Planned Change Request for Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Replacement Panels 11 and 12; Closing of Public Comment Period

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Notice of availability with request for public comment; closing of public comment period.

On July 16, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) announced for public comment the availability of a Planned Change Request (PCR) submitted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to modify the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The proposed change will involve adding two additional waste panels west of the current repository to replace lost disposal capacity resulting from the 2014 radiological incident and ground control issues throughout WIPP's operational history. A 60-day comment period was provided for the PCR that expired on September 16, 2024. After requests from stakeholders for an extension, the EPA reopened the public comment period indefinitely on October 22, 2024. The Agency is now announcing the closure of the public comment period.

With this notice, the Agency is closing the public period for the documents published on July 16, 2024 at 89 FR 57887 and extended on October 22, 2024 at 89 FR 74348 on June 2, 2025.

You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0309, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal:https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Email:[email protected]. Include Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0309 in the subject line of the message.
• U.S. Postal Service Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center's hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (except Federal holidays).

Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0309. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. A copy of the DOE's 2024 PCR is linked on EPA's WIPP website ( https://www.epa.gov/​system/​files/​documents/​2024-03/​24-0168-wipp-pcr-panels-letter-enclosures.pdf).