{"abstract":"The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is proposing to certify that the Department of Energy's (``DOE'') Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (``WIPP'') will comply with the radioactive waste disposal regulations set forth at 40 CFR Part 191 (Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Radioactive Waste). EPA is required to evaluate whether the WIPP will comply with EPA's standards for the disposal of radioactive waste by the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (``LWA'') of 1992, as amended. EPA's certification of compliance, if finalized, would allow the emplacement of radioactive waste in the WIPP to begin, provided that all other applicable health and safety standards have been met. The proposed certification would allow Los Alamos National Laboratory to ship TRU waste from specific waste streams for disposal at the WIPP. However, the proposed certification is subject to several conditions, notably that EPA must approve site-specific waste characterization measures and quality assurance plans before allowing other waste generator sites to ship waste for disposal at the WIPP. The Agency proposes to amend 40 CFR Part 194 by adding an appendix describing EPA's certification, and by adding a definition. Finally, EPA is proposing its decision, also pursuant to the LWA, that DOE does not need to acquire existing oil and gas leases near the WIPP in order to meet the disposal regulations. Today's notice marks the beginning of a 120-day public comment period on EPA's proposed certification decision, and on the other proposed actions described above.","action":"Proposed rule; opening of public comment period.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste"},{"raw_name":"ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY","name":"Environmental Protection Agency","id":145,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/145","parent_id":null,"slug":"environmental-protection-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1997/10/30/97-28647.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"191","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"194","title":40}],"citation":"62 FR 58792","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"1998-02-27","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments on today's proposal must be received by February 27, 1998. Public hearings on today's proposal will be held in New Mexico. A separate announcement will be published in the Federal Register to provide public hearing information.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["FRL-5915-1"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"97-28647","effective_on":null,"end_page":58838,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28647/criteria-for-the-certification-and-re-certification-of-the-waste-isolation-pilot-plants-compliance","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/97-28647?publication_date=1997-10-30","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1997-10-30/97-28647/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":47,"page_views":{"count":112,"last_updated":"2026-06-23 20:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-10-30/pdf/97-28647.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1997-10-30","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1997/10/30/97-28647.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2060-AG85":{"issue":"199804","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2060-AG85/waste-isolation-pilot-plant-wipp-compliance-certification-rulemaking","title":"Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Compliance Certification Rulemaking","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=199804&RIN=2060-AG85&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2060-AG85"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Memo to file: Summary of EPA contractor/Techlaw/Ken Cooper. telephone interaction with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission on \nFebruary 13, 1998  [A-93-02-IV-E-28]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0367"},{"title":"Technical Support Document for Sections 194.5 I. 194.52. and 194.55:\nDose Verification Evaluation   [A-93-02-III-B-25]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0274"},{"title":"Ltr/DOE-CAO/G. Dials to EPA/R. Trovato, Responding to Letter of 2/18/97 Requesting Data Record Packages EPA [A-93-02-II-I-12]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0197"},{"title":"Ltr/E. Ramona Trovato/EPA to G. Dials/DOE Transmitting Comments on Chapter 3 of the CCA [A-93-02-II-C-31]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0168"},{"title":"Ltr to G. Dials. DOE from L. Weinstock transmitting staff Review of the DOE's Draft Title 40 CFR Part 191 compliance Certification Application (DCCA) [A-93-02-II-C-25]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0159"},{"title":"Ltr from A. Colli to J. Mewhinney on understanding computer codes and exploring ways to run them on EPA's computers (Previous No: IV-C-3) [A-93-02-II-C-22]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0156"},{"title":"Ltr. to G. Dials from Bill Gunter: Specific Comments on WlPP Regulatory Compliance Strategy & Management Plan [A-93-02-II-C-18]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0152"},{"title":"Ltr. to G. Dials, from B. Gunter, \"long-term repository seals\" [A-93-02-II-C-16]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0150"},{"title":"Memo from J. W. Gunter to Interested Parties asking for any comments on the attached Draft Compliance Criteria for WlPP (see also: A-92-56 II-C- I ) [A-93-02-II-C-1]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0107"},{"title":"Trip Rpt/C. Byrum. Carlsbad. NM: PIC Peer Review Panel Meeting, 6/5-6/96 [A-93-02-II-B-28]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0097"}],"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"EPA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061","supporting_documents_count":443,"docket_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0061-0004","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Compliance Determination for the Waste Isolation Plant (WIPP)","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2021-10-22T03:30:09Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":58792,"subtype":null,"title":"Criteria for the Certification and Re-Certification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's Compliance With the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations: Certification Decision","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":62}