Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 174 / Friday, September 9, 2005 / Notices 53659 

III. Future Meetings 

Another meeting of the NAC/AEGL 

Committee is scheduled for December 

13–15, 2005 in Washington, DC. 

List of Subjects 

Environmental protection, Chemicals, 

Hazardous substances, Health. 

Dated: September 1, 2005. 

Charles M. Auer, 

Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and 

Toxics 

[FR Doc. 05–17822 Filed 9–8–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[OPP–2005–0123; FRL–7738–1] 

Methyl Bromide Risk Assessments for 

Fumigant Pesticide; Extension of 

Comment Period 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment 

period. 

SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the 

Federal Register of July 13, 2005, 

concerning the availability of EPA’s 

human health and environmental fate 

and effects risk assessments and related 

documents for the fumigant methyl 

bromide. This document is extending 

the comment period for 30 days, from 

September 12, 2005 to October 12, 2005. 

DATES: Comments, identified by docket 

identification (ID) number OPP–2005–

0123 must be received on or before 

October 12, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted electronically, by mail, or 

through hand delivery/courier. Follow 

the detailed instructions as provided in 

Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION of the July 13, 2005 Federal 

Register document. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Bartow, Special Review and 

Reregistration Division (7508C), Office 

of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 

Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–

0001; telephone number: (703) 603–

0065; fax number: (703) 308–8041; email address: bartow.susan@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. Does this Action Apply to Me? 

The Agency included in the notice a 

list of those who may be potentially 

affected by this action. If you have 

questions regarding the applicability of 

this action to a particular entity, consult 

the person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

B. How Can I Get Copies of this 

Document and Other Related 

Information? 

1. Docket. EPA has established an 

official public docket for this action 

under docket ID number OPP–2005–

0123. The official public docket consists 

of the documents specifically referenced 

in this action, any public comments 

received, and other information related 

to this action. Although a part of the 

official docket, the public docket does 

not include Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

The official public docket is the 

collection of materials that is available 

for public viewing at the Public 

Information and Records Integrity 

Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 

#2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA. This 

docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 

4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays. The docket 

telephone number is (703) 305–5805. 

2. Electronic access. You may access 

this Federal Register document 

electronically through the EPA Internet 

under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. 

An electronic version of the public 

docket is available through EPA’s 

electronic public docket and comment 

system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA 

Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ 

to submit or view public comments, 

access the index listing of the contents 

of the official public docket, and to 

access those documents in the public 

docket that are available electronically. 

Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’

then key in the appropriate docket ID 

number. 

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit 

Comments? 

To submit comments, or access the 

official public docket, please follow the 

detailed instructions as provided in 

Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION of the July 13, 2005 Federal 

Register document. If you have 

questions, consult the person listed 

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

II. What Action is EPA Taking? 

This document extends the public 

comment period established in the 

Federal Register of July 13, 2005 (70 FR 

40336) (FRL–7721–3). In that document, 

EPA made available the human health 

and environmental fate and effects risk 

assessments for methyl bromide. Methyl 

bromide is a broad-spectrum fumigant 

chemical that can be used as an 

acaricide, antimicrobial, fungicide, 

herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, and 

vertebrate control agent. The most 

prevalent use pattern is as a soil 

fumigant; however, it is also used as a 

structural fumigant and for post harvest 

treatment of commodities. The Agency 

developed these risk assessments as part 

of its public process for making 

pesticide reregistration eligibility and 

tolerance reassessment decisions. 

Through these programs, EPA is 

ensuring that pesticides meet current 

standards under the Federal Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 

and the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by 

the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 

(FQPA). The Agency received a request 

from the Methyl Bromide Industry Panel 

of the American Chemistry Council to 

extend the comment period. EPA is 

hereby extending the comment period, 

which was set to end on September 12, 

2005, by 30 days. The comment period 

will now end on October 12, 2005. This 

extension is being given based on the 

Agency’s delay in providing legible 

copies of the appendices supporting the 

risk assessments. 

List of Subjects 

Environmental protection, Pesticides 

and pests. 

Dated: September 6, 2005. 

Debra Edwards, 

Director, Registration Division, Office of 

Pesticide Programs. 

[FR Doc. 05–18009 Filed 9–7–05; 12:54 pm] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–7965–3] 

Proposed Approval of Central 

Characterization Project’s Transuranic 

Waste Characterization Program at 

Idaho National Laboratory 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency. 

ACTION: Notice of availability; opening 

of public comment period. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is announcing the 

availability of, and soliciting public 

comments on the proposed approval of 

the transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste 

characterization program implemented 

by the Central Characterization Project 

(CCP) at Idaho National Laboratory 

(INL). INL CCP is characterizing waste 

from the Advanced Mixed Waste 

Treatment Project (AMWTP) and the 

Idaho Closure Project (ICP), 

53660 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 174 / Friday, September 9, 2005 / Notices 

respectively, for disposal at the 

Department of Energy’s (DOE) Waste 

Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). 

In accordance with the EPA’s WIPP 

Compliance Criteria, EPA inspected the 

INL CCP’s characterization of TRU 

debris waste, solid waste and soil/gravel 

waste from May 3–5, 2005. EPA’s 

inspection team determined that the INL 

CCP waste characterization program was 

technically adequate, and therefore, 

EPA is proposing to approve the INL 

CCP waste characterization program in 

the configuration observed during the 

inspection and as described in EPA’s 

inspection report. In addition to 

proposing the approval of the INL CCP 

waste characterization program, EPA is 

proposing a tiered structure for 

reporting changes to the waste 

characterization program demonstrated 

by INL CCP. The results of the EPA’s 

evaluation of the INL CCP program and 

the proposed approval are described in 

the EPA’s inspection report which is 

available for review in the public 

dockets listed in ADDRESSES. We will 

consider public comments received on 

or before the due date mentioned in 

DATES. 

This notice summarizes the waste 

characterization processes EPA 

evaluated and EPA’s proposed approval. 

As required by the 40 CFR 194.8, at the 

end of a 45-day comment period EPA 

will evaluate public comments, address 

relevant public comments in the final 

inspection report, and issue the final 

report and an approval letter to the DOE 

Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO). INL CCP 

is currently authorized to characterize 

TRU waste, however, INL CCP waste is 

not eligible for disposal at WIPP until 

EPA issues an approval letter to DOE. 

DATES: EPA is requesting public 

comment on the docketed document. 

Comments must be received by EPA’s 

official Air Docket on or before October 

24, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted by mail to: EPA Docket 

Center (EPA/DC), Air and Radiation 

Docket, Environmental Protection 

Agency, EPA West, Mail Code 6102T, 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20460. Attention 

Docket ID No. OAR–2005–0162. 

Comments may also be submitted 

electronically, by facsimile, or through 

hand delivery/courier. Follow the 

detailed instructions as provided in 

Unit I.B of the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rajani Joglekar, Office of Radiation and 

Indoor Air, (202) 343–9462. You can 

also call EPA’s toll-free WIPP 

Information Line, 1–800–331–WIPP or 

visit our Web site at http://www.epa/ 

gov/radiation/wipp. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. How Can I Get Copies of This 

Document and Other Related 

Information? 

1. Docket. EPA has established an 

official public docket for this action 

under Docket ID No. OAR–2005–0162. 

The official public docket consists of the 

documents specifically referenced in 

this action, any public comments 

received, and other information related 

to this action. Although a part of the 

official docket, the public docket does 

not include any Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

The official public docket is the 

collection of materials that is available 

for public viewing at the Air and 

Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket 

Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room 

B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 

Washington, DC. The EPA Docket 

Center Public Reading Room is open 

from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The telephone number for the 

Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, 

and the telephone number for the Air 

and Radiation Docket is (202) 566–1742. 

These documents are also available for 

review in paper form at the official EPA 

Air Docket in Washington, DC, Docket 

No. A–98–49, Category II–A2, and at the 

following three EPA WIPP informational 

docket locations in New Mexico: In 

Carlsbad at the Municipal Library, 

Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 

p.m., Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., 

and Sunday, 1 p.m.–5 p.m.; in 

Albuquerque at the Government 

Publications Department, Zimmerman 

Library, University of New Mexico, 

Hours: Vary by semester; and in Santa 

Fe at the New Mexico State Library, 

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

As provided in EPA’s regulations at 40 

CFR part 2, and in accordance with 

normal EPA docket procedures, if 

copies of any docket materials are 

requested, a reasonable fee may be 

charged for photocopying. 

2. Electronic Access. You may access 

this Federal Register document 

electronically through the EPA Internet 

under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. 

An electronic version of the public 

docket is available through EPA’s 

electronic public docket and comment 

system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA 

Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ 

to submit or view public comments, 

access the index listing of the contents 

of the official public docket, and to 

access those documents in the public 

docket that are available electronically. 

Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’

then key in the appropriate docket 

identification number. 

Certain types of information will not 

be placed in the EPA Dockets. 

Information claimed as CBI and other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute, which is not 

included in the official public docket, 

will not be available for public viewing 

in EPA’s electronic public docket. EPA’s 

policy is that copyrighted material will 

not be placed in EPA’s electronic public 

docket but will be available only in 

printed, paper form in the official public 

docket. To the extent feasible, publicly 

available docket materials will be made 

available in EPA’s electronic public 

docket. When a document is selected 

from the index list in EPA Dockets, the 

system will identify whether the 

document is available for viewing in 

EPA’s electronic public docket. 

Although not all docket materials may 

be available electronically, you may still 

access any of the publicly available 

docket materials through the docket 

facility identified in Unit I.B. EPA 

intends to work towards providing 

electronic access to all of the publicly 

available docket materials through 

EPA’s electronic public docket. 

For public commenters, it is 

important to note that EPA’s policy is 

that public comments, whether 

submitted electronically or in paper, 

will be made available for public 

viewing in EPA’s electronic public 

docket as EPA receives them and 

without change, unless the comment 

contains copyrighted material, CBI, or 

other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. When EPA 

identifies a comment containing 

copyrighted material, EPA will provide 

a reference to that material in the 

version of the comment that is placed in 

EPA’s electronic public docket. The 

entire printed comment, including the 

copyrighted material, will be available 

in the public docket. 

Public comments submitted on 

computer disks that are mailed or 

delivered to the docket will be 

transferred to EPA’s electronic public 

docket. Public comments that are 

mailed or delivered to the Docket will 

be scanned and placed in EPA’s 

electronic public docket. Where 

practical, physical objects will be 

photographed, and the photograph will 

be placed in EPA’s electronic public 

docket along with a brief description 

written by the docket staff. 

For additional information about 

EPA’s electronic public docket visit EPA 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 174 / Friday, September 9, 2005 / Notices 53661 

Dockets online or see 67 FR 38102, May 

31, 2002. 

B. How and To Whom Do I Submit 

Comments? 

You may submit comments 

electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or 

through hand delivery/courier. To 

ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify 

the appropriate docket identification 

number in the subject line on the first 

page of your comment. Please ensure 

that your comments are submitted 

within the specified comment period. 

Comments received after the close of the 

comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’

EPA is not required to consider these 

late comments. However, late comments 

may be considered if time permits. 

1. Electronically. If you submit an 

electronic comment as prescribed 

below, EPA recommends that you 

include your name, mailing address, 

and an e-mail address or other contact 

information in the body of your 

comment. Also include this contact 

information on the outside of any disk 

or CD–ROM you submit, and in any 

cover letter accompanying the disk or 

CD–ROM. This ensures that you can be 

identified as the submitter of the 

comment and allows EPA to contact you 

in case EPA cannot read your comment 

due to technical difficulties or needs 

further information on the substance of 

your comment. EPA’s policy is that EPA 

will not edit your comment, and any 

identifying or contact information 

provided in the body of a comment will 

be included as part of the comment that 

is placed in the official public docket, 

and made available in EPA’s electronic 

public docket. If EPA cannot read your 

comment due to technical difficulties 

and cannot contact you for clarification, 

EPA may not be able to consider your 

comment. 

i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA’s 

electronic public docket to submit 

comments to EPA electronically is 

EPA’s preferred method for receiving 

comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets 

at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, and 

follow the online instructions for 

submitting comments. To access EPA’s 

electronic public docket from the EPA 

Internet Home Page, select ‘‘Information 

Sources,’’ ‘‘Dockets,’’ and ‘‘EPA 

Dockets.’’ Once in the system, select 

‘‘search,’’ and then key in Docket ID No. 

OAR–2005–0162. The system is an 

‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which 

means EPA will not know your identity, 

e-mail address, or other contact 

information unless you provide it in the 

body of your comment. 

ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by 

electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-rdocket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID 

No. OAR–2005–0162. In contrast to 

EPA’s electronic public docket, EPA’s email system is not an ‘‘anonymous 

access’’ system. If you send an e-mail 

comment directly to the Docket without 

going through EPA’s electronic public 

docket, EPA’s e-mail system 

automatically captures your e-mail 

address. E-mail addresses that are 

automatically captured by EPA’s e-mail 

system are included as part of the 

comment that is placed in the official 

public docket, and made available in 

EPA’s electronic public docket. 

2. By Mail. Send your comments to: 

EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Air and 

Radiation Docket, Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA West, Mail 

Code 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. 

Attention Docket ID No. OAR–2005–

0162. 

3. By Hand Delivery or Courier. 

Deliver your comments to: Air and 

Radiation Docket, EPA Docket Center, 

(EPA/DC) EPA West, Room B102, 1301 

Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC, Attention Docket ID No. OAR–

2005–0162. Such deliveries are only 

accepted during the Docket’s normal 

hours of operation as identified in Unit 

I.A.1. 

4. By Facsimile. Fax your comments 

to: (202) 566–1741, Attention Docket ID. 

No. OAR–2005–0162. 

C. What Should I Consider as I Prepare 

My Comments for EPA? 

You may find the following 

suggestions helpful for preparing your 

comments: 

1. Explain your views as clearly as 

possible. 

2. Describe any assumptions that you 

used. 

3. Provide any technical information 

and/or data you used that support your 

views. 

4. If you estimate potential burden or 

costs, explain how you arrived at your 

estimate. 

5. Provide specific examples to 

illustrate your concerns. 

6. Offer alternatives. 

7. Make sure to submit your 

comments by the comment period 

deadline identified. 

8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, 

identify the appropriate docket 

identification number in the subject line 

on the first page of your response. It 

would also be helpful if you provided 

the name, date, and Federal Register 

citation related to your comments. 

II. Background 

DOE is operating the WIPP near 

Carlsbad in southeastern New Mexico as 

a deep geologic repository for disposal 

of TRU radioactive waste. As defined by 

the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (LWA) 

of 1992 (Pub. L. 102–579), as amended 

(Pub. L. 104–201), TRU waste consists 

of materials containing processes having 

atomic numbers greater than 92 (with 

half-lives greater than twenty years), in 

concentrations greater than 100 

nanocuries of alpha-emitting TRU 

isotopes per gram of waste. Much of the 

existing TRU waste consists of items 

contaminated during the production of 

nuclear weapons, such as rags, 

equipment, tools, and sludges. 

On May 13, 1998, EPA announced its 

final compliance certification decision 

to the Secretary of Energy (published 

May 18, 1998, 63 FR 27354). This 

decision stated that the WIPP will 

comply with EPA’s radioactive waste 

disposal regulations at 40 CFR part 191, 

subparts B and C. WIPP began receiving 

shipments of TRU radioactive waste in 

March 1999. 

The final WIPP certification decision 

includes conditions that (1) prohibit 

shipment of TRU waste for disposal at 

WIPP from any site other than the Los 

Alamos National Laboratories (LANL) 

until the EPA determines that the site 

has established and executed a quality 

assurance program, in accordance with 

§§ 194.22(a)(2)(i), 194.24(c)(3), and 

194.24(c)(5) for waste characterization 

activities and assumptions (Condition 2 

of appendix A to 40 CFR part 194); and 

(2) with limited exceptions, until EPA 

has approved the procedures developed 

to comply with the waste 

characterization requirements of 

§ 194.22(c)(4) (Condition 3 of appendix 

A to 40 CFR part 194), LANL or any 

other site may not ship TRU waste for 

disposal at WIPP. The EPA’s approval 

process for waste generator sites is 

described in § 194.8. 

In July 2004, EPA promulgated 

changes to the ‘‘Criteria for the 

Certification and Recertification of the 

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance 

with Disposal Regulations’ (69 FR 

42571–42583, July 16, 2004). Some of 

these changes modified EPA’s approval 

of waste characterization (WC) programs 

at DOE’s TRU waste sites. EPA will now 

conduct baseline inspections for each 

waste generator site that is 

characterizing contact-handled (CH) 

TRU waste. During a baseline inspection 

EPA evaluates a waste characterization 

program by sampling the equipment, 

procedures and personnel training, 

qualifications and experience that are 

involved in several WC processes. EPA 

will then propose to approve a site’s 

TRU waste characterization program 

based on the waste characterization 

ability demonstrated during the 

inspection. As a part of the approval, 

53662 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 174 / Friday, September 9, 2005 / Notices 

EPA will also specify how changes to an 

approved WC program must be reported 

to EPA. EPA will designate changes to 

an approved waste characterization 

program as Tier 1 (T1) or Tier 2 (T2) 

depending on their potential impact on 

data quality. A T1 designation requires 

DOE to notify EPA of proposed changes 

to an approved WC program prior to 

implementing the change. EPA may 

choose to inspect a site before approving 

changes. A T2 designation allows DOE 

to implement changes to an approved 

WC process component without EPA 

approval, however, DOE is required to 

notify EPA of such changes. EPA may 

continue to conduct inspections at any 

time to evaluate waste characterization 

programs at the approved sites under 

the authority of § 194.24(h). 

The new site inspection and approval 

process requires EPA to issue a Federal 

Register notice proposing the baseline 

compliance decision, docket the 

inspection report for public review, and 

seek public comment on the proposed 

decision for a period of 45 days. 

III. Proposed Baseline Compliance 

Decision 

The CBFO Quality Assurance (QA) 

Manager sent an e-mail March 14, 2005, 

notifying EPA that INL–CCP was 

prepared to ship waste and wants to 

demonstrate to EPA its ability to 

properly characterize TRU waste and 

meet regulatory requirements. EPA 

performed a baseline inspection (EPA 

Inspection No. EPA–INL–CCP–05.05–8) 

of the TRU waste characterization 

activities of the DOE’s Central 

Characterization Project (CCP) at the 

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) from 

May 3–5, 2005. The CCP is a mobile 

characterization program that assists 

TRU waste generator sites with waste 

characterization activities. Regardless of 

the CCP location, EPA evaluates and 

approves all sites that utilize the CCP as 

an independent waste characterization 

site. At INL, the CCP is characterizing 

waste from the Advanced Mixed Waste 

Treatment Project (AMWTP) and the 

Idaho Closure Project (ICP). 

The purpose of EPA’s inspection of 

INL CCP was to evaluate the adequacy 

of the sites’s WC programs for the 

contact-handled (CH) TRU waste 

intended to be disposed at WIPP. EPA’s 

inspection focused on equipment, 

procedures and personnel training/ 

qualifications and experience for the 

following waste characterization 

processes: acceptable knowledge (AK), 

non-destructive assay (NDA), visual 

examination technique (VET) for newlygenerated waste, visual examination/ 

real-time radiography (VE/RTR) of 

retrievably-stored waste, load 

management, and the WIPP Waste 

Information System (WWIS). The 

activities examined during the 

inspection included: 

—AK and load management for the 

AMWTP’s CH, retrievably-stored, 

TRU debris waste and solid waste. 

—VET for CH, newly-generated, debris 

waste, solid waste and soil/gravel 

waste from ICP, Pit 4. 

—VE/RTR for the AMWTP’s CH, 

retrievably-stored, debris waste and 

solid waste. 

—NDA and the WWIS for CH, 

retrievably-stored, and newlygenerated, debris waste, solid waste, 

and soil/gravel waste from AMWTP 

and ICP, Pit 4. 

In addition to reviewing individual 

components (procedures and 

equipment) of each of the WC processes, 

EPA interviewed and reviewed training 

records of the personnel responsible for 

compiling data, analyzing waste 

contents, operating equipment, and 

preparing data for WWIS tracking. 

EPA also required radioassay replicate 

analysis on containers from the five 

waste categories that INL CCP is 

currently characterizing. The purpose of 

the replicate testing is to enable EPA to 

verify that the radioassay equipment 

being assessed for approval can provide 

consistent, reproducible results for 

determining the quantity of each of the 

10 WIPP-tracked radionuclides (241Am, 

137Cs, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 242Pu, 

90Sr, 233U, 234U, and 238U) and the 

TRU alpha concentration. 

At the time of the inspection, EPA 

identified no findings and two (2) 

concerns for the INL CCP waste 

characterization program. At the end of 

the inspection EPA gave DOE a written 

description of the concerns. Prior to the 

end of the inspection, DOE responded to 

EPA’s concerns. EPA evaluated DOE’s 

response for completeness and 

adequacy, and concluded that the 

corrective actions taken by DOE 

adequately resolved EPA’s concerns. 

The details of EPA’s findings and 

concerns from the INL CCP inspection 

can be found in the inspection report. 

Based on the results of the inspection 

discussed in EPA’s report, EPA is 

proposing to approve the INL CCP waste 

characterization program in the 

configuration observed during this 

inspection. This includes the following: 

(1) AK and load management process 

for CH retrievable-stored, TRU debris 

and solid waste stored at AMWTP. 

(2) Three non-destructive assay 

systems (Tomographic Gamma Scanner, 

Waste Assay Gamma Spectrometer, 

SWEPP Gamma-Ray Spectrometer) for 

assaying CH TRU solid, soil/gravel, and 

debris waste. 

(3) VE as a quality control check of 

the RTR process and RTR of CH 

retrievably-stored, solid and debris 

waste. 

(4) VET process for newly-generated 

debris, solid, and soil/gravel waste. 

(5) WWIS process for tracking of 

waste contents of debris, solid, and soil/ 

gravel waste. 

EPA proposes to approve CCP’s TRU 

waste characterization processes listed 

above. This approval does not cover 

remote-handled TRU waste. 

Any changes to the waste 

characterization program from the 

baseline inspection must be reported to, 

and, if applicable, approved by EPA 

according to the following table. 

Additional details for the tiering 

designation can be found in EPA’s 

inspection report. 

TIERING OF TRU WASTE CHARACTERISTICS PROCESSES IMPLEMENTED BY CCP AT INL (BASED ON MAY 3–5, 2005 

BASELINE INSPECTION) 

WC process elements INL–CCP WC process specific T1 

changes 

INL–CCP WC process specific T2 

changes * INL–CCP general T2 changes * 

AK including load management ..... Any new waste category ..............

Changes to WWIS algorithms 

specific to load management.

Updates or additions to Waste 

Stream Profile Forms for waste 

stream(s) within an approved 

waste category.

Changes to load management 

status of approved waste 

stream(s).

Changes to site procedures requiring CBFO approvals. 

Changes in key areas of expertise. 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 174 / Friday, September 9, 2005 / Notices 53663 

TIERING OF TRU WASTE CHARACTERISTICS PROCESSES IMPLEMENTED BY CCP AT INL (BASED ON MAY 3–5, 2005 

BASELINE INSPECTION)—Continued 

WC process elements INL–CCP WC process specific T1 

changes 

INL–CCP WC process specific T2 

changes * INL–CCP general T2 changes * 

NDA ............................................... New equipment of physical modifications to approved equipment.

Changes to approved calibration 

range for approved equipment.

Changes to software for approved 

equipment.

Changes to operating range(s) 

upon CBFO approval.

Same as above. 

RTR ................................................ N/A ................................................ New equipment or changes to approved equipment.Same as above. 

VE and VET ................................... N/A ................................................ N/A ................................................ Same as above. 

WWIS ............................................. N/A ................................................ N/A ................................................ Same as above. 

* Upon receiving EPA approval, every three (3) months INL–CCP will report to EPA all T2 changes. 

Availability of the Baseline Inspection 

Report for Public Comment 

EPA is seeking public comment on 

our proposed approval of the INL CCP 

waste characterization program and the 

proposed tiering structure for changes to 

the INL CCP waste characterization 

program. EPA’s inspection report of INL 

CCP’s waste characterization program is 

in the public dockets described in 

ADDRESSES. This report can also be 

found online in EDOCKET ID No. OAR–

2005–0162 and at our Web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp. In 

accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, EPA is 

providing the public 45 days to 

comment on EPA’s proposed approval 

and inspection report. 

EPA will evaluate public comments 

and revise the inspection report as 

necessary. If appropriate, EPA will then 

issue a final inspection report and a 

letter to DOE approving the INL CCP 

waste characterization program for 

disposal of TRU waste at WIPP. Any 

approval letter and final inspection 

report will be available from the 

DOCKETS and from our WIPP Web site. 

EPA will not make a determination 

regarding the approval of the INL CCP 

waste characterization program before 

the end of the 45-day comment period 

ends. 

Dated: August 3, 2005. 

William L. Wehrum, 

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and 

Radiation. 

[FR Doc. 05–17926 Filed 9–8–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–7966–9] 

Notice of Availability of Final NPDES 

General Permits MAG910000 and 

NHG910000 for Discharges From 

Groundwater Remediation, 

Contaminated Construction DeWatering, and Miscellaneous Surface 

Water Discharge Activities in the 

States of Massachusetts and New 

Hampshire and Indian Country Lands 

in the State of Massachusetts: The 

Remediation General Permit (RGP) 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice of availability of final 

NPDES general permits MAG910000 

and NHG910000: The Remediation 

General Permit (RGP). 

SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of 

Ecosystem Protection at the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s New 

England Regional Office (EPA–NE), is 

issuing National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) general 

permits to cover discharges of 

contaminated ground and surface waters 

in Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire 

(NH), as well as in Indian Country lands 

located in MA, to surface receiving 

waters (waters of the United States) 

related to the following: groundwater 

remediation activities; construction 

projects where chemical contamination 

is present in the water; well 

development or rehabilitation and 

aquifer pump testing at formerly 

contaminated sites; clean-up of 

industrial sumps; hydrostatic testing of 

pipelines and tanks; and short-term 

testing at dredging projects not covered 

by a permit issued by the Army Corps 

of Engineers. 

The purpose of this document is to 

inform the public that the new general 

permit in Massachusetts and New 

Hampshire, known as the Remediation 

General Permit (RGP), is now available. 

The Notice of Availability for the draft 

RGP was published in the Federal 

Register on November 2, 2004 (69 FR 

63531). In response to a number of 

requests, on December 8, 2004, EPA–NE 

extended the comment period from 

December 17, 2004, to January 18, 2005. 

During the public comment period, 

EPA–NE received 18 sets of comments 

regarding the RGP. EPA–NE prepared a 

response-to-comments document and 

made a number of corresponding 

changes to the RGP, including, but not 

limited to: removing utility vaults and 

manholes from the applicability, 

allowing the use of historic data in 

certain circumstances, expanding the 

period of intermittent shutdowns from 

90 to 120 days, etc. The response-tocomments document is available with 

the final general permit. 

The final RGP establishes notification 

requirements, effluent limitations, 

monitoring requirements, and 

administrative requirements, as well as 

other standards, conditions, 

prohibitions, and management practices 

for discharges to both fresh and marine 

waters. The RGP does not cover new 

sources as defined under 40 CFR 122.2. 

Also, the final RGP does not cover 

discharges from utility vaults and 

manholes, as proposed. Rather, EPA 

plans to develop a separate general 

permit for that discharge category. 

DATES: The general permit shall be 

effective September 9, 2005. See the 

general permit for specific application 

deadlines. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Additional information concerning the 

final permit may be obtained between 

the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, excluding holidays, 

from: (1) Steven Rapp (617–918–1551) 

or Roger Janson (617–918–1621), Office 

of Ecosystem Protection, EPA–NE, 1 

Congress St., Suite 1100 (mail code: 

CMP), Boston, MA 02114–2023; e-mail: 

Rapp.Steve@epa.gov or 

Janson.Roger@epa.gov; (2) Mr. Paul 

Hogan or Ms. Kathleen. Keohane,