1. www.energy.gov/EM 1 Energy Communities Alliance Meeting WIPP Recovery and Greater-than-Class C Disposal Update February 17, 2016

2. www.energy.gov/EM 2 Key Milestones in WIPP Recovery Progress during 2015 Status of Accident Investigation Board (AIB) corrective actions CD-1 approval for new permanent ventilation system New integrated Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) Looking ahead in 2016 Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) – finalize, implementation and training Interim Ventilation System (IVS) – construction, testing and operational readiness Cold operations Management self assessment CBFO and contractor operational readiness reviews

3. www.energy.gov/EM 3 Key Milestones in WIPP Recovery Progress during 2015: Ground control and catch up bolting Radiological risk mitigation Electrical restoration Zone recovery

4. www.energy.gov/EM 4 Key Milestones in WIPP Recovery Progress during 2015: Re-establishing safety management programs AIB corrective actions Revised Documented Safety Analysis

5. www.energy.gov/EM 5 Corrective Actions Based on the Accident Investigation Board Report and subsequent evaluations, DOE has implemented Corrective Actions that will prevent incidents from occurring throughout the life cycle of WIPP. Five organizations have implemented changes: 1.EM-HQ 2.EM-LA and NA-LA 3.LANS 4.CBFO 5.NWP WIPP Readiness Activities

6. www.energy.gov/EM 6 Key Milestones in WIPP Recovery New Permanent Ventilation System CD-1 was approved by DOE Headquarters in December 2015 - 24 alternatives analyzed by NWP and an independent contractor A new safety significant confinement ventilation system and new exhaust shaft were the selected alternative

7. www.energy.gov/EM 7 Key Milestones in WIPP Recovery New integrated PMB approved by CBFO in January of 2016 - The integrated PMB integrates recovery activities with base activities at the site, including capital asset projects. Identifies critical path activities Identifies resumption of waste emplacement in December 2016

8. www.energy.gov/EM 8 New Documented Safety Analysis Developed in accordance with new DOE Standard 3009-2014 Approximately 120 Safety Management Program procedures created or revised Implementation and training required before restart WIPP Readiness Activities

9. www.energy.gov/EM 9 Other Recovery Progress Installation of Interim Ventilation System -

10. www.energy.gov/EM 10 WIPP Readiness Activities Management self assessments

11. www.energy.gov/EM 11 Path Forward for 2016 Key Tasks: DSA Approval and Implementation Interim Ventilation System Operational Cold Operations Management Self Assessment Contractor Operational Readiness Review DOE Operational Readiness Review Commence Waste Emplacement

12. www.energy.gov/EM 12 Greater-than-Class C Disposal

13. www.energy.gov/EM 13 Overview: GTCC LLRW Waste & GTCC- Like Waste GTCC LLRW : o A formal, defined waste classification in federal law and regulations o Generated from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or Agreement State licensed activities o The most hazardous class of LLRW as defined by the NRC in 10 CFR 61  …“waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal… for which form and disposal methods must be different, and in general more stringent, than those specified for Class C waste” o Must be disposed of in a geologic repository, as defined by NRC, unless proposals for disposal in a site licensed pursuant to 10 CFR 61 are approved by the Commission GTCC-Like Waste: o Not a formal waste classification by rule or DOE order; rather, a descriptive category created for purposes of the EIS o DOE owned or generated LLRW or transuranic (TRU) waste with characteristics similar to GTCC LLRW and with no identified disposal path o Primarily non-defense TRU waste from clean up activities at the West Valley Demonstration Project in New York

14. www.energy.gov/EM 14 Legislative Drivers Congressional Mandate o Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (Public Law #99-240)  DOE responsible for the disposal of LLRW with concentrations of radionuclides that exceed the limits established by NRC for Class C radioactive waste (e.g. GTCC LLRW)  Dispose of GTCC LLRW at a facility licensed by NRC o Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law #109-58)  Report to Congress on EIS alternatives and await action by Congress before issuing a Record of Decision selecting a GTCC disposal alternative Currently there is no disposal pathway for GTCC LLRW or GTCC-like waste

15. www.energy.gov/EM 15 Other Drivers Responds to National Security Concerns o Potential for disused sealed sources to be used in a radiological dispersal devices (e.g., dirty bomb) o Disposal need highlighted as one of two key security challenges in Inter- Agency Task Force Reports to President Obama and Congress Supports Future U.S. Programs o Medical isotope production (molybdenum-99) o Green energy o Space exploration (e.g., DOE Space and Defense Power System Programs) Provides Environmental Stewardship o Statutory mission and DOE cleanup commitments for the West Valley Site in New York

16. www.energy.gov/EM 16 Waste Inventory o The combined GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste inventory is about 12,000 m 3 (420,000 ft 3 ) and contains a total activity of about 160 million curies (MCi)  8,800 m 3 (310,000 ft 3 ) or 75% is GTCC LLRW (commercial)  2,800 m 3 (99,000 ft 3 ) or 25% is GTCC-like (DOE owned) o Waste Groups (GTCC LLRW and GTCC-like waste):  Group 1: Wastes from currently operating facilities. This includes wastes that are currently in storage or are expected to be generated from these operating facilities.  Group 2: Projected wastes from proposed facilities and/or actions. Some of this waste may never be generated. GTCC LLRW Waste Types o Activated metals: Primarily from commercial nuclear power plants  Most of this waste will not be generated for decades, but represents over 98 percent of the total curies. o Sealed sources: Used in hospitals, industries, and universities through out the U.S. o Other waste: From environmental cleanup and isotope production (Missouri University Research Reactor in MO, WVDP, BWTX in VA, WCS in TX) GTCC-like Waste Types (same waste types as for GTCC LLRW) o Waste from DOE clean up and other mission activities Overview: GTCC LLRW Waste & GTCC-Like Inventory

17. www.energy.gov/EM 17 Overview: GTCC Disposal Alternatives Evaluated 1. No Action: Continue current storage/management practices 2. Geologic Repository: At Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) 3. Boreholes: At Hanford, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), WIPP Vicinity, and generic commercial location in Region IV (west) 4. Trenches: At Hanford, INL, LANL, NNSS, Savannah River Site (SRS), WIPP Vicinity and generic commercial location in Regions II and IV (southeast and west) 5. Vaults: At Hanford, INL, LANL, NNSS, SRS, WIPP Vicinity, and generic commercial location in Regions I-IV (northeast, southeast, midwest, and west) Draft GTCC EIS did not contain a preferred alternative (preferred alternative is included in Final GTCC EIS).

18. www.energy.gov/EM 18 Remaining Steps for Fulfilling Statutory Responsibility Issue Record of Decision Await Congressional Action Issue Final EIS Prepare Final EIS In accordance with Section 631 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 & Section (3)(b)(1)(D) of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act, the Report to Congress will: Propose actions to ensure safe disposal of such identified radioactive wastes Describe alternatives under consideration Identify the Federal and non-Federal options for disposal Describe projected costs Identify options for ensuring that the beneficiaries of the activities resulting from the generation of GTCC waste bear all reasonable costs of disposing of such wastes Identify statutory authority required for disposal of GTCC waste Submit Report to Congress

19. www.energy.gov/EM 19 Questions?