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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

OFFICE OF 

J.R. Stroble APR 1 4 ?. Jll AIR AND RADIATION 

Director, National TRU Program 

Carlsbad Field Off ice 

U.S. Department of Energy 

P.O. Box 3090 

Carlsbad, NM 88221-3090 

Dear Mr. Stroble: 

This letter discusses the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) evaluation of a 

Tier 2(T2) change implemented at Hanford by the Central Characterization Project (CCP). I'he 

enclosed report discusses EPA's evaluation results. 

In 2010, EPA approved Hanford-CCP's contact-handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) waste 

characterization program. As part of that approval, implementation of new real time radiography 

(RTR) equipment of a different type from the one approved at the baseline was identified as a'I'2 

change (requiring no EPA approval prior to implementation). In February 2011, Hanford-CCP 

notified EPA of their intent to use of the High Energy RTR (HE RTR) unit to charactcrize CH 

TRU debris waste packaged in standard waste boxes. At Hanford-CCP, on March 22-23, EPA 

evaluated the use of this equipment and associated procedures and determined them to be 

technically adequate. EPA found no issues with Hanford-CCP operation of the unit. Therefore 

Hanford-CCP may continue to use the HE RTR. 

If you have any questions regarding this approval, please contact Rajani Joglekar (202 

343-9462) or Ed Feltcorn (202 343-9422). 

Sincerely, 

P~- 

Tom Peake, Director 

Center for Waste Management and Regulations 

Enclosurc 

Intemet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov 

Recycled/Recyclable o Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 1000% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper 
cc: Electronic Distribution 

Alton Harris, DOE EM 

Courtland Fesmire, CBFO 

Norma Castaneda, CBFO 

Martin Navarrete, CBFO 

Dennis Miehls, CBFO 

Steve Zappe, NMED 

Ray Lee, EPA 

Allison Pangle, CTAC 

Site Documents 
I+',nclosure 

Tier 2 F,valuation Report 

High Energy Real Time Radiography llnit at Hanford Sitc 

On March 22-23, 2011, EPA perfonmed a Tier 2(T2) evaluation of the High Energy Real-Time 

Radiography (HE RTR) unit manufactured by VJ Technologies and operated by Central 

Characterization Project (CCP) at the Hanford Site. This review was performed by Mr. Edward 

Feltcorn (EPA) and Ms. Dorothy Gill (SC&A). Personnel contacted during the inspection 

included: 

Name Affiliation 

Kenneth Simpson CCP RTR Operator/ITR 

Lany Porter CCP VPM 

Charlie Riggs CTAC, CBFO Observer 

Documents and Records Reviewed 

~ Demonstration of Capability DVDs: 

NDE TEST-01 A for three operators, dated August 5, 2010 and October 18, 2010 

NDE-TEST-02 for one operator dated July 8, 2010 

NDE-TEST-04 for two operators dated September 1 and 9, 2010 

NDE-TEST-05 for three operators, dated August 26 and 29, 2010 and January 22, 2011 

NDE-TEST-09 for one operator dated October 6, 2010 

NDE-TEST-10 for one operator dated February 2, 2011 

NDE-TEST-13 for one operator dated October 20, 2010 

NDE-TEST-14 for one operator dated March 11, 2411 

• NDE Test Drum Inventory Sheet for NDE-TEST-01, NDE-TEST-l3, and NDE-TEST-14 

• Written CCP Test Drum Data Sheet for Contact-Handled Waste for four operators, dated 

August 5, 2010 and October 18 and 20, 2010 

• NDE RTR Operator/ITR Qualification cards for four individuals on the List of Qualified 

Individuals (LOQI) qualified as operators on the HE RTR unit 

• NDE RTR Operator/ITR Qualification cards for eight individuals on the LOQI qualified as 

ITR only 

• CCP-TP-198, CCP HE RTR Operatfng Procedure, Revision 2, dated March 14, 2011 

• CCP-TP-053, CCP Standard Real-Time Radiography (RTR) Inspection Procedure, 

Revision 10, dated March 4, 2011 

• CCP LOQI, dated March 16, 2011 
Trainina 

There were four operators qualified to perform examinations on the HE-RTR unit at the time of 

the on-site visit. Operators had previously attended RTR training provided by VJ/MCS, and the 

EPA team reviewed training and qualification records. EPA reviewed test drum DVDs and 

written records and operator qualification records to determine that operators were adequately 

trained to generate RTR data on the HE RTR unit. EPA did not identify any issues associated 

with training records. EPA reviewed the CCP LOQI dated March 16, 2011, to verify that the four 

on-site operators were identified as required. The LOQI also identified seven individuals based 

in Carlsbad, NM who performed ITR duties for data generated at Hanford-CCP by the HE RTR 

unit. At the time of this evaluation, the HE RTR unit had not examined any containers except 

those used for training purposes. Accordingly, EPA could not verify that an Independent 

Observation and Replieate Scan were performed in each batch, as required but will do so at a 

later date once BDRs are completed. 

Procedures 

CCP-TP-198, CCP HE-RTR Operating Procedure, Revision 2, provides instruction for safe startup, operation, and shut-down of the HE-RTR system. This procedure is outside of EPA's 

purview and was not reviewed during the on-site visit. CCP-Hanford personnel use CCP-TP-053, 

CCP Standard Real-Time Radiography (RTR) Inspection Procedure, Revision 10, to guide RTR 

operations and data recording. During the demonstration, an Image Test was performed using a 

lines-pair gauge as required by the procedure. The operator stated that the standard weight table 

in CCP-TP-053 is not used because none of the items listed in the table were encountered in the 

waste stream. 

Observation of Operations 

On March 22, 2011, EPA observed the operation on the HE RTR Unit 1 as it examined Standard 

Waste Box No. RL0037154 from Hanford Waste Stream RLMFPDD, and BDR No. 

RLRTR010001, which documented the RTR examination. The examination took place in Vault 

2406W, Trailer M06541ocated near the Waste Receiving and Packaging Facility in the 200 

West Area at Hanford. Inspectors observed performance of the Image Test and verification that 

the audio/visual recording was of the required quality and clarity. Items identified during the 

examination were recorded on CCP-TP-053, Attachment 2, Radiography Data Sheet. 

The RTR operator did not pause the audio/visual recording during the time he entered data into 

the RTR data sheet. EPA determined that operations were performed correctly and in accordance 

with procedure CCP-TP-053. 

Conclusion 

EPA did not identify any issues during its on-site evaluation of RTR and determined that HE 

RTR examinations were performed using an approved procedure by qualified personnel.