DOCKET NO: A-93-02 V-B-3 TECHNICAL SUPPORT DOCUMENT FOR SECTION 194.14: CONTENT OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Center for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 401 M. Street, S. W. Washington, DC 20460 MAY 1998 Technical Support for this document was provided by TechLaw, Inc. and its subcontractors under EPA Contract 68D50174. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY ...........................................1 II. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, CONTENT OF THE CCA, AND CONTENT OF THIS TECHNICAL DOCUMENT.................................................11 III. COMPLIANCE REVIEW CRITERIA .........................................13 A. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(a)(1): ..................................14 B. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(a)(2): ..................................14 C. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(a)(3) and (4): ............................16 D. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(b)(1): ..................................16 E. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(b)(2): ..................................16 F. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(c): .....................................16 G. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(d): .....................................16 H. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(e): .....................................16 I. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(f): .....................................16 J. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(g): .....................................16 K. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(h): .....................................17 L. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(i): .....................................17 M. Suggested CCA Content for §194.14(j): .....................................18 N.Additional Review Criteria:...............................................18 IV. SUMMARY OF CCA CONTENT/DOE’S METHODOLOGY AND EPA TECHNICAL EVALUATION RESULTS..................................................19 A. Location of the Disposal System [40 CFR 194.14(a)(1)] ........................19 1. DOE Methodology: Location of the Disposal System .......................19 2. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Location of the Disposal System...........20 B. Site Geology(2.1) [§(194.14(a)(2)] .........................................21 1. Data Sources .......................................................21 a. DOE Methodology: Data Sources ....................................21 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Data Sources........................22 2. Geologic History ....................................................22 a. DOE Methodology: Geologic History .................................22 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Geologic History ....................24 3. Stratigraphy and Lithology ............................................25 a. DOE Methodology: General Stratigraphy Below the Bell Canyon ..........25 b. EPA Technical Evaluation: Stratigraphy Below the Bell Canyon ...........27 c. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Bell Canyon .....................28 d. EPA Technical Evaluation: Stratigraphy of the Bell Canyon ...............29 e. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Castile .........................29 f. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Castile .............31 g. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Salado ..........................32 h. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Salado .............34 i. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of The Rustler ........................35 j. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: The Stratigraphy of the Rustler .........38 k. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Dewey Lake Redbeds .............38 l. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Dewey Lake Redbeds . 39 m. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Santa Rosa ......................40 n. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Santa Rosa ..........40 o. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Gatuña Formation ................41 p. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Gatuña Formation ....42 q. DOE Methodology: Stratigraphy of the Mescalero Caliche ................42 r. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Stratigraphy of the Mescalero Caliche ....43 s. DOE Methodology: Non-Tectonic Processes and Features ................43 i. Castile Structures ...........................................44 ii. Evaporite Dissolution .......................................46 t. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Non Tectonic Processes and Features ....49 i. Castile Structures ...........................................49 ii. Evaporite Dissolution .......................................50 4. Structural Geology and Geotectonics (Seismic History) ......................53 a. DOE Methodology: Tectonic Setting and Site Structural Features ..........53 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Tectonic Setting and Site Structural Features ...............................................................54 c. DOE Methodology: Loading and Unloading ............................55 d. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Loading and Unloading ...............56 e. DOE Methodology: Seismology .....................................57 f. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Seismology ........................58 5. Physiography and Geomorphology/Topography ............................58 a. DOE Methodology: Physiography and Geomorphology/Topography ........58 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Physiography and Geomorphology/Topography ........................................59 6. Soil Characteristics ..................................................60 a. DOE Methodology: Soil Characteristics ..............................60 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Soil characteristics (Surficial Sediments) . 61 7. Natural Resources ...................................................61 a. DOE Methodology: Resources ......................................61 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Resources.........................64 C. Site Hydrology (2.2) [194.14(a)(2)] ........................................65 1. Groundwater Hydrology ..............................................65 a. DOE Methodology: Overall Summary of Groundwater Hydrology ..........65 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Overall Summary of Groundwater Hydrology ...............................................................66 c. DOE Methodology: Conceptual Models of Groundwater Flow .............67 d. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Conceptual Models of Groundwater Flow ...............................................................68 e. DOE Methodology: Units Below the Salado ............................69 i. Bell Canyon Hydrology ......................................69 ii. Castile Hydrology ..........................................69 f. EPA Technical Review Results: Units Below the Salado..................71 i. Bell Canyon Hydrology ......................................71 ii. Hydrology of the Castile .....................................71 g. DOE Methodology: Hydrology of the Salado ...........................72 h. EPA Technical Review Results: Hydrology of the Salado .................73 i. DOE Methodology: Hydrology of the Rustler Formation .................74 i. Unnamed Lower Member ....................................75 ii. The Culebra...............................................76 iii. The Tamarisk .............................................79 iv. The Magenta ..............................................80 v. The Forty-niner ............................................81 j. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Rustler Formation .....81 i. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of Unnamed Lower Member ..................................................81 ii. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Culebra ........82 iii. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Tamarisk ......83 iv. EPA Kearney Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Magenta .........................................................83 v. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Forty-niner .....83 k. DOE Methodology: Hydrology of the Dewey Lake ......................84 l. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Dewey Lake ..........85 m. DOE Methodology: Hydrology of the Santa Rosa .......................85 n. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of the Santa Rosa ...........85 o. DOE Methodology: Hydrology of Other Groundwater Zones of Regional Importance......................................................86 i. Capitan Limestone..........................................86 ii. Rustler/Salado Contact Zone in Nash Draw ......................86 p. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Hydrology of Other Groundwater Zones of Regional Importance ..............................................87 2. Surface Water Hydrology .............................................88 a. DOE Methodology: Surface Water Hydrology .........................88 b. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Surface Water Hydrology ..............89 D. Potential Pathways [194.14(a)(3)] ..........................................89 1. DOE Methodologies: Potential Pathways .................................89 2. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Potential Pathways......................92 E. Projected Geophysical, Hydrogeologic, and Geochemical Conditions [194.14(a)(4)] . 93 1. DOE Methodologies: Projected Geophysical, Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Conditions .........................................................93 2. EPA Technical Evaluation Results: Projected Geophysical, Hydrogeologic