Moab Millsite Stakeholder Group
Public Participation Documents
Proposed: The State of Utah will Ammend its current agreement with the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Regulate Utah Uranium Mills and Tailings
Presentation on Proposal to Regulate Uranium Mills
Table of Contents
Proposed:
The State of Utah will Ammend its current agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Regulate Utah Uranium Mills and Tailings.
Public Input:
The State of Utah will Ammend its current agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Regulate Utah Uranium Mills and Tailings.
- Feedback on the scope of the amended agreement
- Feedback on staffing and funding
- Feedback on the reasons to seek primacy (an amended Agreement) or reasons not to seek primacy (an amended Agreement)
- Other considerations not listed above
Background:
What is an Agreement State?
- Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act (enacted in 1959) provides the mechanism for transfer of certain NRC authority to States.
- The State applies for and may be granted primacy (Agreement State status) for NRC administered programs
- The State of Utah is already an Agreement State for radioactive and low-level radioactive waste
- The current Agreement with the NRC would have to be amended
- NRC relinquishes the program to the State
What Facilities would the amended Agreement include?
- Rio Algom - Lisbon Valley - undergoing closure
- International Uranium White Mesa Mill - Blanding - operating mill
- Plateau Resources - Ticaboo - mill on standby status
- Envirocare of Utah - Clive (Tooele County) commercial disposal facility
- Atlas Corporation - Moab - in bankruptcy
What are some reasons to seek Agreement State status?
- Consistent with how other environmental programs are regulated in Utah
- Explore options regarding Alternate Feed Processing
- Recent Bankruptcy and insufficient funds to close a Uranium mill (the Atlas site near Moab)
- Enhanced inspection/public participation for Utah Uranium mill sites
- Jurisdiction Issues
What is the process for amending the current Utah Agreement if Uranium mills and tailings were to be included?
- Letter of Intent submitted to NRC by the Governor
- Changes to the Radiation Control Rules will need to be made to incorporate mills/tailings
- Changes to the Radiation Control Act (Title 19-3) through the Utah Legislature need to be made
- Submission of draft application to NRC
- Governor submits formal request for the amendment to the Agreement to the NRC
- Formal evaluation of application by the NRC and determination of acceptability
- Commission intent to approve - published once per week for 30 days in the Federal Register
- NRC staff analysis of comments following public input
- NRC staff prepares action paper after consideration of comments for Commission approval
- Chairman of the NRC/Governor sign amended Agreement
- Orderly, phased assumptions of authority
- Continued post agreement program by the NRC
What are some considerations relating to funding of the program and staffing of the program?
- Annual Fees
- Inspection Fees
- Hourly fees for cost of program actions - license amendments, surety reviews, groundwater data reviews, etc.
- Disposal Fees
Staffing Considerations
- Utilization of existing staff and management
- Plus expertise in health physics, groundwater hydrology and engineering
- Administrative support
Public Participation:
Scoping Meetings
- Salt Lake City - following the November 05, 1999 meeting of the Utah Radiation Control Board, 3:00 p.m.
- Ticaboo - November 05, 1999, 6:00 p.m., Old Ticaboo Schoolhouse
- Blanding - November 06, 1999, 7:00 p.m., National Guard Armory
- Moab - November 17, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Grand County Council Chambers
- Tooele - November 10, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Toole County Health Department Auditorium
Public Input
- Feedback on the scope of the amended Agreement
- Feedback on staffing and funding
- Feedback on the reasons to seek primacy or not to seek primacy
- Other considerations not listed above
Written Comments
- Written comments must be submitted by December 06, 1999 to:
William J. Sinclair, Executive Secretary
Utah Radiation Control Board
168 North 1950 West, P.O. Box 144850
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4850
- or -
E-mail comments to: bsinclair@utah.gov
For Further Information
- Visit the Division of Radiation Control homepage: http://www.radiationcontrol.utah.gov
- Contact the Division of Radiation Control for Scoping Summary or other information: 801-536-4250
