federal_register: 04-26480
Data license: Public Domain (U.S. Government data) · Data source: Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API
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| 04-26480 | Waste Characterization Program Documents Applicable to Transuranic Radioactive Waste From the Hanford Site for Disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant | Proposed Rule | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, we or Agency) is announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment for 30 days on, Department of Energy (DOE) documents applicable to the characterization of transuranic (TRU) radioactive solid waste from the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) at the Hanford site. The documents are available for review in the public dockets listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. EPA is issuing this notice because the Agency must conduct an expedited review of one of the elements of Hanford's waste characterization (WC) processes, known as acceptable knowledge (AK). In June 2003, EPA conducted an inspection at Hanford, pursuant to 40 CFR 194.8, to evaluate the WC processes used for characterizing PFP solid waste. However, at that time, EPA did not examine the AK process for the same waste. In August 2003, EPA approved all WC components except AK for characterizing the PFP solid waste and noted in the approval letter that the PFP solid waste may not be disposed of at the WIPP because EPA had not examined and approved the AK process. In the absence of the EPA approval of this waste, however, in July 2004, the Department of Energy (DOE) mistakenly certified this waste stream as eligible for disposal at WIPP. As a result, 600 drums of PFP solids were emplaced in the WIPP repository between July and September 2004. Early in September 2004, the DOE discovered this error and immediately suspended the shipment of the PFP solids from Hanford. To meet the Agency's regulatory obligations EPA must conduct an "after-the-fact" review of the AK process to determine adequacy of the AK documentation. Therefore, EPA will conduct an evaluation of AK documents and, as needed, telephone interviews with site personnel specific to the PFP solids to determine Hanford's compliance with EPA's WIPP compliance criteria and ensure that the emplacement of this waste has no adverse effect on WIPP's performance. EPA's evaluation may lead to an approval at which time the site could resume shipment of the PFP solid waste to WIPP for disposal. EPA does not believe that the PFP solid wastes improperly emplaced at WIPP constitute a threat to human health, to the environment or to the long-term performance of the WIPP repository. Based on this determination, the Hanford PFP solid waste may remain in WIPP while EPA undertakes a desk-top review of the AK information. | 2004-11-30 | 2004 | 11 | https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/11/30/04-26480/waste-characterization-program-documents-applicable-to-transuranic-radioactive-waste-from-the | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2004-11-30/pdf/04-26480.pdf | Environmental Protection Agency | 145 | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, we or Agency) is announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment for 30 days on, Department of Energy (DOE) documents applicable to the characterization of transuranic (TRU) radioactive solid waste... |