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## UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY a \~~ 

### WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

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# FEB 3 2009

OFFICE OF AIR AND RADIATION



## David C. Moody, Ph.D. Manager, Carlsbad Field Office U.S. Department of Energy P.O. Box 3090 Carlsbad, NM 88221-3090 Dear Dr. Moody: This letter approves remote-handled (RH) transuranic (TRU) waste characterization activities implemented by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Central Characterization Project (CCP) to characterize RH TRU waste. The letter also approves a specific RH TRU debris waste stream generated from the operation of the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) hot cell laboratory at the ORNL for the disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Between June 30-July 2, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a baseline inspection of CCP's demonstration to characterize ORNL's RH TRU debris waste (Inspection Number EPA-ORNL-CCP-RH-06.08-8). During this inspection, EPA assessed the technical adequacy of the characterization performed through acceptable knowledge (AK), visual examination (VE), dose-to-curie (DTC), and the WIPP Waste Information System (WWIS) for TRU waste tracking from characterization to disposal. In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, EPA issued a Federal Register notice on November 26, 2008, announcing EPA's proposed approval of the RH TRU waste characterization program at ORNL-CCP (73 FR 72043-72047). 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-A4-105). The comment period ended January 12, 2009. EPA received no public comment on the proposed approval and the accompanying ORNL-CCP inspection report. The enclosed inspection report (Air pocket No: A-98-49; II-A4-111), is EPA's Final baseline approval report for ORNL-CCP RH. Approval Summary 

## EPA determined that the records documenting ORNL-CCP's RH WC program implemented to characterize certain RH debris waste stream from REDC Hot Cell Laboratory

Intemet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov Recycted/Recyclable ® Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper

## (Waste Stream O`R-REDC-RH-HET) were technically adequate. The approval discussed in the

enclosed report, is limited to the portion of this waste stream generated between November 1991 and February 2007 and stored at ORNL. This RH approval is neither limited to a specific number of RH waste canisters (e.g., Los Alamos National Laboratory RH) nor a specific number of RH waste drum liners (e.g., Savannah River Site RH) as was done previously. This approval applies to a subset of a waste stream, but does not include the pre-November 1991 ORNL RH debris waste because ORNL-CCP did not provide objective evidence to demonstrate its full characterization. In the future, ORNL-CCP can request EPA approval of other RH waste categories, pre-1991 RH debris waste, or additional waste streams as a Tier 1(T1) change as discussed in the enclosed inspection report. EPA is approving the following WC activities: (1) The AK process implemented to characterize the RH retrievably-stored TRU debris waste stream designated as Waste Stream OR-REDC-RH-HET, and was generated between November 1991 and February 2007. This waste is currently stored at ORNL and requires repackaging into 55-gallon drums for disposal at the WIPP. (2) The radiological characterization process using DTC and scaling factors to assign radionuclide values to Waste Stream OR-REDC-RH-HET. This process is documented in CCP-AK-ORNL-501, Revisions 0 and 1, and detailed in this report. (3) The VE process to identify waste material parameters and the physical form of the waste. (4) The WWIS to submit data for both characterization and certification for RH TRU waste. (5) The attainment of pertinent data quality objectives (DQOs). 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 suminarizing these changes at the end of each fiscal year quarter. The enclosed table (excerpted from the report) identifies the types of activities that are considered Tier 1 and Tier 2. This letter and the final inspection report have been placed in the EPA docket (Air Docket No. A-98-49, II-A4-111) and posted on the EPA website at www.epa.tov/radiation/wipp.

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

Feltcorn at (202) 343-9422.

an D. Edwards, Director ion Protection Division Enclosures

cc: Electronic Distribution Frank Marcinowski, DOE HQ Alton Harris, DOE HQ Bill McMillan, DOE OR Dan Goade, DOE OR Richard Farr, DOE OR Vernon Daub, CBFO Casey Gadbury, CBFO Ava Holland, CBFO Courtland Fesmire, CBFO J.R. Stroble, CBFO Martin Navarrete, CBFO Dennis Miehls, CBFO Steve Zappe, NMED David Haar, WTS/CCP David Ploetz, WTS/CCP Allison Pangle, CTAC Wayne Ledford, CTAC Patrick Kelly, SC&AC~

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