PUBLIC INFORMATION AND INPUT ON WIPP Get The Information You Need 1. Check the EPA Website, Fact Sheets and Issue Papers. EPA will make sure that key information is available on its WIPP Website. EPA has prepared a series of Fact Sheets and Issue Papers on key topics regarding recer- tification, which can all be found by visiting the web site or by contacting EPA in one of the ways below. 2. Call the EPA WIPP Information Line at 1-800-331-WIPP (1-800-331-9477) to obtain information on upcoming events or to leave a question. 3. E-mail us at radiation.questions@epa.gov. 4. Join the EPA WIPP Listserv. To ensure that you are re- ceiving the most up-to-date information, we encourage all interested parties to sign up for our WIPP-NEWS e-mail service by visiting our website. EPA will send out periodic announcements through WIPP-NEWS whenever there is any significant WIPP-related infor- mation to report. EPA will share its final recertification decision with the public through an announcement e-mailed to interested stakeholders and WIPP-NEWS members. 5. Access Paper Documents at EPA Dockets. All public documents can be viewed at EPA's Dockets in Washington, DC, Carlsbad, NM, Santa Fe, NM, and Albuquerque, NM. These fact sheets are located in Air Docket No. A-98-49, Item 11-B4-1 6. Check the Federal Register. EPA will announce their completeness determination on DOE's Recertification Application in the Federal Register in Summer 2005, and their recertification decision in the Federal Regis- ter in Winter 2006. 2005 EPA WIPP RECERTIFICATION FACT SHEET No. 2 EPA is committed to public consultation in the WIPP recertification process by: • Providing clear and complete information • Creating opportunities for public input • Responding to concerns voiced by members of the public or stakeholder groups. 7. Use Department of Energy Information Resources. Ques- tions about WIPP can also be directed to the DOE WIPP Information Center by phone at 1-800-336- 9477 or by email at infocntr@wipp.ws. Additional information can be found on the DOE WIPP website at www.wipp.ws. Provide Comments on DOE's Application for EPA to Consider in its Review EPA's May 24, 2004 Federal Register notice marked the opening of the official public comment period on the Re- certification Application. The comment period will remain open until 45 days after EPA determines the application is complete (completeness determination). The end of the comment period will be announced in the Federal Register, along with the completeness determination. EPA is most interested in public input related to the changes and potential changes in the application that may have a potential impact on WIPP's ability to remain in compliance with EPA's disposal regulations. EPA will not address areas of the Recertification Application that remain unchanged from the Certification Application. United States Environmental Protection Agency I Office of Air and Radiation (6608J) I EPA 402-F-05-007 ! June 2005 www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp ------- There are numerous ways to provide input: 1) In Writing. Comments may be submitted by mail to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) Air and Radiation Docket Attention Docket ID No. 0AR-2004-0025 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West Mail Code 6102T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460. 2) On the Web. Comments may be submitted via the Internet by visiting EPA's electronic dockets at www.epa.gov/edocket and search- ing for EDOCKET ID No. 0AR-2004-0025. 3) By Phone or E Mail at 1-800-331-WIPP or radiation.questions@epa.gov. 4) At Meetings. Comments provided at our pub- lic meetings will be included in the official record and considered in EPA's review. EPA will also summarize the facilitated group discussions at these meetings and consider the issues raised in them during our review. Recent EPA Response to Public Input EPA has been communicating with stakehold- ers throughout the recertification process and has worked to respond to key stakeholder is- sues. For example: • EPA asked DOE for additional information on the Hanford Tank wastes and K-Basin sludges. See EPA Recertification Issue Pa- per #3, Hanford Tank Wastes and K-Basin Sludges, for more information. • EPA inspects and verifies DOE's ability to monitor and capture radioactive releases from air exhaust at the WIPP facility. See EPA Recertification Issue Paper #4, Air Monitoring at WIPP-Station A, for more information. • In response to a proposal submitted by Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping and the Loretto Community, EPA examined different ways to determine if any karst features are present near the site. See EPA Recertification Issue Paper #5, Stake- holder Karst Proposal, for more information. Quick Guide to EPA's WIPP Recertification Public Outreach Activities EPA Makes Final Decision on Recertification Within 6 Months of Completeness Determination What EPA Will Do What the Public Can Do • EPA will publish a Federal • Regularly check website/WIPP- Register Notice on the NEWS email alert/WIPP Informa- final decision as well as on tion Line for meeting announce- the website, dockets, ments, new information, and WIPP-NEWS email alert other news and WIPP Information Line • Call, email, or fax EPA staff with • EPA will explain its ratio- any questions or comments nale for the final decision, • Public Comment will remain and describe consideration open for 45 days following EPA's of public comments determination of completeness received EPA Conducts Continuing Activities to Inspect and Oversee WIPP Activities What EPA Will Do What the Public Can Do • Conduct regular inspec- • Regularly check website/ tions of the WIPP site, as WIPP-NEWS email alert/WIPP well as the waste generator Information Line for meeting sites announcements, new information, • Evaluate any changes to and other news the activities and condi- • Call, email, or fax EPA staff with tions at WIPP any questions or comments • Keep the public informed • Public comment periods on about WIPP activities proposed waste generator site through our website, approval decisions will be emails and meetings announced on the web, WIPP-NEWS email alert, and WIPP Information Line Fact Sheets in this Series: Recertification Overview Fact Sheet No. 1 Public Involvement Fact Sheet No. 2 Performance Assessment Fact Sheet No. 3 TRU Waste Inventory Fact Sheet No. 4 Groundwater Fact Sheet No. 5 Karst Fact Sheet No. 6 United States Environmental Protection Agency I Office of Air and Radiation (6608J) I EPA 402-F-05-007 I June 2005 www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp ------- |