Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0027-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Proposed Approval of the Transuranic Waste Characterization Program at the Hanford Site
Posted Date: 2008-01-30T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 20)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5565-5568]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja08-80]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0027; FRL-8522-6]

 
Proposed Approval of the Transuranic Waste Characterization 
Program at the Hanford Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or we) is announcing 
the availability of, and soliciting public comments for 45 days on, the 
proposed approval of the radioactive, contact-handled (CH), transuranic 
(TRU) waste characterization program implemented at the Hanford Site in 
Richland, Washington. This waste is intended for disposal at the Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico.
    In accordance with the WIPP Compliance Criteria, EPA evaluated the 
characterization of CH TRU debris and solid waste from Hanford during 
an inspection conducted the week of June 4, 2007. Using the systems and 
processes developed as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) 
Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) program, EPA verified whether DOE could 
adequately characterize CH TRU waste consistent with the Compliance 
Criteria. The results of EPA's evaluation of Hanford's program and its 
proposed approval are described in the Agency'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 
evaluated by EPA and EPA's proposed approval. As required by 40 CFR 
194.8, at the end of a 45-day comment period EPA will evaluate public 
comments received, and if appropriate, finalize the reports responding 
to the relevant public comments, and issue a final report and approval 
letter to DOE.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2008-0027, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 

instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: To a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-1741.
     Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Attn: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2008-0027. The Agency's policy is that all comments received will 
be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 

information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 

is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be 

automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD ROM you submit. 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. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
.

    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov
 index. Although listed in the index, some 

information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at 
http://www.regulations.gov.

    These documents are also available for review in hard-copy form 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., phone number: 505-885-0731; in Albuquerque at the Government 
Publications

[[Page 5566]]

Department, Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Hours: vary by 
semester, phone number: 505-277-2003; and in Santa Fe at the New Mexico 
State Library, Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., phone number: 505-
476-9700. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rajani Joglekar or Ed Feltcorn, 
Radiation Protection Division, Center for Federal Regulations, Mail 
Code 6608J, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9601; fax 
number: 202-343-2305; e-mail address: 
joglekar.rajani@epa.gov or feltcorn.ed@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. What Should I Consider As I Prepare My Comments For EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of 

the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk 
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM 
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

II. Background

    DOE is developing 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 that have 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.
    TRU waste is itself divided into two categories, based on its level 
of radioactivity. Contact-handled (CH) TRU waste accounts for about 97 
percent of the volume of TRU waste currently destined for the WIPP. It 
is packaged in 55-gallon metal drums or in metal boxes and can be 
handled under controlled conditions without any shielding beyond the 
container itself. The maximum radiation dose at the surface of a CH TRU 
waste container is 200 millirems per hour. CH waste primarily emits 
alpha particles that are easily shielded by a sheet of paper or the 
outer layer of a person's skin.
    Remote-handled (RH) TRU waste emits more radiation than CH TRU 
waste and must therefore be both handled and transported in shielded 
casks. Surface radiation levels of unshielded containers of remote-
handled transuranic waste exceed 200 millirems per hour. RH waste 
primarily emits gamma radiation, which is very penetrating and requires 
concrete, lead, or steel to block it.
    On May 13, 1998, EPA issued a final certification of compliance for 
the WIPP facility. The final rule was published in the Federal Register 
on May 18, 1998 (63 FR 27354). EPA officially recertified WIPP on March 
29, 2006 (71 FR 18015). Both the certification and recertification 
determined that WIPP complies with the Agency's radioactive waste 
disposal regulations at 40 CFR part 191, subparts B and C, and is 
therefore safe to contain TRU waste.
    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 Sec. Sec.  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 the exception of specific, limited waste streams and equipment at 
LANL) prohibit shipment of TRU waste for disposal at WIPP (from LANL or 
any other site) until EPA has approved the procedures developed to 
comply with the waste characterization requirements of Sec.  
194.22(c)(4) (Condition 3 of Appendix A to 40 CFR part 194). The EPA's 
approval process for waste generator sites is described in Sec.  194.8 
(revised July 2004).
    Condition 3 of the WIPP Certification Decision requires EPA to 
conduct independent inspections at DOE's waste generator/storage sites 
of their TRU waste characterization capabilities before approving their 
program and the waste for disposal at the WIPP. EPA's inspection and 
approval process gives EPA (a) discretion in establishing technical 
priorities, (b) the ability to accommodate variation in the site's 
waste characterization capabilities, and (c) flexibility in scheduling 
site WC inspections.
    As described in section 194.8(b), EPA's baseline inspections 
evaluate each WC process component (equipment, procedures, and 
personnel training/experience) for its adequacy and appropriateness in 
characterizing TRU waste destined for disposal at WIPP. During an 
inspection, the site demonstrates its capabilities to characterize TRU 
waste(s) and its ability to comply with the regulatory limits and 
tracking requirements under Sec.  194.24. A baseline inspection may 
describe any limitations on approved waste streams or waste 
characterization processes [Sec.  194.8(b)(2)(iii)]. In addition, a 
baseline inspection approval must specify what subsequent WC program 
changes or expansion should be reported to EPA [Sec.  194.8(b)(4)]. The 
Agency is required to assign Tier 1 (T1) and Tier 2 (T2) to the 
reportable changes depending on their potential impact on data quality. 
A T1 designation requires that the site must notify EPA of proposed 
changes to the approved components of an individual WC process (such as 
radioassay equipment or personnel), and EPA must also approve the 
change before it can be implemented. A WC element with a T2

[[Page 5567]]

designation allows the site to implement changes to the approved 
components of individual WC processes (such as visual examination 
procedures) but requires EPA notification. The Agency may choose to 
inspect the site to evaluate technical adequacy before approval. EPA 
inspections conducted to evaluate T1 or T2 changes are follow-up 
inspections under the authority of Sec.  194.24(h). In addition to the 
follow-up inspections, if warranted, EPA may opt to conduct continued 
compliance inspections at TRU waste sites with a baseline approval 
under the authority of Sec.  194.24(h).
    The site inspection and approval process outlined in Sec.  194.8 
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. The report must describe the WC processes EPA inspected at the 
site, as well as their compliance with Sec.  194.24 requirements.

III. Proposed Baseline Compliance Decision

    EPA has performed a baseline inspection of CH TRU waste 
characterization (WC) activities at Hanford (EPA Inspection No. EPA-
HAN-6.07-8). The purpose of EPA's inspection was to verify that the 
waste characterization program implemented at Hanford for 
characterizing CH TRU, retrievably-stored, debris and solid waste is 
technically adequate and meets the regulatory requirements at 40 CFR 
194.24.
    During the inspection, EPA evaluated the adequacy of the site's WC 
programs for two CH TRU waste categories, debris (S5000) and solids 
(S3000), to be disposed of at the WIPP. The Agency examined the 
following activities:
     Acceptable knowledge (AK) for CH TRU debris waste (S5000) 
and solid waste (S3000) and AK for CH, repackaged debris waste (S5000) 
from the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP).
     Visual examination (VE) in lieu of real-time radiography 
(RTR) for CH TRU debris waste (S5000) and solid waste (S3000) and 
Visual Examination Technique (VET) for CH, repackaged debris waste from 
the PFP.
     RTR for CH TRU debris waste (S5000) and solid waste 
(S3000).
     Nondestructive assay (NDA) systems at the Waste Receiving 
and Processing (WRAP) Facility for characterizing debris (S5000) and 
solid (S3000) wastes: the Gamma Energy Analysis Units A and B (GEA A 
and GEA B); the Pajarito Imaging Passive Active Neutron Units A and B 
(IPAN A and IPAN B); and the Super High Efficiency Neutron Counter A 
(SHENCA).
     NDA systems at the plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) for 
characterizing debris waste (S5000): Calorimeters AR-1, AR-5, P-13, P-
14 and Q-1 in conjunction with the Room 172 Segmented Gamma Scanner 
Assay System (SGSAS).
     WIPP Waste Information System (WWIS) for tracking the 
components of CH retrievably-stored TRU debris waste (S5000) and solid 
waste (S3000).
    During the inspection, Hanford personnel stated that load 
management will never be performed at the site and EPA did not evaluate 
this aspect during the inspection [see section 8.1(5) of the inspection 
report]. Therefore, this proposed approval does not include load 
management for Hanford.
    The EPA inspection team determined that the Hanford WC program for 
CH TRU waste was technically adequate. EPA is proposing to approve the 
Hanford CH TRU WC program in the configuration observed during this 
inspection and described in this report and the attached checklists 
(Attachments A.1 through A.9). This proposed approval includes the 
following:
    (1) The AK process for CH TRU debris and solid wastes and for 
newly-generated debris wastes.
    (2) The WRAP GEA Units A and B for assaying solid and debris 
wastes.
    (3) The WRAP IPAN Units A and B for assaying solid and debris 
waste.
    (4) The WRAP SHENCA system for assaying solid and debris wastes.
    (5) The PFP Calorimeters AR-1, AR-5, P-13, P-14 and Q-1 in 
conjunction with the Room 172 SGSAS for assaying debris wastes.
    (6) The nondestructive examination (NDE) process of RTR for solid 
and debris wastes.
    (7) VE in lieu of the RTR process for retrievably-stored solid and 
debris wastes and VET of newly-generated debris wastes.
    (8) The WWIS process for tracking of waste contents of solid and 
debris wastes Hanford must report and receive EPA approval of any Tier 
1 (T1) changes to the Hanford WC activities from the date of the 
baseline inspection, and must notify EPA regarding Tier 2 (T2) changes 
according to Table 1, below. It is worth noting that Table 1 in this 
report closely follows the format used in the previous CH baseline 
approval report of Los Alamos National Laboratory--Central 
Characterization Project (LANL-CCP) (see EPA Docket No. A-98-49, II-A4-
88). This format departs from what was used in baseline inspection 
reports and EPA site approval letters prior to LANL-CCP in several 
ways, as detailed in the LANL-CCP report and repeated here. The most 
important of these differences involves presentation of the T2 
elements. In previous reports, there were two T2 columns that have been 
merged into a single T2 column for Hanford. The T2 column entries have 
also been modified to better reflect the 40 CFR 194.24(h) requirements 
that the site provide notification regarding the completion or 
availability of specific T2 elements, whereas the previous tables 
stated that the site must actually provide the T2 elements (document or 
procedure revisions, etc.). This approach is similar to the tiering 
tables used in EPA reports for sites characterizing remote-handled TRU 
waste. Additionally, there are other minor word changes to the table 
for the sake of legibility.

[[Page 5568]]

  Table 1. Tiering of TRU WC Processes Implemented by Hanford Based on
            June 4-7 and 27, 2007 On-Site Baseline Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Hanford WC T1         Hanford WC T2
     WC process elements             changes              changes*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acceptable Knowledge (AK)     Implementation of     Notification to EPA
 and Load Management.          load management; AK   upon completion of
                               (5).                  AK Accuracy
                                                     Reports; AK (2).
                              New waste streams     Notification to EPA
                               created as a result   upon completion of
                               of combining or       updates to or
                               separating            substantive
                               previously distinct   modifications****of
                               waste streams; AK     the following:
                               (6).                 --AK Summaries/Waste
                                                     Stream Profile
                                                     Forms (WSPFs) and
                                                     AK Documentation
                                                     Reports; AK (16)
                                                    --AK-NDA
                                                     Communication
                                                     changes; AK (3)
                                                    --Changes to site
                                                     procedure WMP
                                                     400.7.1.9; AK (4).
                              Categories of waste   Notification to EPA
                               not approved under    upon generation of
                               this baseline         new WSPFs, AK
                               inspection (e.g.,     summaries and AK
                               soil/gravel, newly-   documentation
                               generated solids      reports; AK (16).
                               including K Basin
                               waste); AK (16).
Nondestructive Assay (NDA)..  New equipment or      Notification to EPA
                               physical              upon completion of
                               modifications to      changes to software
                               approved              for approved
                               equipment**; NDA      equipment,
                               (1)***.               operating range(s)
                              Extension or changes   and site procedures
                               to approved           that require CBFO
                               calibration range     approval; NDA
                               for approved          (2)***.
                               equipment; NDA
                               (2)***.
Real-Time Radiography (RTR).  N/A.................  Notification to EPA
                                                     upon the following:
                                                    --Implementation of
                                                     new equipment or
                                                     substantive
                                                     changes****to
                                                     approved equipment;
                                                     RTR (1)
                                                    --Completion of
                                                     changes to site
                                                     procedures
                                                     requiring CBFO
                                                     approval; RTR (2).
Visual Examination (VE) and   N/A.................  Notification to EPA
 Visual Examination                                  upon the following:
 Technique (VET).                                   --Completion of
                                                     changes to site VE
                                                     and VET procedures
                                                     requiring CBFO
                                                     approval; VE (1)
                                                     and VET (1)
                                                    --Addition of new
                                                     Summary Category
                                                     Group (SCG) or
                                                     waste stream(s); VE
                                                     (2) and VET (2).
WIPP Waste Information        Implementation of     Notification to EPA
 System (WWIS).                load management;      upon the completion
                               WWIS (4).             of changes to WWIS
                                                     procedure(s)
                                                     requiring CBFO
                                                     approval; WWIS (1).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Upon receiving EPA approval in this action, Hanford will report all T2
  changes to EPA at the end of each fiscal year quarter.
** Modifications to approved equipment include all changes with the
  potential to affect NDA data relative to waste isolation and exclude
  minor changes, such as the addition of safety-related equipment.
*** These are discussed in Sections (1) and (2) of the section for each
  NDA system, i.e., 8.2.1 for WRAP GEA Units A & B, 8.2.2 for WRAP IPAN
  Units A & B, 8.2.3 for WRAP SHENCA and 8.2.4 for PFP Calorimeters and
  the Room 172 SGSAS.
**** Substantive changes means changes with the potential to impact the
  site's waste characterization activities or documentation thereof,
  excluding changes that are solely related to Environmental Safety &
  Health (ES&H), nuclear safety, the Resource Conservation and Recovery
  Act (RCRA) or are editorial in nature.

IV. Availability of the Baseline Inspection Report for Public Comment

    EPA has placed the report discussing the results of the Agency's 
inspection of the Hanford Site in the public docket as described in 
ADDRESSES. In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8, EPA is providing the public 
45 days to comment on these documents. The Agency requests comments on 
the proposed approval decision, as described in the inspection report. 
EPA will accept public comment on this notice and supplemental 
information as described in section 1.B. above. EPA will not make a 
determination of compliance before the 45-day comment period ends. At 
the end of the public comment period, EPA will evaluate all relevant 
public comments and revise the inspection report as necessary. If 
appropriate, the Agency will then issue a final approval letter and 
inspection report, both of which will be posted on the WIPP Web site.
    Information on the certification decision is filed in the official 
EPA Air Docket, Docket No. A-93-02 and is available for review in 
Washington, DC, and at the three EPA WIPP informational docket 
locations in New Mexico (as listed in ADDRESSES). The dockets in New 
Mexico contain only major items from the official Air Docket in 
Washington, DC, plus those documents added to the official Air Docket 
since the October 1992 enactment of the WIPP LWA.

    Dated: January 18, 2008.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
 Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.
 [FR Doc. E8-1658 Filed 1-29-08; 8:45 am]

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