characterized

by INL-CCP, according to the conditions and limitations specified by this letter and inspection

report. This letter and the final inspection report have been placed in the EPA docket (Air

Docket No. A-98-49, ll-A4-72) and posted on the EPA website at www.eQa.gov/radiation/wiQQ.

EP A approves the following RH TRU waste characterization processes and equipment at

INL-CCP:

(I) The AK process for RH retrievably-stored TRU debris in one waste stream, designated by

INL as INL Waste Stream No. ID-ANLE-S5000, Lots 1 through 20, which are defmed by

CCP as a debris waste stream in CCP-AK-INL-500, Revision 3

(2) The radiological characterization process using dose-to-curie (DTC) and modeling-derived

scaling factors for assigning radionuclide values to one RH waste stream for which the

scaling factors are applicable, as described in CCP-AK-INL-501, Revision 1

(3) The VE of audio/video media process used for a total of nineteen (19) retrievably-stored

RH debris waste drums included in three batch data reports (BDRs) - BDR Nos.

RHlNL VE6000 I, RHINL VE60002, and RHINL VE60003

As required by 40 CFR 194.8, any changes to these waste characterization activities from

the date of the baseline inspection must be reported to, and, if applicable, approved by EP A,

according to the enclosed table.

Changes to the approved waste characterization program that are designated in the

enclosed table as Tier 1 must be reported to EP A prior to implementation. DOE may implement

Tier 2 changes prior to EPA approval; however, DOE must provide periodic reports of these
3

changes to EP A. The attached inspection report provides additional details on the types of

activities that are considered Tier 1 and Tier 2.

If you have any questions, please contact Rajani Joglekar at (202) 343-9462 or Ed

Feltcom at (202) 343-9422.

.P

Sincerely,

-:JUU.« -"

Juan Reyes, Director '0

Radiation Protection Division

Enclosures

Electronic Distribution

Frank Marcinowski, DOE HQ

Lloyd Piper, CBFO

Vernon Daub, CBFO

A va Holland, CBFO

Courtland Fesmire, CBFO

Norma Castaneda, CBFO

Martin Navarrete, CBFO

Dennis Miehls, CBFO

Allison Pangle, CTAC

Wayne Ledford, CTAC

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