OFFICE OP AIR AND RADIATION 

## David C. Moody, PhD Manager, Carlsbad Field Offree U.S. Department of Energy P.O. Box 3090 Carlsbad, NM 88221 -3090 Dear Dr. Moodv: This letter provides the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) baseline approval of the contact-handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) waste characteriration program implemented by the Central Characterization Project (CCP) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)(Inspection Number EPA- 0RNL-CCP-CH-11.07-8). The enclosed report (Air pocket No. A98-49; II-A4-103) describes the basis for EPA's baseline approval results and tiering designations for each of the waste characterization processes evaluated during the inspection conducted in November 2007. In June 2007, EPA conducted a baseline inspection of ORNL-CCP's CH "I'RU waste characterization program to assess the characterization of waste in accordance with EPA regulations (40 CFR 194.8(b)(3), 40 CFR 194.8(c) and 40 CFR 194.24). During the inspection. EPA assessed the technical adequacy of the characterization performed through acceptable knowledge (AK), non-destruetive assay (NDA), real time radiography (RTR), and the WIPP Waste Information System (W WIS) for tracking the contents of waste containers destined for disposal at WIPP. EPA's inspection team identified eight concerns. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) adequately responded to EPA's concerns and no issues resulting from this inspection remained open when EPA issued the proposed approval decision for public comment. In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, EPA issued 

## a Federal Register notice on June 20, 2008, announcing EPA's proposed approval of the CH TRU waste characterization program at ORNIrCCP. 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 pocket No: A-98- 49; II-A4-100). EPA received no public comments on the proposed ORNL-CCP inspection report.

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## EPA approves the disposal of CH TRU debris wastes, as characterized by ORNL-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 pocket 

# No. A-98- 49, II-A4-103) and posted on the EPA website at www.epa.uovh:adiatioWwipp


## . EPA approves the following CH 

# TRU waste characterization processes and equipment at 

# ORNL-CCP: (1) The AK proeess for CH retrievably-stored 

# TRU debris wastes (2) The DWAS IPAN/SGS system for assaying CFI 

# TRU wastes (3) The nondestructive examination (NDE) process of RTR for CH TRU debris wastes (4) The W WIS proeess for tracking waste contents of CH TRU wastes. Changes to the approved waste characterization program that are designated in the enclosed table as Tier 1 must be reported to EPA prior to implementation. DOE may implement Tier 2 changes prior to EPA approval; however, DOE must provide EPA with notification summarizing these changes at the end of each fiscal year quarter. Please note that the notification of Tier 2 changes is different from past practice, in which DOE had to supply the documentation. The enclosed table (excerpted from the report) identifies 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 Feltcorn at (202) 343-9422.

Enclosure

cc: Electronic Distribution Frank Marcinowski, DOE HQ Alton Harris, DOE HQ V ernon Daub, CBFO Casey Gadbury, CBFO Courtland Fesmire, CBFO Norma Castaneda, CBFO David Haar, CCP Martin Navarrete, CBFO Dennis Miehls, CBFO

## Allison Pangle, CTAC

Wayne Ledford, CTAC Steve Zappe, NMED Lloyd Generette, EPA Region 4

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