Confirmatory Volatile Organic Compound and Mine Ventilation Rate Monitoring Annual Report
Module IV of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Hazardous Waste Facility Permit (HWFP) requires WIPP to develop and implement programs for confirmatory volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring and mine ventilation flow rate monitoring. The Confirmatory VOC Monitoring Program requires the concurrent collection of VOCs at two locations in the mine to determine net ambient air concentrations relative to Concentrations of Concern (COCs) found in HWFP Attachment N, Table N-2. The mine ventilation rate monitoring program requires ventilation flow rate measurements for the total underground repository and each active disposal room to ensure the air flows meet HWFP conditions. HWFP Conditions IV.F.2.b and IV.F.3.b further require that an annual report be submitted, beginning 12 months after the issuance of the permit, that describes the implementation of the Confirmatory VOC Monitoring Plan and the Mine Ventilation Rate Monitoring Plan (MVRMP), and present the results of the monitoring activities. This document was prepared to fulfill the annual reporting requirement for the period from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006. Under the Confirmatory VOC Monitoring Plan, the net concentrations for nine selected compounds were determined by subtracting the upstream (background) sample concentration from a concurrent downstream sample result. If the net concentration of any of the selected compounds (either from a single sample pair and/or a running average) were to exceed the COC, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) would be notified and actions stipulated in the HWFP would be implemented. A total of 104 VOC sample pairs were collected during this reporting period. The individual maximum concentrations detected for each of the nine selected compounds were below the COC levels as indicated in Table 1. All samples were collected using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method TO-14A, The Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Ambient Air Using SUMMA Passivated Canister Sampling and Gas Chromatographic Analysis, and managed in accordance with a comprehensive quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. The QA/QC results indicate the data set collected meets the program objectives and the data are both accurate and defensible. During this report period, the lowest monthly annual running average total underground repository ventilation flow rate was 360,606 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) which did not trigger any reporting requirements. Reporting would be required if the minimum annual running average total underground repository ventilation flow rate calculated monthly) was under 260,000 scfm (HWFP Condition IV.F.3.c). The average ventilation flow rates were calculated for the total flow through the underground repository and for the flow through the active disposal room in accordance with the MVRMP. In accordance with HWFP Condition IV.F.3.a, an MVRMP was developed and submitted to the NMED within ninety days of the issuance of the permit. The MVRMP documents compliance with the ventilation requirements described in HWFP Condition IV.E.3.b and Section M2-2a(3), for air flow rates for the total underground repository and the active disposal room. The original MVRMP was submitted to the NMED on November 2, 1999, and revised on May 18, 2000. The NMED issued a second Request for Supplemental Information on December 5, 2001, addressing several comments on the MVRMP. On February 1, 2002, the revised MVRMP was submitted to the NMED. This revision provided additional details concerning the content of the Test and Balance reports and this annual report; however, no changes were made to the manner in which mine ventilation rate monitoring data are collected. The MVRMP has not been incorporated into the HWFP by the NMED. The permittees will continue to use the revised MVRMP until such time as a final MVRMP is incorporated. The monthly average ventilation rate in the active disposal room was 57,440 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm). A minimum of 42,000 acfm is required to meet the 35,000 scfm flow rate stipulated in the HWFP. Pursuant to HWFP Condition I.E.14, instances of other noncompliance are required to be included at the time this annual monitoring report is submitted. As indicated in Section 8.0 of this report, there was one case of noncompliance identified for reporting under HWFP Condition I.E.14.a.
- Research Organization:
- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
- Contributing Organization:
- Washington TRU Solutions LLC, Hanford, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC29-01AL66444
- OSTI ID:
- 990180
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/WIPP-06-3309
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Confirmatory VOC and Mine Ventilation Rate Monitoring Report
Confirmatory Volatile Organic Compound and Mine Ventilation Rate Monitoring Report
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volatile organic compound
mine ventilation rate
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
actual cubic feet per minute
concentration of concern
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hazardous Waste Facility Permit
laboratory control sample
method reporting limit
New Mexico Environment Department
practical quantitation limit
relative percent difference
transuranic
WIPP Waste Information System