Regulatory basis for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant performance assessment

en c= m m — < m The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (lVIPP) is the first operational repository designed for the safe disposal of transuranic(TRU) radioactive \vastefrom the defense programs of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The U.S. 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 dk.posal standardsat 40 CFR Part 191. and WIPP-specific criteria to implement and interpret the generic disposal standardsat 40 CFR Part 194. In October 1996. the DOE submitted its Compliance Certification Application (CC.4) to the EP.4 to demonstrate compliance \vith the disposal standards at Subparts B and C of 40 CFR Part 191. Tlis paper summarizes the development of the overall legal framework for radioactive waste disposal at the WPP, the parallel development of the WIPP performance assessment (PA), and how the EP.4 disposal standardsand implementing criteria formed the basis for the CC.4 WIPP PA. The CCA resulted in a certification in May 1998 by the EPA of the WIPP’S compliance \viththe EPA’s disposal standard,thus enabling the lVIPP to begin radioactive waste disposal.