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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

JAN 16 'SI1

OFFICE OF

AIR AND RADIATION

Dr. David Moody, Manager

Carlsbad Field Office

U.S. Department of Energy

P.O. Box 3090

Carlsbad, 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 Argonne National

Laboratory (ANL) (Inspection Number EPA-ANL-CCP-RH-O9.O6-08).

In September 2006, EP A conducted a baseline inspection of ANL-CCP' s RH TRU waste

characterization program to assess the characterization ofRH TRU 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, 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

three concerns in the areas of visual examination and acceptable knowledge. The Department of

Energy's (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) adequately responded to EPA fmdings 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 EPA's proposed approval of the RH TRU waste characterization program at

ANL-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- 70). EP A received one set of public comments on the proposed ANL-CCP inspection

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

comments and EPA's responses.

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

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

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TRU waste from ANL-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

(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. The results of the ANL-CCP Tier 1

evaluation will be communicated to DOE under separate correspondence and will be posted on

the EP A website at www .e~a.gov/radiation/wiDD.

Aooroval Summan'

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

characterized by ANL-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 EP A

docket (Air Docket No. A-98-49, ll-A4-73) and posted on the EPA website at

www.eQa.gov/radiation/wipp.

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

ANL-CCP:

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

National Laboratory Waste Stream AERHDM, as defined in CCP-AK-ANLE-500, Revision I, July 18, 2006 .

(2) The radiological characterization process using Dose-to-Curie (DTC) and modelingderived scaling factors for assigning radionuclide values to one RH waste stream for

which the scaling factors are applicable, as described in CCP-AK-ANL-50I, Revision 0

(3) The VE process for one retrievably-stored RH S5000 debris waste stream AERHDM

using the trained personnel, documentation, and procedures discussed in this report

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.

Enclosure

Electronic Distribution

Frank Marcinowski, DOE HQ

Lloyd Piper, CBFO

Vemon Daub, CBFO

Ava Holland, CBFO

Courtland Fesmire, CBFO

Norma Castaneda, CBFO

Martin Navarrete, CBFO

Dennis Miehls, CBFO

Allison Pangle, CT AC

Wayne Ledford, CTAC

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