{"abstract":"The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is certifying that the Department of Energy's (``DOE'') Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (``WIPP'') will comply with the radioactive waste disposal regulations set forth at Subparts B and C of 40 CFR Part 191 (Environmental Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High- Level and Transuranic Radioactive Waste). The 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 allows the emplacement of radioactive waste in the WIPP to begin, provided that all other applicable health and safety standards, and other legal requirements, have been met. The certification constitutes final approval under the WIPP LWA for shipment of transuranic waste from specific waste streams from Los Alamos National Laboratory for disposal at the WIPP. However, the certification is subject to four specific conditions, most notably that EPA must approve site-specific waste characterization measures and quality assurance programs before other waste generator sites may ship waste for disposal at the WIPP. The Agency is amending the WIPP compliance criteria (40 CFR Part 194) by adding Appendix A that describes EPA's certification, incorporating the approval processes for waste generator sites to ship waste for disposal at the WIPP, and adding a definition for ``Administrator's authorized representative.'' Finally, EPA is finalizing its decision, also pursuant to the WIPP LWA, that DOE does not need to acquire existing oil and gas leases near the WIPP to comply with the disposal regulations.","action":"Final rule.","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/1998/05/18/98-13100.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"194","title":40}],"citation":"63 FR 27354","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This decision is effective June 17, 1998. A petition for review of this final action must be filed no later than July 17, 1998, pursuant to section 18 of the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-579), as amended by the WIPP LWA Amendments (Pub. L. 104- 201).","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["FRL--6014-9"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"98-13100","effective_on":"1998-06-17","end_page":27406,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1998/05/18/98-13100/criteria-for-the-certification-and-recertification-of-the-waste-isolation-pilot-plants-compliance","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/98-13100?publication_date=1998-05-18","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1998-05-18/98-13100/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":53,"page_views":{"count":260,"last_updated":"2026-07-26 14:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-05-18/pdf/98-13100.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1998-05-18","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1998/05/18/98-13100.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-2002-0061-0005","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":27354,"subtype":null,"title":"Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's Compliance With the Disposal Regulations: Certification Decision","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":63}