Permanent Markers Implementation Plan
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a program of passive institutional controls (PICs) for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This program is required by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 40 CFR 191.14(c) and 40 CFR 194.43. The primary purpose of the PICs program is to provide a permanent record which identifies the location of the repository and its dangers, thus reducing the likelihood of inadvertent human intrusion into the repository. The EPA regulations specify that radioactive waste disposal systems must be designated by multiple PICs including permanent markers, long-term records and “other PICs” which DOE is calling “awareness triggers.” The PICs proposed by the DOE Carlsbad Field Office (DOE-CBFO) are described in the Compliance Certification Application (CCA) and the Compliance Recertification Application (CRA); the descriptions included in these applications are called the “conceptual design.” This design meets the intent of the regulations, is feasible using current technology, and provides a basis for the EPA’s certification and recertification of the WIPP. The conceptual design, however, does not necessarily represent an optimum design. For example, the design may be optimized by selecting alternative technologies, materials, configurations, messages, or construction practices. The DOE has committed in the previous referenced application to review the conceptual design, conduct testing and evaluations, and recommend a final design prior to the end of the disposal operations period.
- 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:
- AC04-01AL66444; AC29-01AL66444
- OSTI ID:
- 990726
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/WIPP-04-3302
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Compliance Monitoring Implementation Plan for 40 CFR §191.14(b), Assurance Requirement (Rev. 4)
Compliance Monitoring Implementation Plan for 40 CFR §191.14(b), Assurance Requirement (Rev. 4.1)
Related Subjects
active institutional controls
awareness triggers
compliance application guidance
decontamination & decommissioning
Land Withdrawal Act
passive institutional controls
permanent markers testing
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
controlled area
land withdrawal area
conceptual design
repository footprint
waste disposal footprint