WIPP Quarterly Review February 2, 1998

Activities Update for NMED's RCRA Permits Program

1. Revised Draft Permit - November 13, 1998

i-tJ ENTERED

• Issued 90 days after close of first publ ic comment period (two weeks after last Quarterly meeting)

Same distribution process as before (public notice in newspapers, paper copies to applicant, EPA, and public locations, original available for copying , info on NMED web page) Announced date and locations of public hearing (Santa Fe and Carlsbad) and procedures for participation

Public Notice for Supplemental Fact Sheet and correction - December 6, 1998 Supplemental Fact Sheet addressed legislative background , regulatory background, discussion of NMED-proposed revised draft permit conditions Correction - missing paragraph in printed version of revised draft permit

2. Comments and other correspondence received by Hearing Clerk

Pleading log from Administrative Record (attached)

Comments received from 17 organizations and individuals (compared to 30 received on initial draft permit)

Categories summarized on attached pages NMAG requested (and was granted) extension to file comments by February 1, 1999

• Parties to Hearing (Entry of Appearance) DOE/WID Southwest Research and Information Center Citizens for Alternatives To Radioactive Dumping Bonnie Bonneau Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board New Mexico Attorney General Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety New Mexico Environment Department possibly others submitted just prior to deadline

\11\1\l\1\\

3. Revised Time-Line

Filing deadline: Entry of Appearance or Notice of Intent to Present Technical Testimony - February 1, 1999 (yesterday)

• Meeting for parties to discuss public hearing procedures - February 5, 1999

• Public Hearing Start in Santa Fe, February 22, 1999 (morning, afternoon, evening as needed) Continue in Carlsbad, March 8, 1999 (same schedule) - non-technical testimony only Resume in Santa Fe, March 15, 1999, if necessary (estimate 30 days total)

Submittal of Findings of Fact/Conclusions of Law - by mid-May *(60 days following close of hearing or hearing record, whichever is later; subject to Hearing Officer's discretion)

Hearing Officer's Report submitted to Secretary - by mid-June or mid-July* (30 to 60 days after Findings of Fact/Conclusions of Law filing)

• Comments to Hearing Officer's Report - by June 1 to mid-August* (15 to 30 days for parties to submit comments, at discretion of Secretary)

• Decision by Secretary - by July 1 to mid-September* (issue decision within 30 days of receiving Hearing Officer's Report and all comments on it)

9:00 AM

9:10 AM

9:30 AM

9 : 50 AM

10:10 AM

ft'°=3 o AM

I 10:50 AM

I ll:~AM "' -

11:50 AM

1:0 0 PM

1:20 PM

1:40 PM

2:30 PM

~~ 3:00 PM

3:20 PM

3:30 PM

*** FINAL AGENDA *** 65th WIPP QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING

February 2 , 1999

Oil Conservation Division Conference Room NM Energy, Minerals , a nd Natural Resources Department

2040 South Pacheco Santa Fe, NM

Welcome, Announcements 10 min. Steve Zappe,

NMED Haz/Rad Materials: RCRA Permit 20 min. Steve Zappe, Update (comments received, schedule)

DOE Carlsbad Area Off ice Update 20 min. Keith Klein,

Environmental Evaluation Group 20 min. Robert Neill, Update

N.M. Radioactive Waste Task Force 20 min. Chris Wentz, Update

BREAK 20 min.

DOE comments on revised draft 30 min. Keith Klein, permit

EEG comments on revised draft 30 min. EEG permit

LUNCH 70 min

NMED

NMED/HRMB

CAO

EEG

NMEMNRD

CAO

Radiologica l air effluent 20 min. Bill Bartlett , EEG monitoring

Status of litigation 20 min. Lindsay/Geoff, NMAG or Chris Wentz, NMEMNRD

DOE preparations for initial waste 40 min. Keith Klein, CAO disposal operations

N.M. preparations for initial TRU 30 min. Chris Wentz, NMEMNRD waste shipments

Open discussion 20 min.

Action Item Commitments/Closeout 10 min. Steve Zappe, NMED

Adjourn

65th WIPP QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING February 2, 1999

Oil Conservation Division Conference Room NM Energy, Minerals, Natural Resources Department

2040 South Pacheco Santa Fe, NM

Attendance Sheet

Name/Affiliation Address Phone / Fax/E-Mai l

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WIPP Update

• Secretary Richardson's position

• Litigation

• Technical exchanges

• CAO status

• Discussion

"WIPP Safe, Ready" Energy Secretary Bill Richardson

January 10, 1999

Albuquerque Journal Sunday, January 10, 1999 Page: 84

Carlsbad Current-Argus Sunday, January 10, 1999 Page: 1A

Secretary: WIPPready to open lh UIAt.. .~ HKGL ~O~ ...... ... ,· . .. 1·.i""'"·"•

Al.llUJUl::KQUt:: - The foderal ~ovornmont 1s ::.till negot1atinl: walh th~ litatt 011 whc 11 .1

~uthcoSkrn Nc::Y.' Mtx1cu nud~ waslt:: rc:p•hl· Lory ....,,u n:ct1v1: 1t.:. fir.;t :Jupmcnt, 1'::01:.-~y :'l,:~.:r..: ­tary H1U R.1.:hdl'd~n s.aid.

Tht: :i 1 l:.1lhun Wa.s:tt: lsoh1uon P1lc..1 I-' le.int 1::. H10&1! in mid-Ft:Lruilr). Lul

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U I nmy view, WIPP

is ready to open. The project ha> satisfied a numberol health conditions at the state and federal level. I believe shipments can move forward.•

Bill Richardson,

Energy secretary

Richardson Says WIPP Is Ready

: '-"1cx1u1 011lb'Tc:.:, 111 .• 11 ;1b11 11h tt•C' :i.l...ilc 011 i.1 J·C'lllllllll•' ld11 ' 1 SU}' wln:tht:r l ib hf~t:hl.) ) J b drum ::. of 1..h Aloa1oun

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Tl1c J.q:.ilrtmc:nt cCJn ll::n~ uu ;.1e1·m1r 1~ nc:<d· c:J 1vr n •. u:lc.ar waste:: 1t""1 Jucsn'1.;:nm.am d1c:11 lC&I ~ :::pccLfu.:.ally rtau~tc::d b)' the >I.at<: . SJ.di u lcdd 411d !>Llh:ents

:;tale rc@ulatur:. o..gr('t" lh~ Wa.!.h: iror.i l.05' Alamos JS frt:c of h.az.ardoui m.ah:r Ws . But ;he) hoa•·c raised coo.::ern:t 0&bout lhc OOt:'> plans lu :i.l:lp more wash: oui.:c the ) lb drum.s are mo\'crJ lo \VIPP

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aigr~ the Wil.Sh: frum Lv.s iu..rJvu:. tmatc.::n.al::. Hut d .t:y as u.buut tht: DOE :. pl.m.~ to a: th.-: 116 drums iill't nio'¥d.I

Th .. : i .. •.1osu11 ulJci;..:J the: lnvironmcnl ;. il Pru· t• ·.:L1u11 A.:c:1K} wron5ly \.:crufi.:J WJPI~ 't\h1..:f1 w.,uld l.ur)· plu1on1unH.:ont~mun;.ih..-..i w.,sk fr,1111 11 . .., 11 .. t1u 11';;:. .ldC11sc 1111.lu.:>tf) ~.150 it:c l undcr · i;Tv .tr..I in 6-Jll.'. lc:nt ~I l1cJ::. t<~I 11f C.1rl,,l...1d

Hh·h..arJ.>011 1..unuut·HlcJ l.1 11 Y.'IPl' .after Wi n.;.u110.:Ul~ oi UV uul11o n VOE &rahl thut "111 Cit..aLlisti :\..IOu<.luer liUl! a~ the h1 ·adquancr~ for the N.inion.:al Fuundillttun fur Functional linau1 l m<i.gllll!

Hl.;:hardoon wa~ accompanied by Sen Pete L>vmerUc1, R-N .. ~ .. . whu tht c-=ntcr will ~ muucd ..!tu

199R:a7351-l

Secretary of Energy Richardson Editorial

Albuquerque Journal, January 17, 1999

• "I see no reason to further delay opening WIPP"

• "I believe we are ready to open and to operate the WIPP safely"

• " ... a major step forward in meeting our national commitment to a safe and healthy environment"

1991lo7351 ·2

Current Litigation Status

• 1992 lnjunction/TRO motion

- DOE believes 1992 Injunction no longer applicable

- U.S. District Court/hearing date

- New Mexico Attorney General gets extension until February 1 to file brief (Discussions ongoing to address AG's concerns)

- Potential motion by environmental plaintiffs for trial on merits

-····,· 199R,a7351-1"2 .

Current Litigation Status (cont.)

• EPA compliance certification lawsu.it

- U.S. Court of Appeals - 1998

- New Mexico Attorney General, et al.

- Administrative and technical challenges

- EPA believes strong case; will submit strong brief

- Seeks to vacate WIPP certification and redo compliance standards/criteria

- Final briefs due - March 1999

- Hearing - May/June 1999?

001..1 · 0

Technical Exchanges

February 10, Carlsbad, NM

• Culebra transport

• Disposal room processes

• Analytical data for water samples from Bates #3, #4 wells (if available)

April 21, Carlsbad, NM

• Direct release model

• Maintenance and retirement of WIPP wells

Technical Exchanges (continued)

October 6-7, Carlsbad, NM

• Compliance monitoring

- Monitoring strategy

- Far field geotechnical

- Human activities

• Streamlining performance assessment

- Desktop PA

- Research data management

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... ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION GROUP

------------------ANEQUALOPPORTUNrTY I AFRAMATIVEACTIONEMPLOYER --7007 WYOMING BOULEVARD, N.E.

SUITE F-2 ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87109

(505) 828-1003 FAX (505) 828-1062

LXV QUARTERLY MEETING

U.S. Department of Energy

N.M. Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Dept.

N.M. Environmental Evaluation Group

N.M. Environment Department

N.M. Attorney General

Robert H. Neill

February 2, 1999

Santa Fe

Providing an independent technical analysis of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a federal transuranic nuclear waste repository.

OPERATIONAL READINESS

• EEG has concerns

• CAO has agreed to meet with EEG shortly to address and resolve concerns.

,,

IS EEG ONLY ORGANIZATION WITH CONCERNS?

• NAS WIPP Committee did not address any operational • issues.

• Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

- Did not issue any reports on their on-site evaluation

- Did not address

• Adequacy of underground monitoring of radioactivity in air

• Radioanalytical detection capability

• Air flow plans in event of fire

• CAO/CTAC audit on compliance with EPA Standards for Radiation Emissions (NESHAPS)

• Bureau of Mines

- L WA required Bureau of Mines to prepare an annual evaluation of the safety of WIPP

- Bureau of Mines did this in 1993, 1994, and 1995

- Congress closed Bureau of Mines

- EEG hired Bureau of Mines inspector to do this in 1996 and 1998

- MSHA does not do evaluation of mine stability

PROBLEMS ON EPA RADIOLOGICAL EMISSIONS IN AIR STANDARDS 40CFR61

SUBPART H (NESHAPS)

• 8/98 CAO Audit

- 6 Corrective Action Reports (CARs)

- 12 Observations

• 1/99 CAO Audit Follow-up

- At 1/20/99 Closeout, none of the above CARs were resolved and a new one was added

7/1/81

SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT (SAR)

C&C Agreement, "The State shall be represented by the Director of EEG in matters relating to review, comments and recommendations on SAR and amendments and references thereto."

10/19/98 DOE requires EEG to request SAR in writing.

11/16/98 FY98 SAR update arrives in EEG office.

12/2/98 EEG complains not enough time to complete a review by early December.

12/10/98 DOE states EEG comments can be provided at any time.

1/29/99 Highlights state SAR was approved by DOE on 1/26/99. Annual update required by DOE 5480.23.

No mention of C& C requirement.

,,.

·.

STATE OF NEW MEXICO'S RADIOACTIVE WASTE TASK FORCE:

UPDATE ON WIPP ACTIVITIES

Presented to

65th WIPP QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING

between

STATE OF NEW MEXICO &

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Santa Fe, NM February 2, 1999

By

CHRIS J. WENTZ COORDINATOR

N.M. RADIOACTIVE WASTE TASK FORCE

TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES SINCE LAST MEETING

• CONTINUED MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE TASK FORCE'S WIPP WORKING GROUP (November 10, December 1, 1998; January 5, 1999); TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS REMAINS THE KEY FOCUS

• CONTINUED TO UPDATE ON A WEEKLY BASIS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO'S WIPP TRANSPORT SAFETY PROGRAM WEB SITE (www.emnrd.state.nm.us/wipp). FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 12/31/98, SITE RECEIVED ABOUT 390 "IDTS" FROM 95 ENTITIES

• CHAIRED AND PARTICIPATED IN A MEETING OF THE WESTERN GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION (WGA) TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP ON WIPP TRANSPORT IN SAN DIEGO, CA (November 18-20)

• PROVIDED A "WIPP STATUS REPORT" AND OTHER BRIEFING MATERIALS TO GOVERNOR GARY E. JOHNSON IN PREPARATION FOR THE WESTERN GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING IN PHOENIX (December 5-7)

• REPRESENTED THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE WESTERN GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION AT A SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DOE'S TRANSPORTATION EXTERNAL COORDINATION WORKING GROUP IN JACKSONVILLE, FL (January 20-22)

);;> TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS BEING IDENTIFIED AND ANALYZED FOR POSSIBLE STANDARDIZATION ACROSS DOE PROGRAMS

~ AN "UMBRELLA" TRANSPORTATION GRANT BEING EXPLORED BY DOE AND ITS STAKEHOLDERS

TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES SINCE LAST MEETING (continued)

• PREPARED AND SUBMITTED COMMENTS ON DOE'S DRAFT "WIPP WATCH'' FACT SHEET NO. 2.

• REVIEWING AND PREPARING TESTIMONY ON NMED'S REVISED DRAFT RCRA PART B PERMIT FOR WIPP

• INITIATED REVIEW OF TWO PROPOSALS INVOLVING WASTE CONTROL SPECIALISTS, INC. OF HOUSTON, TX (WCS)

);;> STORAGE OF TRU WASTE FROM INEEL AT THE WCS FACILITY IN ANDREWS COUNTY, TX

» SITING, DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF A URANIUM ENRICHMENT F ACIUTY IN LEA COUNTY, m::1; /

~AJ ~~ -Zfa()(:. r-e~'*'ef;7 ?re /JIA'T/"?t!_,(

• PARTICIPATING IN DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN DOE AND THE WESTERN GOVERNORS ON TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS FOR "SAFEGUARDS" SHIPMENTS

);;> ADDRESSES COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DOE AND AFFECTED STATES

);;> INCLUDES MEASURES RELATING TO SHIPMENT INSPECTIONS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO'S WIPP TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM

• REVIEWED AND UPDATED NEW MEXICO-SPECIFIC INFORMATION IN THE WGA/DOE WIPP TRANSPORTATION SAFEIT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

• N.M. MOTOR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION (MID) STAFF PARTICIPATED IN A COMMODITY FLOW STUDY IN LEA COUNTY; ONE OF THE EIGHT AREAS WHERE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WERE CHECKED FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WAS NEAR WIPP.

• SPONSORED AND PARTICIPATED IN A LANL-WIPP TABLETOP EXERCISE (December 4) AND "DRY RUN" (December 7-9)

~ WEATHER PROTOCOLS APPLIED; SHIPMENT POSTPONED; PROCEDURES WORKED WELL

~ DOE COORDINATED CLOSELY WITH STATE ON DRAFTING OF NEW RELEASES

• PREPARED A SUMMARY OF 1998 WIPP PUBLIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY TASK FORCE REPRESENTATIVES; RECENT WIPP OUTREACH EVENTS INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS TO:

~ RIO RANCHO HIGH SCHOOL (4 CLASSES)

~ LOS ALAMOS CO:MMUNITY RADIATION MONITORING GROUP

~ MUNICIPAL FIRE CHIEFS' ASSOCIATION (NM)

STATE OF NEW MEXICO'S WIPP TRANSPORT~ TION SAFETY PROGRAM

(continued)

• PARTICIPATED IN A WIPP TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM MEETING WITH DOE IN CARLSBAD (January 12)

);;> REVIEWED PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE STATE'S WIPP SHIPMENT NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

);;> DISCUSSED CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE RELATING TO WIPP SHIPMENTS

~ REVIEWED SHIPMENT DISPATCH PROCEDURES

• NEW MEXICO WIPP VEHICLE INSPECTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING

);;> ALL LEVELS OF TRAINING ARE CONTINUING

• INTEGRAL COIMPONENT OF EXERCISE PROGRAM • SITES: TRAINING ACADEMIES & COMMUNITY-BASED

);;> WIPP MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS COURSES WERE PRESENTED TO STATE POLICE, EMTs/PARAMEDICS AND HOSPITAL PERSONNEL FROM ARTESIA, SANTA ROSA, AND VAUGHN; APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED

);;> EIGHT (8) STATE ADJUNCT INSTRUCTORS COMPLETED THE WIPP FIRST RESPONDER "TRAIN-the-TRAINER" COURSE IN CARLSBAD (October 13-15)

WIPP Radiation Air Effluent Monitoring

William T. Bartlett, Ph.D.

Health Physicist

Dale F. Rucker, M.S. Environmental Engineer

EEG Concerns

1. Do we need to have radiation air effluent monitors at the WIPP?

2. If so, what level of siting and qualification are needed?

3. What about Safety Analysis Report (SAR) requirements?

I

I Radiation Air Effiuent Monitors, 1993 (EEG-52)

Station D North Waste Shaft (127/128)

1191120 I ~ ~ / Exhaust Shaft

S700 TI-131] ~ation D South D DD (117/118)

wDD 121/122

Room 1 CAM Skid

\ •Station A

Above Ground (153/157)

•Station B

S1300 u D S1600 DOD~~

S1950 DD D Panel 1

0 0 (") w

I Radiation Air Effiuent Monitors, 1999

Waste Shaft

S700 Llli~ ODD

----- Exhaust Shaft

WDD S1300

tJDD S1600 DOD S1950 ODD

0 0 ,.._ 0

~ (") w

2

Panel 1, Room 7 Bulkhead Monitor

I Purpose of Radiation Air Effluent Monitors I

1. Will there be chronic releases of radioactivity?

Answer - Probably Not

2. What about accidents and releases on-site and to the environment?

1. Safety Analysis Report (WIPP-95-2065)

2. Emergency Planning Hazards Assessments (WP 12-9)

I I

3

Chronic Radiation Release EPA Requirements (Fence Line)

NESHAPS (40CFR61)

10 mrem in year

40CFR 191, Subpart A 25 mrem in year

-Dispersion Calculations

Wiste Shaft

5700 l)~~ ODD

. r wuD ' 51300

LlDD • 51600

ODD 51950 DOD g !:l ~ w

Exhaust Shaft

4

Chronic Release Bounding Calculations CAP-88

Source: 7.75 mCilyr

Exclusive Use Area

Off Limits Area

i20 mrem/yr

15 mrem/yr

1 O mrem/yr

CONCLUSION Chronic Radiation Release Potential

• Releases not likely

• Very high activity to exceed the EPA limits

• Continuous Air Monitors not necessary

• Fixed Air Sampling - Necessary to show compliance

- Sampling in accordance with regulatory requirements

5

Accident Radiation Release Requirements (On-site)

Emergency Preparedness

Protective Action Guide (PAG) 5 rem

Facility Design Criteria (SAR)

Probability

lOE-1 to lOE-2

lOE-2 to IOE-4

1 OE-4 to 1 OE-6

Dose (rem)

5

25

100

Safety Analysis Report

Accident Scenarios ~""""'"•Y•vvY•VvvV¥YV•V••••V••••y••••••••v•••••••••v••••v•••••••V¥V¥"¥-)••••••'"••YYv•VVVvY•VY•·••••••••V•••••V>

·Scenario ! Description ! Probability! Ch1 Drum Fire 1.30E-08 Ch2 Ch3

Crane Forklift

9.80E-03 I 8.00E-03

Ch4 Drum Drop 1.SOE-Q2 ChS , Waste Hoist 1.90E-09 Ch& [seismic- ' ,._,,

'"ch7 - :'Drum Fire " ~- ._,,_4.SOE-07 "'." Ch8 --[Aircraft Crash. r -Ch9 Drum Drop 2.00E-02 Ch10 jTornado

~ Ch11 Roof Fall -• 4. 70E-07

6

... ~;:;~:': \tf~:~:1¥::i~, (m)

ciass TEEG ' sAi\' EP A

PA.G.: 5 5 5 5

5 5 E'

!

25

~ 20 CD

E j:: 15 0 CD 10 go cw c

5 CD 0 .... CD

0 a..

A B

35

30

25

CH9 Accident Scenario Underground Drum Drop

Frequency 2 E-2

5

olm~.fiL-.-lci._-.Ji-L=.,.Jli--,J.:llllc.L,-J"'--j

A B c D E F G

Wind Stability Class

WPP VVind Stability

c D E F

Stability Class

~EEG

L'lDI SAR

CJEP - PAG

· ···~·-····---·~········'.

G

7

Ch1 ,,. .Drum Fl"' " Ch2 oane

1.30&08 11.llCIE-03 l.OOE43 1.SGE-02 1.90E·-Ollffi '

Comparison of Accident Scenario Releases

ChS Farkllft 0>4 Drum Drop

·bl_etis . Waste Haist _;, Ch8 [Seismic ·

... Ch7 ~ Drum Fire ~· ChB • " ·Aircraft Crash

ctill Drum Pfpp Ch10 [Tornado Ch11 Roof Fall

4.80E-07

4.70E--07

1-0

~ 120 0 ~ 100 "Ii 80 E ~ 00

ill 40

8 20

0 ~ N (') '<t IJ) <O I'- ro Ol 0 .£ .£ .£ .£ .£ .£ .£ .£ .£ :r: () () () () () () () () ()

()

Accident Scenario

j B Dose (F) • Dose (G) j

CONCLUSION Accidental Radiation Release Potential

• Accidents are "Anticipated" and "Likely"

• Underground accidents may have significant on-site consequence potential that exceed criteria

~

:r: ()

8

EEG Concerns

1. Do we need to have radiation air effluent monitors at the WIPP? YES

a. Fixed Air Sampling at Station A

NESHAPS & 40 CFR 191, Subpart A

b. Continuous Air Monitoring

Emergency Preparedness

Confinement (Defense-in-Depth)

2. If monitors required, what level of siting and qualification are needed?

• ANSI N 13.1 (draft) (EEG-37, Nov. 1987)

- Collect a Representative Sample

- Characterize Particulate

- Measure Air flow

- Use Appropriate Sampling Technology

- Shrouded Probe

- Characterization of Salt Aerosol

9

3. What about Safety Analysis Report (SAR) requirements?

• Secondary Underground Confmement (DOE 0 6430.la)

• Redesign of Exhaust Stack (EEG-52, 1993)

• Dynamic Underground Confinement - HEP A Filtration (In Place)

. -

- Air Effluent Monitoring (?) • ANSI N 13.1 Qualification (No Report)

• Sampling Probe (?)

WIPP Underground Exhaust Stack

1998

''."'1"~'"'~~r;~[~Y~~,-~l!:fi~~,

1988

10

Exhaust Stack Design

Non-Vertical

Sourc.: 7.75 mCilyr

Exdusive Use Alea

Off Limits Alee.

i20 mrom/)f

15 mremlyr

1 o mremlyr

Vertical

Source: 7 .75 mCifyr

Exclusive Use Area

Off Limits Area

lm

Dynamic Underground Confmement

- If exceed SAR criteria, then becomes a Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ)

- Potential consequence of CH9 exceeds limits for hazard evaluation

- Need to review Safety Limits and Technical Safety Requirements

-Regardless of confinement classification, CAMs should be properly sited & qualified

11

Relocate Underground CAlVI in E300 (off-line) and ANSI Qualify

Waste Shaft

S700 Ot3~ ODD

~- Exhaust Shaft

wDD S1300 uDD Room 7 Bulkhead S1600 ODD S1950 DOD

Panel 1

0 0 .... 0

~ M w

-And Finally ... - Site Hazard Assessment and SAR calculations need to be updated

- Qualify CAM & FAS objectives, siting and qualification

- External Review

- Not covered in 1998 ORR

- Not Reviewed by DNFSB

- Not Reviewed by DOE/ONS

12

WIPP LAWSUITS

+ EPA LAWSUIT

• FILED ON JULY 16, 1998 + PARTIES: PETITIONERS INCLUDE STATE OF NEW

MEXICO, THREE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND A PRIVATE CITIZEN; RESPONDENT IS EPA

+ ISSUES: ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF NOTICE-AND­COMMENT RULEMAKING; AND ALLEGED SUBSTANTIVE TECHNICAL ERRORS IN EPA'S CERTIFICATION OF WIPP

• COURT ISSUED ORDER ON OCTOBER 29, 1998, ESTABLISHING BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR CASE

+DECEMBER 14, 1998: PETITIONERS' JOINT BRIEF DUE

+ FEBRUARY 1, 1999: RESPONDENT'S BRIEF DUE

+ FEBRUARY 23, 1999: PETITIONERS' REPLY DUE

+ MARCH 15, 1999: FINAL BRIEFS DUE

+MAY 6, 1999: ORAL ARGUMENT

• LAWSUIT ON EPA'S CERTIFICATION OF WIPP WON'T BE RESOLVED UNTIL SUMMER 1999 AT THE EARLIEST

WIPP LAWSUITS

+ RCRA LAWSUIT

e OCTOBER 1991: LAWSUIT FILED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT-D.C. (CIVIL ACTION NO. 91-2527)

+ PARTIES: STATE OF NEW MEXICO (PLAINTIFF); ST A TE OF TEXAS, FOUR ENVIRONMENT AL GROUPS, THREE CONGRESSMEN (PLAINTIFF-INTERVENORS); U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DEFENDANT)

+ ISSUE: ALLEDGED VIOLATION OF FLPMA (ADMINISTRATIVE VS. LEGISLATIVE LAND WITHDRAW AL FOR WIPP); ALSO NEPA, AP A

e NOVEMBER 1991: SEPARATE LAWSUIT AGAINST DOE FILED BY SAME FOUR ENVIRONMENT AL GROUP-INTERVENORS (CIVIL ACTION NO. 91-2929)

+ ISSUES: WIPP LACKS "INTERIM STATUS" UNDER RCRA NOR DOES IT HA VE A RCRA PART B PERMIT

e NOVEMBER 26, 1991: COURT GRANTS PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

+ INTERIOR BARRED FROM IMPLEMENTING ITS ADMINISTRATIVE LAND WITHDRAW AL ORDER

+ DOE BARRED FROM PROCEEDING WITH WIPP "TEST PHASE" INSOFAR AS IT INVOLVES TRANSPORT OR DISPOSAL OF TRU WASTE

WIPP LAWSUITS

\ + RCRA LAWSUIT (continued)

e DECEMBER 1991: THE D.C. DISTRICT COURT CONSOLIDATES THE TWO LAWSUITS

• JANUARY 31, 1992: COURT GRANTS PLAINTIFFS' MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, MAKING THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION PERMANENT

+ WIPP NOT ELIGIBLE FOR "INTERIM STATUS"

+ INTERIOR SECRETARY EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY UNDERFLPMA

e MARCH 1992: DOE APPEALS THE D.C. DISTRICT COURT'S RULING TO THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

e JULY 10, 1992: U.S. APPEALS COURT RULES + AFFIRMS LOWER COURT'S PERMANENT INJUNCTION

+ UPHOLDS LOWER COURT'S DECISION THAT THE INTERIOR SECRETARY EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY

+ REVERSES LOWER COURT'S DECISION THAT WIPP WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INTERIM STATUS

e MAY 13, 1998: CASE REOPENED BY DOE; FILING ASKS DISTRICT COURT TO CLARIFY WHETHER PERMANENT INJUNCTION IS STILL IN EFFECT

WIPP LAWSUITS

+ RCRA LAWSUIT (continued)

• JUNE 8, 1998: STATE OF NEW FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS FILE MOTION SEEKING A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO PROHIBIT EMPLACEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE AT WIPP

• JULY 20, 1998: COURT ISSUES AN ORDER SETTING SCHEDULE TO ADDRESS THE MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

+ DOE MUST FILE A RESPONSE TO THE MOTION WITHIN 5 DAYS AFTER NMED ISSUES ITS WRITTEN DECISION ONLANL'S WASTE (TA-55-43, Lot 1)

+ NEW MEXICO AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLAINTIFFS WERE TO FILE REPLY BRIEFS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DOE RESPONSE; EXTENSIONS REQUESTED BY NMAG; BRIEFS FILED FEBRUARY 1, 1999

+ DATE OF ORAL ARGUMENT WILL NOW BE SET BY COURT

+ DOE HAS AGREED NOT TO SHIP ANY WASTE TO WIPP UNTIL 11 DAYS AFTER ORAL ARGUMENTS

• ISSUES SURROUNDING SHIPMENT OF NON-MIXED WASTE WON'T LIKELY BE RESOLVED BY THE COURT UNTIL MARCH 1999 AT THE EARLIEST

. -

EEG Comments on RCRA Draft Permit

Lokesh Chaturvedi

Environmental Evaluation Group

65th WIPP Quarterly Meeting

Santa Fe, February 2, 1999

Issues

• Radiological Surveys to Indicate Hazardous Waste Releases

• Stability of Underground HWDUs

• Groundwater Detection Monitoring

• Requirement for MgO Backfill

• Prohibition of RH-TRU Mixed Waste

• Unclear Requirements

• Discrepancy With Attachments

• Room Based VOC Limits -