Decision to Certify Whether the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Complies With the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations and the 40 CFR Part 194 Compliance Criteria

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to certify whether or not the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) will comply with EPA's environmental radiation protection standards for the disposal of radioactive waste. The WIPP is being constructed by the Department of Energy (DOE) near Carlsbad, New Mexico, as a potential repository for the safe disposal of transuranic radioactive waste. Pursuant to the 1992 WIPP Land Withdrawal Act, as amended, EPA must certify that the WIPP will comply with EPA's standards for disposal, and other statutory requirements must be met, before DOE may commence disposal of radioactive waste at the WIPP.