URANIUM MINING LEGISLATION

Contents

• CANADA
• USA: Federal · States
• SOUTH AMERICA: Brazil
• EUROPE: Germany
• AUSTRALIA: Federal · States
• NEW ZEALAND
• INTERNATIONAL

> See also:

• Regulatory Issues: USA · Australia · Other Countries
• Moratoria and Bans on Uranium Exploration and Mining

CANADA  

• Nuclear Safety and Control Act
  [On March 20, 1997, the Nuclear Safety and Control Act was enacted by the House of Commons. The Act replaced the Atomic Energy Control Act of 1946 and came into force on May 31, 2000.]

  Selected Regulations for the Nuclear Safety and Control Act:
  

  • Radiation Protection Regulations
  • Uranium Mines and Mill Regulations

  (see also ISSUES)

USA  

USA, Federal

• U.S. Congress: Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act - UMTRCA

• U.S. Congress: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act - RECA

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 192 - Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings: Retrieve HTML text

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 190 - Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations: Retrieve HTML text

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 141 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Retrieve HTML
  (Note: the standards for radionuclides in drinking water are under revision: view details)

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 144 - Underground Injection Control Program: Retrieve HTML
• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 145 - State UIC Program Requirements: Retrieve HTML
• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 146 - Underground Injection Control Program Criteria and Standards: Retrieve HTML
• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 147 - State Underground Injection Control Programs: Retrieve HTML

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 61 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Retrieve HTML

  Subparts of interest:

  • Subpart B - National Emission Standards for Radon Emissions From Underground Uranium Mines
  • Subpart H - National Emission Standards for Emissions of Radionuclides Other Than Radon From Department of Energy Facilities
  • Subpart I - National Emission Standards for Radionuclide Emissions From Facilities Licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Federal Facilities Not Covered by Subpart H
  • Subpart Q - National Emission Standards for Radon Emissions From Department of Energy Facilities
  • Subpart T - National Emission Standards for Radon Emissions From the Disposal of Uranium Mill Tailings
  • Subpart W - National Emission Standards for Radon Emissions From Operating Mill Tailings

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 264 - Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities: Retrieve HTML

  Subparts of interest:

  • Subpart F - Releases From Solid Waste Management Units
  • Subpart G - Closure and Post-Closure
  • Subpart K - Surface Impoundments

• U.S. EPA: 40 CFR Part 440 - Effluent Guidelines and Standards - Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source Category: Retrieve HTML

  Subparts of interest:

  • Subpart C - Uranium, Radium, and Vanadium Ores Subcategory
  • Subpart L - General Provisions and Definitions

• U.S. NRC: 10 CFR Part 20 - Standards for Protection Against Radiation: Retrieve HTML

• U.S. NRC: 10 CFR Part 40 - Domestic Licensing of Source Material: Retrieve HTML
  Subparts of interest:
  • Appendix A - Criteria Relating to the Operation of Uranium Mills and the Disposition of Tailings or Wastes Produced by the Extraction or Concentration of Source Material From Ores Processed Primarily for Their Source Material Content.
    

• U.S. NRC: Regulatory Guides - Uranium Mining and Milling

• U.S. DOE: Order 5400.5 - Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment [Purpose: To establish standards and requirements for operations of the Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE contractors with respect to protection of members of the public and the environment against undue risk from radiation.]
  Available for download (PDF)

• U.S. DOE: Memorandum "Application of DOE 5400.5 requirements for release and control of property containing residual radioactive material" (146k, PDF-format)

• U.S. DOE: Proposed Rule: 10 CFR Part 834 - Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment (110k PDF), Federal Register March 25, 1993 (Vol. 58, p.16268)

• U.S. DOE: 10 CFR Part 835 - Occupational Radiation Protection
  [amended on Nov. 4, 1998, see Current Issues]

• U.S. DOE: Notice 441.1 "Radiological Protection for DOE Activities"

• U.S. DOE: DOE Standard - Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Uranium Facilities, August 2000 / October 2000 (1.2M PDF)

• U.S. DOE: 10 CFR Part 765 - Reimbursement for Costs at Active Uranium and Thorium Processing Sites: Introduction / Preamble (106k) / Text of Regulations (41k)

• U.S. DOE: Process for Transition of Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Title II Disposal Sites to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management for Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance , LMS/S05096, November 2011 (14.1MB PDF)

• Current Regulatory Issues (USA)

USA, States

Colorado

• Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment Regulations
  • Radiation Control [1007] :
    • Part 4 - Standards for Protection against Radiation, Download (PDF)
    • Part 18 - Milling of Uranium, Thorium and Related Radioactive Materials, Download (PDF)

Nebraska

• Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality Rules and Regulations
  • Title 122 - Rules and Regulations for Underground Injections and Mineral Production Wells

Oregon

• Oregon Administrative Rules
  • ENERGY FACILITY SITING COUNCIL, DIVISION 95: CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND DECOMMISSIONING RULES FOR URANIUM MILLS, 345-095-0005
  • DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, OREGON HEALTH DIVISION, DIVISION 110: RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR RADIOACTIVE TAILINGS AND PONDS, 333-110-0001

Texas

• TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE , Title 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY , Part I. TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
  • Chapter 331. UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL
    Subchapters of interest:
    • Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
    • Subchapter C. GENERAL STANDARDS AND METHODS
    • Subchapter E. STANDARDS FOR CLASS III WELLS
    • Subchapter F. STANDARDS FOR CLASS III WELL PRODUCTION AREA DEVELOPMENT
    • Subchapter G. CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO PERMIT ISSUANCE

• TNRCC Regulatory Guidance

Washington

• Revised Code of Washington :
  • Title 70 - Public Health and Safety
    • Chapter 98 - Nuclear Energy and Radiation
    • Chapter 121 - Mill Tailings -- Licensing and Perpetual Care
  • Title 78 - Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
    • Chapter 56 -- Metals Mining and Milling Operations

• Washington Administrative Code
  • Radiation Rules (chapters 246-220 through 246-254)
    • Chapter 246-252 WAC: Radiation Protection -- Uranium and/or Thorium Milling

Wyoming

• Wyoming Statutes
  • Title 30 - Mines and Minerals: HTML · WordPerfect, self-extracting executable file
  • Title 35 - Public Health and Safety: HTML · WordPerfect, self-extracting executable file

• Wyoming Rules
  • Water Quality Rules and Regulations
    
  • Land Quality Division Rules and Regulations
    

  (these rules are subject to change, see Issues)

SOUTH AMERICA

Brazil  

• Licenciamento de Minas e Usinas de Beneficiamento de Minérios de Urânio e/ou Tório, CNEN-NE-1.13, agosto 1989 (PDF)

EUROPE

Germany  

• Bundesberggesetz (BBergG)

• Atomgesetz (AtG)
  • Strahlenschutzverordnung (StrlSchV 2001)

• Laut Einigungsvertrag fortgeltendes Recht der DDR:
  • Verordnung über die Gewährleistung von Atomsicherheit und Strahlenschutz vom 11. Oktober 1984, Gesetzblatt der DDR Teil 1, Nr. 30 vom 21. November 1984, S. 341-348 (VOAS)
    • Durchführungsbestimmung zur Verordnung über die Gewährleistung von Atomsicherheit und Strahlenschutz vom 11. Oktober 1984, Gesetzblatt der DDR Teil 1, Nr. 30 vom 21. November 1984, S.348-372

  • Anordnung zur Gewährleistung des Strahlenschutzes bei Halden und industriellen Absetzanlagen und bei der Verwendung darin abgelagerter Materialien vom 17. November 1980, Gesetzblatt der DDR Teil 1, Nr. 34 vom 17. Dezember 1980, S. 347-350 (HaldenAnO)

AUSTRALIA  

Australia, Federal

• Environment Protection And Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
• Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999

• Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978

• Australian Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety Act 1998
• Australian Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety (Consequential Amendments) Act 1998
• Australian Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Act 1998

• Australian Nuclear Science And Technology Organisation Act 1987

• Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing , Radiation Protection Series No. 9 (2005)

Australia, States

New South Wales

• NSW Uranium Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Act 1986

Northern Territory

• NT Uranium Mining (Environment Control) Act 1993
• NT Radiation (Safety Control) Act 1984
• NT Mines Safety Control (Radioactive Wastes Management) Regulations 1984

South Australia

• Mining Operations Guidelines (PIRSA)

Victoria

• Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983

NEW ZEALAND  

• Minerals Programme for Minerals (Excluding Petroleum) (2008)
  (establishes policy to decline permits for prospecting, exploration and mining of uranium and thorium minerals)

INTERNATIONAL

International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Standards

• Occupational radiation protection in the mining and processing of raw materials : safety guide , IAEA Safety standards series No. RS-G-1.6, Vienna 2004. 95 p. (supersedes IAEA Safety Series No. 26)

• Monitoring and Surveillance of Residues from the Mining and Milling of Uranium and Thorium , IAEA Safety Reports Series No. 27, Vienna 2002

• Management of Radioactive Waste from the Mining and Milling of Ores, Safety Guide , IAEA Safety Standards Series No. WS-G-1.2, Vienna 2002

• Regulatory Control of Radioactive Discharges to the Environment, Safety Guide , IAEA Safety Standards Series No. WS-G-2.3, Vienna 2000

• The Application of the Principles for Limiting Releases of Radioactive Effluents in the Case of the Mining and Milling of Radioactive Ores, IAEA Safety Series No. 90, Vienna 1989

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