Public Notice Announcement

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

     The U.S. Department of Energy/Nevada Operations Office (DOE/NV) has applied for a permit to operate, maintain, and close a Class III Solid Waste Disposal Site (SWDS) in accordance with Nevada statute and regulation. The expressed purpose of operating the SWDS located in Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada, is for the permanent disposal of industrial solid waste and debris meeting specific chemical and physical characteristics.

     In accordance with Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 444.6405, DOE/NV issued a Notice of Intent to operate the Class III SWDS on January 28, 1994 to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, who is the statutory Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA) designated by Nevada Revised Statute (NRS)444.495. DOE/NV began operation of the Class III SWDS under interim status on September 15, 1997.

     The Class III SWDS is within the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. The Class III SWDS is located in Nevada State Plane Grid coordinates N 20451324 feet to N 20451826 feet by E 1849131 feet to E 1848949 feet.

     The Class III SWDS construction is an unlined rectangular pit excavated in the native soils. Pit dimensions are approximately 246 feet in length, 40 feet in width , and 16 feet in depth. Total approximate volume of the Class III SWDS waste capacity is 5,831 yd3 or 383 tons.

     The waste acceptance criteria defining the types, sources, and characteristics of allowable wastes for disposition in the Class III SWDS are asbestos or asbestos-containing materials which also exhibit a low-level radioactive waste constituent. Minor quantities of hydrocarbon-burdened soils and debris (defined as having at least 100 parts per million hydrocarbon content) that also exhibit a low-level radioactive waste constituent above the Nevada Test Site Performance Objective for Certification of Nonradioactive Hazardous Waste (U.S. Department of Energy\Nevada Operations Office, December, 1995) will be permitted for disposal, as well. In accordance with Nevada Test Site Waste Acceptance Criteria (NTSWAC) all wastes are required to be containerized. Liquid wastes and wastes containing PCBs or hazardous constituents as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act will not be approved for disposal in this facility. Permitted sources of the wastes are generators of low- level asbestos waste within the DOE complex nationwide and generators of low-level hydrocarbon burdened wastes within DOE/NV.

     An Evaluation of the Merit of the Class III SWDS permit application has been performed by the SWMA and the permit application has been found to be sufficient and complete. As authorized by NAC 444.731, the SWMA has accepted specific requirements and procedures for the operation and maintenance of the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site to satisfy the Class III SWDS permit requirements detailed below.

     A groundwater monitoring program, per NAC 444.741 and specific to this permit, will not be required due to the depth to the water table aquifer (approximately 800 ft below ground surface), the characteristics of the acceptable wastes, and the existence of a groundwater monitoring program which already exists as part of the entire Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site.

     A waiver allowing the placement of wastes within 200 feet of the permitted site's boundary will be granted due to the location of the Class III SWDS entirely within the fenceline of the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site.

     Detailed plans for closure and post-closure, as required by NAC 444.743, will be accepted upon due notification for review by the SWMA for adequacy and compliance with the regulations in effect at that time. Closure of this site by DOE will be required to meet the criteria presently being established for all low-level waste cells in the Area 5 facility.

     The Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection intends to issue to the U.S. Department of Energy a permit to operate a Class III Solid Waste Disposal Site as described and presented. A copy of the proposed permit, including the supporting documentation, are available to the public for inspection and reproduction at:

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Sawyer Building
555 East Washington Street, Suite 4300
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101-1049
(702) 486-2850;
and

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
333 West Nye Lane
Carson City, Nevada 89706-0866
(775) 687-4670;
and

U.S. Department of Energy
Public Reading Room, Building B-3
2621 Losee Road
North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030
(702) 295-1628.

     These addresses are open during regular business hours. Questions regarding the opportunity to inspect or reproduce documents at these facilities can be directed to the telephone numbers provided.

     A Notice of Intent to Issue Permit SW 13 000 01 was published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A copy of the Notice of Intent and this Fact Sheet were mailed to interested persons as prescribed by statute and regulation. The minimum period for public participation is thirty (30) calendar days following the date of publication. The Administrator may extend the period to allow interested or affected persons ample opportunity to participate.

     During the period for public participation, the Administrator accepts written or oral comments, including written comments for a public hearing, on the proposed issuance of the permit. Written requests for a public hearing must state the nature of the issue to be heard. Comments or requests must be submitted to:

Bureau Chief
Bureau of Federal Facilities
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
333 West Nye Lane
Carson City, Nevada 89706-0866

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