Fact Sheet
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
(6602J)
EPA #402-98-002
May 1998
EPA's Final Certification Decision for the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
What is the WIPP?
The WIPP is the nation's first deep underground facility for disposing of transuranic waste gener-
ated from defense activities. DOE is developing the WIPP in southeastern New Mexico, near
Carlsbad, approximately 2,100 feet underground in excavated, natural salt formations. Some
transuranic waste to be disposed at the WIPP is in a form called "mixed waste." That means that it
is material such as rags, clothing, glassware, sludge and equipment which has become contaminat-
ed by radioactive elements and hazardous chemicals. The waste that would be disposed of at the
WIPP is currently stored at federal facilities across the United States. Most of the waste proposed
for disposal at the WIPP will be generated during future cleanup of DOE's radioactive
contaminated sites.
Abbreviations
Q_
0
What is EPA's final decision on the WIPP's
safety?
EPA has determined that the WIPP can safely contain trans-
uranic waste and that it will comply with EPA's radioactive
waste disposal standards. EPA's decision allows DOE to
begin disposing of radioactive waste in the WIPP once all
other applicable health and safety standards have been met.
DOE
U.S. Department of
Energy
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
LANL Los Alamos National
Laboratory
WIPP Land
Withdrawal Act
WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant
EPA
LWA
What is EPA requiring of DOE?
In making its decision, EPA is requiring DOE to take more ^^^^^^^^~^^^^^^^^~
steps to further assure public safety and environmental protection. EPA's final certification
decision is subject to four conditions of compliance:
• DOE must seal WIPP waste storage panels with a strong concrete barrier that can help reduce
potential releases in case of intrusion.
• Before WIPP receives any shipments of waste from a waste generator site, DOE must demon-
strate to EPA that it can accurately assess or confirm the contents of waste containers stored or
assembled at the site.
• Before WIPP receives any shipments of waste from a waste generator site, DOE must demon-
strate to EPA that it can implement its quality assurance programs (confirming that waste
characterization activities are done properly) at the site.
• DOE must submit a revised schedule showing that markers and other measures (used to warn
future generations about the location and contents of the disposal system) will be implemented
as soon as possible after closure of the WIPP.
In addition, under existing regulations, DOE must report to EPA any changes in activities or any
releases of radioactive material at the WIPP that might violate EPA's safety requirements.
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How did EPA make its final decision?
EPA based its decision on a thorough review of information
submitted by DOE, independent technical analyses, and
public comments. The Agency compared DOE's compliance
certification application and other relevant information, to
EPA's compliance criteria for the WIPP. EPA performed
independent testing of DOE's performance assessment
calculations, which were used to show that the WIPP will
meet EPA's radioactive waste disposal regulations for
10,000 years. EPA also considered about 1,400 written and
oral comments from the public on the proposed rule.
What is EPA's role in regulating the WIPP?
EPA regulates the disposal of radioactive waste to protect
public health and the environment from harmful radiation
exposure and contamination. EPA regulation of the WIPP
facility is governed by the WIPP LWA, passed initially by
Congress in 1992 and amended in 1996. The LWA requires
EPA to certify whether the WIPP will comply with EPA's
radioactive waste disposal regulations before waste disposal
may begin.
What are EPA's other WIPP-related activities?
To certify whether the WIPP is safe to contain radioactive
waste, the LWA required EPA to finalize radioactive waste
disposal regulations which apply to all geologic repositories
(except for Yucca Mountain) and to develop criteria to
implement the disposal regulations specifically at the WIPP.
In December 1993, EPA issued final radioactive waste
disposal regulations that limit radiation releases from
facilities for disposal of radioactive waste. EPA issued final
compliance criteria for the WIPP in February 1996. Both the
radioactive waste disposal regulations and the compliance
criteria reflect public comments and suggestions from the
WIPP Review Committee of the National Advisory Council
for Environmental Policy and Technology.
When will the WIPP open for waste disposal?
Before disposing of radioactive waste at the WIPP:
• DOE must notify Congress and wait for 30 days after EPA
final certification, as specified in the WIPP LWA.
• EPA must separately inspect and approve the quality
assurance programs for waste generator sites and the waste
characterization controls to measure and track important
waste components. This applies to all waste generator sites.
EPA already inspected and approved the waste
characterization and quality assurance for some of the waste
at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as part of
its certification decision.
Before disposing of mixed (chemical and radioactive) waste
at the WIPP, DOE must obtain a permit from the State of
New Mexico to accept hazardous (chemical) waste. Until
that time, WIPP is certified only to accept radioactive
waste.
What other agencies have key <
bilities at the WIPP?
Department of Energy (DOE). D
development and day-to-day mai
facility. For more information ca
Center at 1-800-336-WIPP.
Department of Transportation (I
working with individual states to
will be used to transport waste tc.
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New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). NMED is
responsible for issuing and enforcing RCRA permits relating
to the disposal of transuranic mixed waste.
New Mexico Radioactive Waste Task Force. This task force
administers the state's WIPP Safe Transportation Program.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). NRC implements
EPA's and its own standards for protecting the public from
radiation. It also regulates the transportation of nuclear waste.
How will EPA stay involved with the WIPP?
Throughout its operation of the WIPP, DOE must apply for
recertification by EPA every five years.
EPA must review recertification applications to determine
whether the WIPP continues to comply with the disposal reg-
ulations. As part of its review, EPA will consider public
comments.
EPA may conduct inspections of activities at the WIPP and at
other WIPP-related facilities (laboratories, waste generator
sites, etc.) to verify continued compliance with EPA's radioac-
tive waste disposal standards.
For more information on EPA's WIPP activities:
Call EPA's WIPP Information Line at|
or visit our Website at
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp
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