Regulatory basis for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant performance assessment

Journal Article · Mon May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2000 · Reliability Engineering and System Safety (Special Journal Issue)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0951-8320(00)00028-4· OSTI ID:755589

HOWARD, BRYAN A ^[1]; CRAWFORD, M B; GALSON, D A; MARIETTA, MELVIN G

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1. Sandia National Laboratories

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is the first operational repository designed for the safe disposal of transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste from the defense programs of the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for certifications and regulation of the WIPP facility for the radioactive components of the waste. The EPA has promulgated general radioactive waste disposal standards at 40 CFR Part 191. and WIPP-specific criteria to implement and interpret the generic disposal standards at 40 CFR Part 194. In October 1996. the DOE submitted its Compliance Certification Application (CCA) to the EPA to demonstrate compliance with the disposal standards at Subparts B and C of 40 CFR Part 191. This paper summarizes the development of the overall legal framework for radioactive waste disposal at the WIPP, the parallel development of the WIPP performance assessment (PA), and how the EPA disposal standards and implementing criteria formed the basis for the CCA WIPP PA. The CCA resulted in a certification in May 1998 by the EPA of the WIPP'S compliance with the EPA's disposal standard, thus enabling the WIPP to begin radioactive waste disposal.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (US); Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 755589
• Report Number(s): SAND2000-1126J
• Journal Information: Reliability Engineering and System Safety (Special Journal Issue), Journal Name: Reliability Engineering and System Safety (Special Journal Issue)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
40 CFR 191
40 CFR 194
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
CERTIFICATION
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION
CONTAMINATION REGULATIONS
EVENTS AND PROCESSES
FEATURES
LEGAL ASPECTS
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SAFETY STANDARDS
TRANSURANIC WASTE
UNCERTAINTY
US EPA
WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT
WIPP