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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