Abstract |
In accordance with 40 CFR 194.8(b), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) conducted Baseline Inspection No. EPA-INL-CCP-RH-6.06-8 of the Central Characterization Projects (CCP) waste characterization (WC) program for remote-handled (RH) transuranic (TRU) waste at the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) located outside of Idaho Falls, Idaho. EPA conducted a baseline inspection of the sites program to characterize RH TRU wastes proposed for disposal in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This inspection occurred in three segments: On-site inspection at INL on June 1216, 2006 Follow-up inspection on August 9, 2006, at DOEs Carlsbad Area Field Office (CBFO), for the purpose of assessing mass spectrometry data used to support one element of the INL RH WC program Follow-up inspection at CBFO on August 29, 2006, for the purpose of resolving open issues from the previous two inspections Additionally, there were ongoing technical discussions during July and August 2006 between members of the EPA inspection team and CBFO technical contractors related to technical aspects of the INL-CCP RH WC program. On November 2006, EPA issued a Federal Register (FR) notice (71 FR 65488, November 8, 2006) announcing the proposed approval of the RH waste characterization (WC) program implemented at INL by CCP. The FR notice opened a 45-day comment period to solicit public comment on the proposed approval of INL-CCPs RH WC program and the INL Baseline Inspection Report (EPA Air Docket A98-49, II-A4-69). The comment period ended December 26, 2006. EPA received one set of public comments. (See EPA Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0881). EPA evaluated and responded to the public comments (see Attachment C of this report), and made changes to the proposed approval decision, where appropriate. This report discusses EPAs approval of the RH waste characterization (WC) program implemented at INL by CCP. |