83 FR 25657 - Notice of Availability of Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for Closure of Waste Management Area C at the Hanford Site, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 107 (June 4, 2018)

Page Range		25657-25658
FR Document		2018-11736

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for Closure of Waste Management Area C at the Hanford Site, Washington (Draft WIR Evaluation). The Draft WIR Evaluation demonstrates that the tanks and ancillary structures, from which waste has been or will be removed, and their residual waste at closure of Waste Management Area C (WMA C) is waste that is incidental to reprocessing, is not high-level radioactive waste (HLW), and may be managed (disposed in-place) as low-level radioactive waste (LLW). DOE prepared the Draft WIR Evaluation pursuant to DOE Order 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management, and the criteria in DOE Manual 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual. DOE is consulting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before finalizing this evaluation. DOE is also making the Draft WIR Evaluation available for comment from States, Tribal Nations, and the public. After consultation with NRC, carefully considering comments received, and performing any necessary revisions of analyses and technical documents, DOE will prepare a final WIR evaluation and potentially make a determination as to whether the WMA C tanks, ancillary structures, and their residuals at closure of WMA C are wastes that are incidental to reprocessing, which may be managed and disposed of as LLW.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 107 (Monday, June 4, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25657-25658]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11736]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing 
Evaluation for Closure of Waste Management Area C at the Hanford Site, 
Washington

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of the Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for Closure of 
Waste Management Area C at the Hanford Site, Washington (Draft WIR 
Evaluation). The Draft WIR Evaluation demonstrates that the tanks and 
ancillary structures, from which waste has been or will be removed, and 
their residual waste at closure of Waste Management Area C (WMA C) is 
waste that is incidental to reprocessing, is not high-level radioactive 
waste (HLW), and may be managed (disposed in-place) as low-level 
radioactive waste (LLW). DOE prepared the Draft WIR Evaluation pursuant 
to DOE Order 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management, and the criteria in 
DOE Manual 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual. DOE is 
consulting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before 
finalizing this evaluation. DOE is also making the Draft WIR Evaluation 
available for comment from States, Tribal Nations, and the public. 
After consultation with NRC, carefully considering comments received, 
and performing any necessary revisions of analyses and technical 
documents, DOE will prepare a final WIR evaluation and potentially make 
a determination as to whether the WMA C tanks, ancillary structures, 
and their residuals at closure of WMA C are wastes that are incidental 
to reprocessing, which may be managed and disposed of as LLW.

DATES: DOE invites comment on the Draft WIR Evaluation during a 96-day 
comment period beginning June 4, 2018, and ending on September 7, 2018. 
A public meeting on the Draft WIR Evaluation will be held on June 18, 
2018. Before the scheduled meeting, DOE will issue stakeholder and 
media notifications and publish an additional notice in the local 
newspaper providing the date, time, and location of the public meeting. 
Information on the public meeting date and location also will be 
available before the scheduled meeting at the website listed in 
ADDRESSES.

ADDRESSES: The Draft WIR Evaluation is available on the internet at 
https://www.hanford.gov/page.cfm/WasteManagementAreaC and is publicly 
available for review at the following locations: U.S. DOE Public 
Reading Room, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, phone: 
(202) 586-5955, or fax: (202) 586-0575; and U.S. DOE Public Reading 
Room located at 2770 University Drive, Consolidated Information Center 
(CIC), Room 101L, Richland, WA 99354, phone: (509) 372-7303. Written 
comments should be submitted to: Mr. Jan Bovier, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of River Protection, P.O. Box 450, MSIN H6-60, Richland, 
WA 99354. Alternatively, comments may also be filed electronically by 
email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
Draft WIR Evaluation, please contact Mr. Jan Bovier by mail at U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of River Protection, P.O. Box 450, MSIN 
H6-60, Richland, WA 99354, by phone at 509-376-9630, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE has conducted a multi-year program to 
remove the vast majority of the radioactive waste and key radionuclides 
contained in 16 underground, single-shell tanks (tanks which do not 
have secondary containment) and ancillary structures (a catch tank, a 
process vault with smaller tanks, diversion boxes and buried 
pipelines), located in WMA C at the Hanford Site. For example, 
approximately 96 percent of the waste volume and radionuclide activity 
has been removed from the largest (100 series) tanks using a series of 
advanced technologies. The tanks and ancillary structures previously 
stored or transferred a variety of wastes, including liquid waste 
generated by DOE and its predecessor agencies from the reprocessing of 
spent nuclear fuel to produce plutonium and other nuclear material for 
nuclear weapons during the Manhattan Project and Cold War eras.
    DOE Manual 435.1-1, which accompanies DOE Order 435.1, Radioactive 
Waste Management, provides for a rigorous evaluation process that DOE 
uses to determine whether or not certain waste from the reprocessing of 
spent nuclear fuel is incidental to reprocessing, is not HLW and may be 
managed as LLW. This process, in relevant part, requires demonstrating 
that:
    (1) The wastes have been processed, or will be processed, to remove 
key radionuclides to the maximum extent that is technically and 
economically practical;
    (2) The waste will be managed to meet safety requirements 
comparable to the performance objectives set out in 10 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 61, Subpart C, Performance Objectives; and
    (3) The waste will be managed, pursuant to DOE authority under the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and in accordance with the 
provisions of Chapter IV of DOE Manual 435.1-1, provided the waste will 
be incorporated

[[Page 25658]]

in a solid physical form at a concentration that does not exceed the 
applicable concentration limits for Class C LLW as set out in 10 CFR 
61.55, Waste Classification.
    The Draft WIR Evaluation documents and demonstrates that the tanks, 
ancillary structures, and their residual waste at closure of the WMA C 
will meet the above-referenced criteria in DOE Manual 435.1-1. DOE is 
predicating this Draft WIR Evaluation on extensive analysis and 
scientific rationale, using a risk-informed approach, including 
analyses presented in the ``Performance Assessment of Waste Management 
Area C, Hanford Site, Washington'' (WMA C PA). Specifically, this Draft 
WIR Evaluation shows that key radionuclides (those radionuclides which 
contribute most significantly to radiological dose to workers, the 
public, and the environment as well as radionuclides listed in 10 CFR 
61.55) have been or will have been removed to the maximum extent 
technically and economically practical. Based on the analyses in the 
WMA C PA, this draft evaluation also projects that potential doses to a 
hypothetical member of the public and hypothetical inadvertent intruder 
for 1,000 years (and beyond) after WMA C closure will be well below the 
doses specified in the performance objectives and performance measures 
for LLW. In addition, the analyses demonstrate that there is reasonable 
expectation that safety requirements comparable to the NRC performance 
objectives at 10 CFR part 61, subpart C will have been met. As also 
shown in the Draft WIR Evaluation, the residuals, tanks, and ancillary 
structures at WMA C closure will have been incorporated into a solid 
form that does not exceed concentration limits for Class C LLW.
    Although not required by DOE Manual 435.1-1, DOE is consulting with 
NRC on this Draft WIR Evaluation and also making the Draft WIR 
Evaluation available for comment from the States, Tribal Nations, and 
the public. After consultation with NRC, carefully considering comments 
received, and performing any necessary revisions of analyses and 
technical documents, DOE plans to issue a final WIR Evaluation and a 
potential determination as to whether the WMA C tanks, ancillary 
structures, and their residual waste at the time of WMA C closure is 
non-HLW, and may be managed and disposed of in place as LLW.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2018.
Anne Marie White,
Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-11736 Filed 6-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2018 / Notices 25657

suggestions for new metrics or new ACTION: Notice of availability. 7303. Written comments should be
applications of existing metrics. submitted to: Mr. Jan Bovier, U.S.
Feedback is requested on the content SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Department of Energy, Office of River
within the document titled ‘‘Existing Energy (DOE) announces the availability Protection, P.O. Box 450, MSIN H6–60,
Ocean Energy Performance Metrics’’, of the Draft Waste Incidental to Richland, WA 99354. Alternatively,
including possible gaps, additional Reprocessing Evaluation for Closure of comments may also be filed
limitations, or further considerations. Waste Management Area C at the electronically by email to:
The results of this RFI may be used to Hanford Site, Washington (Draft WIR WMACDRAFTWIR@rl.gov.
inform the Water Power Technologies Evaluation). The Draft WIR Evaluation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Office strategic planning in future years, demonstrates that the tanks and further information about this Draft WIR
contribute to evaluation criteria for ancillary structures, from which waste Evaluation, please contact Mr. Jan
potential future funding opportunities, has been or will be removed, and their Bovier by mail at U.S. Department of
and provide a baseline for U.S. input residual waste at closure of Waste Energy, Office of River Protection, P.O.
into international efforts related to Management Area C (WMA C) is waste Box 450, MSIN H6–60, Richland, WA
Marine Renewable Energy metrics. that is incidental to reprocessing, is not 99354, by phone at 509–376–9630, or by
high-level radioactive waste (HLW), and email at Jan_B_Bovier@orp.doe.gov.
Confidential Business Information may be managed (disposed in-place) as
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE has
Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any low-level radioactive waste (LLW). DOE
prepared the Draft WIR Evaluation conducted a multi-year program to
person submitting information that he remove the vast majority of the
or she believes to be confidential and pursuant to DOE Order 435.1,
Radioactive Waste Management, and radioactive waste and key radionuclides
exempt by law from public disclosure contained in 16 underground, single-
should submit via email two well the criteria in DOE Manual 435.1–1,
Radioactive Waste Management shell tanks (tanks which do not have
marked copies: One copy of the secondary containment) and ancillary
document marked ‘‘confidential’’ Manual. DOE is consulting with the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) structures (a catch tank, a process vault
including all the information believed to with smaller tanks, diversion boxes and
be confidential, and one copy of the before finalizing this evaluation. DOE is
also making the Draft WIR Evaluation buried pipelines), located in WMA C at
document marked ‘‘non-confidential’’ the Hanford Site. For example,
with the information believed to be available for comment from States,
Tribal Nations, and the public. After approximately 96 percent of the waste
confidential deleted. DOE will make its volume and radionuclide activity has
own determination about the consultation with NRC, carefully
considering comments received, and been removed from the largest (100
confidential status of the information series) tanks using a series of advanced
and treat it according to its performing any necessary revisions of
analyses and technical documents, DOE technologies. The tanks and ancillary
determination. structures previously stored or
will prepare a final WIR evaluation and
Factors of interest to DOE when transferred a variety of wastes,
potentially make a determination as to
evaluating requests to treat submitted including liquid waste generated by
whether the WMA C tanks, ancillary
information as confidential include: (1) DOE and its predecessor agencies from
structures, and their residuals at closure
A description of the items; (2) whether the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to
of WMA C are wastes that are incidental
and why such items are customarily produce plutonium and other nuclear
to reprocessing, which may be managed
treated as confidential within the material for nuclear weapons during the
and disposed of as LLW.
industry; (3) whether the information is Manhattan Project and Cold War eras.
generally known by or available from DATES: DOE invites comment on the DOE Manual 435.1–1, which
other sources; (4) whether the Draft WIR Evaluation during a 96-day accompanies DOE Order 435.1,
information has previously been made comment period beginning June 4, 2018, Radioactive Waste Management,
available to others without obligation and ending on September 7, 2018. A provides for a rigorous evaluation
concerning its confidentiality; (5) an public meeting on the Draft WIR process that DOE uses to determine
explanation of the competitive injury to Evaluation will be held on June 18, whether or not certain waste from the
the submitting person that would result 2018. Before the scheduled meeting, reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is
from public disclosure; (6) when such DOE will issue stakeholder and media incidental to reprocessing, is not HLW
information might lose its confidential notifications and publish an additional and may be managed as LLW. This
character due to the passage of time; and notice in the local newspaper providing process, in relevant part, requires
(7) why disclosure of the information the date, time, and location of the public demonstrating that:
would be contrary to the public interest. meeting. Information on the public (1) The wastes have been processed,
meeting date and location also will be or will be processed, to remove key
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 21,
2018.
available before the scheduled meeting radionuclides to the maximum extent
at the website listed in ADDRESSES. that is technically and economically
Alejandro Moreno,
ADDRESSES: The Draft WIR Evaluation is practical;
Director, Water Power Technologies Office.
available on the internet at https:// (2) The waste will be managed to meet
[FR Doc. 2018–11941 Filed 6–1–18; 8:45 am]
www.hanford.gov/page.cfm/Waste safety requirements comparable to the
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ManagementAreaC and is publicly performance objectives set out in 10
available for review at the following Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part
locations: U.S. DOE Public Reading 61, Subpart C, Performance Objectives;
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Room, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, and
Notice of Availability of Draft Waste Washington, DC 20585, phone: (202) (3) The waste will be managed,
Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation 586–5955, or fax: (202) 586–0575; and pursuant to DOE authority under the
for Closure of Waste Management Area U.S. DOE Public Reading Room located Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended,
C at the Hanford Site, Washington at 2770 University Drive, Consolidated and in accordance with the provisions
Information Center (CIC), Room 101L, of Chapter IV of DOE Manual 435.1–1,
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy. Richland, WA 99354, phone: (509) 372– provided the waste will be incorporated

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25658 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2018 / Notices

in a solid physical form at a Issued in Washington, DC, on April 23, the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
concentration that does not exceed the 2018. http://www.regulations.gov.
applicable concentration limits for Class Anne Marie White, Alternatively, interested persons may
C LLW as set out in 10 CFR 61.55, Waste Assistant Secretary for Environmental submit comments, identified by Case
Classification. Management. Number ‘‘2017–007’’ and Docket
[FR Doc. 2018–11736 Filed 6–1–18; 8:45 am] number ‘‘EERE–2017–BT–WAV–0041,’’
The Draft WIR Evaluation documents
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P by any of the following methods:
and demonstrates that the tanks, • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
ancillary structures, and their residual www.regulations.gov. Follow the
waste at closure of the WMA C will DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY instructions for submitting comments.
meet the above-referenced criteria in • E-mail: AHT2017WAV0041@
[Case Number 2017–007, EERE–2017–BT–
DOE Manual 435.1–1. DOE is ee.doe.gov. Include the case number
WAV–0041]
predicating this Draft WIR Evaluation [Case No. 2017–007] in the subject line
on extensive analysis and scientific Notice of Petition for Waiver of AHT of the message.
rationale, using a risk-informed Cooling Systems GmbH and AHT • Postal Mail: Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S.
approach, including analyses presented Cooling Systems USA Inc. From the Department of Energy, Office of Energy
in the ‘‘Performance Assessment of Department of Energy Commercial Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
Waste Management Area C, Hanford Refrigerator, Freezer, and Refrigerator- Building Technologies Office, Mailstop
Site, Washington’’ (WMA C PA). Freezer Test Procedures and Notice of EE–5B, Petition for Waiver Case No.
Specifically, this Draft WIR Evaluation Grant of Interim Waiver 2017–007, 1000 Independence Avenue
shows that key radionuclides (those SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121.
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and
radionuclides which contribute most Telephone: (202) 287–1604. If possible,
Renewable Energy, Department of
significantly to radiological dose to Energy. please submit all items on a compact
workers, the public, and the disc (‘‘CD’’), in which case it is not
ACTION: Notice of petition for waiver and
environment as well as radionuclides necessary to include printed copies.
grant of an interim waiver, and request • Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance
listed in 10 CFR 61.55) have been or for comments.
will have been removed to the and Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
maximum extent technically and SUMMARY: This document announces Department of Energy, Building
receipt of and publishes a petition for Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza
economically practical. Based on the
waiver from AHT Cooling Systems SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024.
analyses in the WMA C PA, this draft
GmbH and AHT Cooling Systems USA If possible, please submit all items on a
evaluation also projects that potential ‘‘CD’’, in which case it is not necessary
doses to a hypothetical member of the Inc. (‘‘AHT’’), seeking a waiver from the
U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’) test to include printed copies.
public and hypothetical inadvertent No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be
procedure used for determining the
intruder for 1,000 years (and beyond) energy consumption of commercial accepted. For detailed instructions on
after WMA C closure will be well below refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator- submitting comments and additional
the doses specified in the performance freezers (collectively ‘‘commercial information on this process, see section
objectives and performance measures refrigeration equipment’’). AHT seeks to V of this document.
for LLW. In addition, the analyses use an alternate test procedure to Docket: The docket, which includes
demonstrate that there is reasonable address issues involved in testing Federal Register notices, comments,
expectation that safety requirements twenty-four commercial freezer basic and other supporting documents/
comparable to the NRC performance models, identified by AHT as part of its materials, is available for review at
objectives at 10 CFR part 61, subpart C petition, that do not have a defrost cycle http://www.regulations.gov. All
will have been met. As also shown in when the units are operated in freezer documents in the docket are listed in
the Draft WIR Evaluation, the residuals, mode. (AHT states that the specified the http://www.regulations.gov index.
tanks, and ancillary structures at WMA units can operate as a freezer, ice-cream However, some documents listed in the
C closure will have been incorporated freezer, and refrigerator.) AHT seeks to index, such as those containing
into a solid form that does not exceed test and rate the specified basic models information that is exempt from public
concentration limits for Class C LLW. using an alternate test procedure to disclosure, may not be publicly
account for the lack of any defrost available.
Although not required by DOE The docket Web page can be found at
cycles or defrost capability when the
Manual 435.1–1, DOE is consulting with https://www.regulations.gov/
units are operated in freezer mode. This
NRC on this Draft WIR Evaluation and notice announces that DOE grants AHT document?D=EERE-2017-BT-WAV-
also making the Draft WIR Evaluation an interim waiver from the DOE’s 0041-0001. The docket web page will
available for comment from the States, commercial refrigeration equipment test contains simple instruction on how to
Tribal Nations, and the public. After procedure for the specified basic access all documents, including public
consultation with NRC, carefully models, subject to use of the alternate comments, in the docket. See section V
considering comments received, and test procedure as set forth in the Interim for information on how to submit
performing any necessary revisions of Waiver Order. DOE solicits comments, comments through http://
analyses and technical documents, DOE data, and information concerning AHT’s www.regulations.gov.
plans to issue a final WIR Evaluation petition and its suggested alternate test
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and a potential determination as to procedure to inform its final decision on Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of
whether the WMA C tanks, ancillary AHT’s waiver request. Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
structures, and their residual waste at DATES: Written comments and Renewable Energy, Building
the time of WMA C closure is non-HLW, information are requested and will be Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B,
and may be managed and disposed of in accepted on or before July 5, 2018. 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
place as LLW. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are Washington, DC 20585–0121. E-mail:
encouraged to submit comments using AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov.

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Document Created: 2018-06-02 00:47:28
Document Modified: 2018-06-02 00:47:28

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		DOE invites comment on the Draft WIR Evaluation during a 96-day comment period beginning June 4, 2018, and ending on September 7, 2018. A public meeting on the Draft WIR Evaluation will be held on June 18, 2018. Before the scheduled meeting, DOE will issue stakeholder and media notifications and publish an additional notice in the local newspaper providing the date, time, and location of the public meeting. Information on the public meeting date and location also will be available before the scheduled meeting at the website listed in
Contact		For further information about this Draft WIR Evaluation, please contact Mr. Jan Bovier by mail at U.S. Department of Energy, Office of River Protection, P.O. Box 450, MSIN H6-60, Richland, WA 99354, by phone at 509-376-9630, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 25657