Notification of Completeness of the Department of Energy's Compliance Recertification Application for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Résumé

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, "we" or "the Agency") has determined that the Department of Energy's (DOE) Compliance Recertification Application (CRA, or "application") for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is complete. EPA provided written notice of the completeness decision to the Secretary of Energy on September 29, 2005. The text of the letter is contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The Agency has determined that the Compliance Recertification Application is complete, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 194, "Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the WIPP's Compliance with the 40 CFR part 191 Disposal Regulations" (Compliance Certification Criteria). The completeness determination is an administrative step that is required by regulation, and it does not imply in any way that the Compliance Recertification Application demonstrates compliance with the Compliance Criteria and/or the disposal regulations. EPA is now engaged in the full technical review that will determine if WIPP remains in compliance with the disposal regulations. As required by the 1992 WIPP Land Withdrawal Act and our implementing regulations, EPA will make a final recertificati