Retrieval and re-storage of transuranic storage area waste at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to identify and evaluate the environmental consequences of retrieving and re-storing waste at the Transuranic Storage Area (TSA) within the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Approximately 95% of the TSA waste is contaminated with chemically hazardous/toxic constituents and is termed ''mixed'' waste. It is conservatively estimated, based on previous waste retrieval and container deterioration studies, that up to 10% of the waste containers may be breached. Approximately 43% of the 65,000 M3 of TSA waste is expected to be reclassified as LLW or mixed LLW. The reclassified LLW and mixed LLW would eventually be disposed of in approved land disposal sites after any necessary treatment is accomplished. The remaining 57% of the TSA waste is expected to remain classified as TRU waste. DOE's strategy for long-term management of CH TRU waste stored at the INEL and other DOE facilities is to eventually transport the waste to DOE's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a deep geologic repository near Carlsbad, New Mexico, for final disposal. The proposed action is to retrieve and re-store TSA waste at the INEL's RWMC. The purpose of the proposed action is to: (1) prevent or delay possible deterioration of TSA waste containers to decrease the probability of future environmental contamination; and (2) bring the TSA waste storage facilities into compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the State of Idaho's Hazardous Waste Management Act requirements