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Decommissioning Projects - Wyoming, USA

(last updated 23 Nov 2023)

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Little Mountain area

Four old uranium mines reclaimed in Little Mountain area, Bighorn Mountains

From the early 1950s through 1970, the Little Mountain area in the northern Bighorn Mountains experienced a period of uranium exploration and underground mining. The surface and underground disturbance caused by this mining was never reclaimed, leaving numerous physical and radiological hazards behind.
The State of Wyoming, Department of Environmental Quality -- Abandoned Mine Land Division submitted the reclamation project proposal to the Bureau of Land Management. The approved project authorized the reclamation of four uranium mine sites, including the 40-acre Lisbon Mine site, the 20-acre Titan Mine site, and two 10-acre Horseshoe Mine sites. Funds were made available through Wyoming's AML program.
Contractors from Ten Sleep and Worland, Wyoming, conducted the reclamation work, which included backfilling and closing all hazardous mine openings, backfilling sinkholes, plugging drillholes, reducing and removing dangerous highwalls, and burying radioactive spoil piles and soils. The entire 80 acres of disturbances were recontoured, drainages re-established, and all areas reseeded using native seed mixes. (BLM Jan. 26, 2021)


Exploration pits in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Montana/Wyoming)

> See also Montana

 

Bighorn Canyon to clean up exploratory uranium mines

A draft environmental study examines what will be required to clean up more than 350 old uranium exploration pits in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The pits range from less than 0.01 acre [40 m2] to 5.6 acres [2.3 ha] and are left over from the uranium boon of the 1950s, recreation area officials said. Because of the arid climate, little natural recovery has occurred at the sites. The National Park Service is planning to re-countour and reseed the sites over about 10 years. (Casper Star-Tribune June 4, 2003)

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

> Download Draft Environmental Assessment (May 2003) (892k PDF)

Comments on the study may be submitted by July 15, 2003.


Crooks Gap Uranium Mining District

Green Mountain Ion-Exchange (GMIX) Site

NRC Docket No. (U.S. ENERGY CORP)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-1524

Aerial View: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

NRC terminates Green Mountain Ion-Exchange Site license

By letter dated March 27, 2003, the U.S. NRC terminated Source Material License No. SUA-1524.

 

Notice of Request to Terminate the License for the Green Mountain Ion-Exchange Site

By letter dated October 24, 2002, U.S. Energy Corp. provided to NRC a completion report for the decommissioned Green Mountain Ion Exchange (GMIX) site and a request to terminate the license for the site.
"Green Mountain Ion Exchange (GMIX) facility was an ion exchange facility that removed uranium from mine water and is located in Fremont County, Wyoming south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming in the Crooks Gap Uranium Mining District. The facility consisted of; one main, 40 foot by 60 foot [12.2m x 18.3m], building; one, 24 foot by 24 foot [7.3m x 7.3m], auxiliary water treatment building (BaCl building); primary settling pond (Roberts No.3 Pond) approximate surface area of disturbance is 2.4 acres [1 ha]; and secondary settling pond (Roberts No.2 Pond) with approximate surface area of disturbance 3.9 acres [1.6 ha]."

"The current status is that all 11e(2) material has been removed to Sweetwater Mill tailings facility, NRC license No. SUA-1350, with soil verification sampling completed."
(Completion Report Oct. 24, 2002)

On Jan. 3, 2003, NRC published a "Notice of Request to Terminate Source Material, License SUA-1524, for the Green Mountain Ion-Exchange Site in Fremont County, WY and Opportunity to Provide Comments and to Request a Hearing"
Federal Register, Jan. 3, 2003 (Vol. 68, No. 2), p. 392-393 (download full notice ).

There were no comments or requests for a hearing in response to this FR notice.


Western Nuclear Split Rock uranium mill site, Wyoming

NRC Docket No. (WESTERN NUCLEAR, INC., LAKEWOOD, CO)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-56

NRC Facility Info
Aerial view: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

License terminated for former Split Rock uranium mill site

The State of Wyoming terminated WNI's Source Material License No. WYSUA-0056 for the Split Rock site on October 31, 2023.
> Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023) p. 78394-78395 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2023-0076

Split Rock uranium mill site permanently transferred to Department of Energy

The Bureau of Land Management today announced the permanent transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the Split Rock Uranium Mill Site to the Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management. The site, which consists of approximately 869 acres of public lands and 3,454 acres of federal mineral estate near Jeffrey City in Fremont County, operated as a uranium mill for 25 years, producing 7.7 million tons of uranium ore during its lifetime. The mill was shuttered in the mid-1980s, but the site hosts historic tailings and contaminated components from the dismantled mill. (BLM Aug. 11, 2023)
> Federal Register Volume 88, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2023) p. 54662-54663 (download full text )

DOE files application for transfer of Split Rock uranium mill tailings disposal site to DOE for long term maintenance and monitoring

The Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management (DOE-LM) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior exercise authority under Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA) and permanently withdraw and transfer administrative jurisdiction to DOE-LM of 869.08 acres of public lands and 3,454.39 acres of Federal mineral estate at the Split Rock Site in Wyoming.
The public land and interests in the land would be withdrawn from operation of the general land laws, including the United States mining laws, the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and the mineral materials disposal laws, subject to valid existing rights, and would be transferred to DOE-LM for long term maintenance and monitoring under a Nuclear Regulatory Commission license as part of the Split Rock Disposal Cell Site.
Submit comments by December 23, 2022.
> Federal Register Volume 87, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 23, 2022) p. 71668-71669 (download full text )

> See also: DOE files application for transfer of parts of Split Rock uranium mill tailings disposal site to DOE for long term maintenance and monitoring

Final Long-Term Surveillance Plan released for Split Rock uranium mill tailings disposal site

> Download: Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site, Jeffrey City, Wyoming, April 2021
> Download: Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site, Jeffrey City, Wyoming, November 2021
On March 15, 2022, NRC accepted the Preliminary Final Long-Term Surveillance Plan (PFLTSP) for the Split Rock UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site (LTSP). (ML22056A105 )
On August 11, 2023, the DOE submitted an updated version in the final version of the Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site.
On Oct. 24, 2023, NRC released an Environmental Assessment on the Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site
> Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023) p. 74211-74213 (download full text )
> Access: Docket ID NRC-2021-0120
On Nov. 7, 2023, NRC accepted the Long-Term Surveillance Plan. (ML23271A189 )

Wyoming state regulator lashes out against DOE's concerns over selenium and uranium concentrations at former Split Rock uranium mill site

NRC apparently is not the only federal agency that has become the target of the boldness of Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Land Quality Division (LQD) (see below): The Department of Energy (DOE), who will take over responsibility for the Split Rock site once its license will be terminated, had raised concerns that it might be impossible to meet the surface water standards in the Sweetwater River.
In a memorandum dated Dec. 6, 2019, DEQ replies: "The DOE's concern that an exceedance could happen at some future date is speculative and unwarranted [...]", and "Furthermore, the LQD will not begin a practice of opening and re-evaluating previous NRC decisions based on the remote possibility of a future non-compliance."
> Download: DOE letter to WY DEQ, Apr. 23, 2019 (PDF)
> Download: WY DEQ Memorandum, Dec. 6, 2019 (PDF)
> Download: WY DEQ letter to DOE, Oct. 9, 2020 (PDF)

> See also: Wyoming DEQ invites comment on Western Nuclear's request for 6-fold increase of selenium standard in groundwater at Split Rock uranium mill site

New Agreement State Wyoming tells NRC how to perform its supervision duties in case of former Split Rock uranium mill site

Unhappy with the detail of NRC's comments on the Split Rock Site Draft Completion Review Report, Wyoming DEQ's Land Quality Division (LQD) barked back at the NRC stating: "The LQD would encourage the NRC to trust the established Agreement State Program. The Agreement State Program is strong and the NRC should place confidence in its Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program when evaluating CRR [Completion Review Report] submittals. As stated in SA-900 (guidance for reviewing CRR) the NRC should not duplicate the State's review or conduct an independent detailed technical review of the proposed license termination or of any of the specific documentation submitted by the Agreement State licensee. Rather, NRC staff should examine whether the CRR has documented the State staff's basis in summary form for its conclusion that all applicable standards and requirements have been met. Deviation from this scope when reviewing CRRs undermines the State's ability to administer their programs and demonstates lack of trust in Agreement State Partners."
> Download: Final Completion Review Submittal , Wyoming DEQ, Sep. 1, 2020 (27MB PDF)
> Download: NRC letter to WY DEQ, July 8, 2020 (PDF) · Enclosure: list of comments (PDF)

Wyoming DEQ recommends license termination at former Split Rock uranium mill site with institutional controls in place to prevent future use of contaminated groundwater

On Mar. 24, 2020, Wyoming DEQ submitted to NRC the Completion Review Report (CRR) for license termination of Source Material License WYSUA-0056 Western Nuclear Split Rock.
"[...] the LQD recommends that NRC terminate Source Material License SUA-56 WNI Split Rock. With institutional controls, and a long-term monitoring program the site will remain protective of human health and the environment."
"The IC's [institutional controls] prohibit human consumption of groundwater thereby preventing risk to human health. Two of the IC's prohibit any wells for water for human consumption and the other IC secures ownership of the property that lies below a depth of seven feet."
"For the Split Rock site, the lands within the LTCB [Long-Term Care Boundary] are owned by WNI or the federal government with the exception of three properties that are privately owned within the LTCB. Fee title to the surface and subsurface estates for all WNI lands within the proposed LTCB will be transferred to the Federal Government. Although WNI's good faith effort to purchase the other private property within the proposed LTCB were not successful, WNI was able to acquire both durable and enforceable ICs over these three properties."
> Download: Completion Review Report , Mar. 24, 2020 (5.6MB PDF)

Wyoming DEQ invites comment on Western Nuclear's request for 6-fold increase of selenium standard in groundwater at Split Rock uranium mill site

Western Nuclear Inc. of Golden, Colorado has applied for an amendment of its Source Material License (WYSUA-056, Amendment 112) from the Land Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
The amendment requested a revision to License Conditions 74B and 74C for modification of the Alternate Concentration Limit for Selenium (Se) at the Southwest Valley Point of Compliance (POC) well WN-5 from 0.05 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L, based on groundwater flow and transport modeling.
Written objections to the proposed license amendment must be received before the close of business on Monday October 21st, 2019.
> View: Notice of Application to Amend Source Material License - Western Nuclear Inc. , Sep. 20, 2019 (Wyoming DEQ)

Wyoming DEQ approved the license amendment on Dec. 11, 2019.

Violation involving submission of inaccurate and incomplete information on groundwater situation at Split Rock uranium mill site

NRC issues Notice of Violation and proposes US$ 14,500 penalty for submission of inaccurate and incomplete information on groundwater situation at decommissioning Split Rock uranium mill site:
"[...] WNI submitted a technical report dated May 22, 2015, to the NRC that contained inaccurate and incomplete information. The purpose of the report was to compare predicted estimates provided in WNI's 2003 groundwater report for the Split Rock site to observed results. [...]
The May 2015 report concludes that "[t]he data plots show good agreement between predicted and measured water elevations." The report also contains a Table 4-1 that compares "Measured and Predicted Groundwater Flow Gradients and Velocities for the Southwest Valley," including both "measured" and "computed" values for dates ranging from 1988 through 2013. However, neither WNI nor its contractor (1) had access to a working version of the 2003 groundwater model, or (2) consulted data known to derive from the working version of the 2003 groundwater model, contrary to statements in the report.
The licensee contractor that drafted the May 2015 report, which senior WNI personnel also reviewed, represented that the model data evaluated in the May 2015 report were from the working version of the 2003 groundwater model. This material information was not accurate because, when the May 2015 report was prepared and submitted, neither WNI nor its contractor had the original model files used for this model.
This is a Severity Level III violation (NRC Enforcement Policy Section 6.9).
Civil Penalty - $14,500 (EA-18-034)"
> Download: Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty , Dec. 19, 2019 (PDF)
> Download: NRC News Release Dec. 30, 2019 (PDF)

NRC investigation identifies apparent violation involving submission of inaccurate and incomplete information on groundwater situation at Split Rock uranium mill site: In 2003, WNI submitted for NRC review and approval groundwater flow and transport models, including model results that provided the basis for requested alternate concentration limits (ACLs) in the site's Southwest Valley. In 2006, the NRC accepted this modeling approach, accepted WNI's monitoring-well plan, established ACLs based on the 2003 model and report, and terminated WNI's CAP [corrective action plan], essentially concluding that no further remediation was needed at the site, and that WNI need only continue to monitor groundwater flow and contaminant concentrations to confirm model predictions prior to license termination.
Based upon later review and input from the Department of Energy, the NRC raised significant concerns to the licensee regarding the 2003 model). The NRC observed that "model predictions do not explain the data collected over most of the last decade, showing increases in several constituents in wells downstream of the POCs [Point of Compliance wells]." Measured values for nitrate exceeded the ACL values, and that the exceedances were in locations that were not consistent with the 2003 submittal--wells downgradient from the Point of Compliance.
On December 8, 2015, the NRC's Office of Investigations issued a request to WNI for documents including all electronic input and output files developed to simulate and calibrate the model supporting the 2003 Report. The model files that were submitted to the NRC with the 2003 license amendment request did not run. WNI has not been able to locate working 2003 model files, and stated in February 2017 that the original files submitted in 2003 did not run, contrary to its previous statement.
> Download: NRC letter to WNI, EA-18-034, Sep. 9, 2019 (PDF)

Wyoming DEQ invites comment on Western Nuclear's request for 7-fold increase of nitrate standard in groundwater at Split Rock uranium mill site

Western Nuclear Inc. of Golden, Colorado has applied for an amendment of its Source Material License (WYSUA-056, Amendment 111) from the Land Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
The amendment requested a revision to License Condition 74 for modification of the Alternate Concentration Limit for Nitrate (NO3-N) at the Southwest Valley Point of Compliance (POC) well WN-21 from 70.7 mg/L to 500 mg/L, based on conservative groundwater flow and transport modeling.  In addition, the amendment proposed a long-term care boundary that encompassed the potential future transport of nitrate in groundwater.
Written objections to the proposed license amendment must be received before the close of business on Monday March 25th, 2019.
> View: Notice of Application for Amendment to Source Material License - Western Nuclear Inc. , Feb. 3, 2019 (Wyoming DEQ)

Wyoming DEQ approved the license amendment on April 5, 2019.

NRC and Wyoming DEQ issue Memorandum of Understanding on decommissioning of five uranium mill tailings sites transferred to state regulation

> View here

NRC announces opportunity to request a hearing and to petition for leave to intervene on Western Nuclear's request for 7-fold increase of nitrate standard in groundwater at Split Rock uranium mill site

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a request from Western Nuclear Incorporated for amendment of Materials License No. SUA-56 to modify the Alternate Concentration Limit for nitrate at the Western Nuclear Incorporated site in Jeffery City, Wyoming. The amendment would increase the nitrate Alternate Concentration Limit at the Southwest Valley Point of Compliance from the current limit of 70.7 milligrams per liter to 500 milligrams per liter. The amendment would also revise the license to remove a specific well as the background well for the Alternate Concentration Limit and expand the proposed Long-term Care Boundary for the site.
A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by April 3, 2017.
> Federal Register Volume 82, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017) p. 8878-8880 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2017-0010

NRC - due to various levels of "confusion" - refrains from issuing enforcement actions over two violations at Split Rock uranium mill tailings site

On Sep. 24, 2015, NRC informed Western Nuclear, Inc. that it refrains from issuing enforcement actions over the failure to obtain approval for the indirect transfer of control in beforehand, and over the exceedences of groundwater protection standards.
The former is normally considered a Severity Level III violation, but "In 2007, WNI may not have understood that the merger constituted an indirect transfer of control under 10 CFR 40.46, which requires NRC’s written approval before the indirect transfer of control. In addition, there may have been some confusion in the communications between WNI and NRC regarding the approval of the transfer." [emphasis added]
The latter would normally be considered a Severity Level III violation, but "Because of considerable confusion on the part of WNI and the NRC staff on the status of the approval of the both institutional controls, the 'alternate approach' for ACLs, and the applicability of Criterion 5B(1), the staff believes enforcement discretion is appropriate." [emphasis added]
> Download NRC letter EA-15-094, Sep. 24, 2015 (PDF)

NRC approves indirect transfer of control for Split Rock uranium mill tailings site to Freeport-McMoRan

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the indirect transfer of control of Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) and Materials License No. SUA-56 from Phelps Dodge Corporation to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. .
> Federal Register Volume 80, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)] p. 29101-29102 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2009-0434

In striking move, NRC says that "it does not appear" that it ever approved Western Nuclear's plan to prohibit groundwater use from private wells adjacent to Split Rock tailings site, once contaminant plume will have reached those in the future

"However, based on a review of the docket in this matter it does not appear that there were any licensing actions wherein the NRC approved an alternate approach to site closure for WNI. Although there were several instances where WNI proposed, and the staff approved, ACLs [alternate concentration limits] for certain hazardous constituents or modifications to the ground water corrective action plan, there did not appear to be any documents wherein the NRC approved an alternate approach to site closure. Although WNI's 1999 site closure plan arguably may have proposed the use of institutional controls as an alternative to the land ownership requirements of UMTRCA, as provided for in 10 CFR Part 40, Appendix A, Criterion 11, the Commission rejected that premise by requiring WNI to make a good faith effort to acquire title to the property at issue."
(NRC letter to WNI, Jan. 7, 2015, ADAMS Acc. No. ML14338A463, emphasis added)

NRC requests response on increasing contaminant concentrations in groundwater at Split Rock uranium mill tailings site, exceeding even relaxed groundwater standards

On Sep. 11, 2013, NRC issued a Request for Additional Information to Western Nuclear Inc. [WNI]
"In 1999 WNI requested ACLs [alternate concentration limits] for several regulated constituents on the Split Rock site, which NRC subsequently approved. In support of that application WNI presented ground water models showing that contaminant concentrations generally decrease from the POC [point of compliance] wells to the IC [institutional controls] boundaries, would not reach to boundaries in less than 1000 years, and would be within acceptable concentrations thereafter.
The model predictions do not explain the data collected over most of the last decade, showing increases in several constituents in wells downstream of the POCs. In addition to varying significantly from the model predictions, the current condition is not in compliance with NRC regulations, such as Criterion 5(B)1 of Appendix A. [...]" (emphasis added)

"In 1999 Western Nuclear Inc. (WNI) requested an alternate concentration limit (ACL) for nitrates in the SW Valley of 70.7 mg/l. NRC approved the request in 2006. Wells SWAB-2 and SWAB-1R are in the uppermost aquifer and are downstream of the point of compliance (POC) well for the SW Valley. Subsequent data for nitrate concentrations in SWAB-2 are greater than 300 mg/l, and in SWAB-1R are about 100 mg/l. These concentrations exceed the ACL."

"In 1999 WNI requested to use institutional controls (ICs) on private properties in lieu of corrective actions to limit potential exposure of humans to contamination from the Split Rock Site. The bases for this approach and the specification of the boundaries for the institutional controls are in the ground water and transport model. In its application, WNI stated that '... present concentrations have been demonstrated to be decreasing in a stable manner.'
However, recent data shows increasing concentration of nitrates in SWAB-2 and increasing aluminum, ammonia, cadmium, and nickel in Well-4R. Selenium has also shown periodic spikes in the NW Valley. Therefore, the statements in the application and results of ground water model predictions are not consistent with recent data, and do not appear to support limiting exposure at the current IC boundary."

> Download NRC letter and Request for Additional Information, Sep. 11, 2013

Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan released for the Split Rock Disposal Site

On April 12, 2012, DOE submitted the Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock Disposal Site for NRC review.
> Download: Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming, April 2012 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML12109A081)

> Download: Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming, May 2020 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML20140A364)

> Download: Revised Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming, May 2020 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML20366A084)

> Download: Revised Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Split Rock, Wyoming, (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming, Oct. 2020 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML20366A061)

NRC approves relaxed groundwater standards at Western Nuclear, Inc.'s Split Rock uranium mill tailings site

On December 1, 2008, Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) submitted a request to amend License Condition (LC) 74. WNI also submitted a separate amendment request dated March 9, 2009 to establish standards for constituents that must be monitored but for which there are no associated standards.
WNI requested multiple changes to LC 74B. Specifically, it requested For LC 74D, WNI requested The NRC approved the requested license amendments on Feb. 24, 2010.

> Download Technical Evaluation Report for Western Nuclear, Inc., Split Rock mill site, Jeffrey City, WY, Feb. 24, 2010 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092800206)

NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for relaxed groundwater standards at Western Nuclear, Inc.'s Split Rock uranium mill tailings site

WNI has requested that an alternate concentration limit (ACL) be set for selenium at the point of compliance wells equal to 0.05 mg/L. This requested selenium value is equal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) maximum contaminant level (MCL) for selenium in drinking water. WNI has also requested that natural uranium trigger levels for licensee action at the point of exposure be set at background levels, specifically 0.087 mg/L for the Split Rock aquifer and 0.044 mg/L for the flood-plain aquifer. The request excludes one well (Well SWAB-32), where the existing standard will not change.
Federal Register: February 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 24) p. 6067-6068 (download full text )
> Download Final Environmental Assessment, January 28, 2010 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092780271)

NRC announces Opportunity To Request a Hearing concerning indirect change of ownership for Split Rock uranium mill tailings site

Notice of application from Western Nuclear Inc., for consent to indirect change of control (from Phelps Dodge Corporation to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.) with respect to Materials License SUA-56, Opportunity To Provide Comments and To Request a Hearing
A request for a hearing must be filed by November 2, 2009.

Federal Register: October 13, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 196) p. 52510-52512 (download full text )

DOE raises concern over likely future exceedance of proposed relaxed groundwater standards at Split Rock uranium mill tailings site, requests further relaxation...

In comments submitted to the NRC on Sep. 14, 2009 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092680734 ), the Department of Energy (DOE) raised concerns over the proposed alternate concentration limit (ACL) for selenium and the proposed revision to the trigger value for uranium.

DOE's comments refer to a draft Environmental Assessment dated Aug. 12, 2009 (unpublished), that was prepared by NRC in response to a license amendment request submitted by Western Nuclear, Inc. on Dec. 1, 2008 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML083380453 ).
On April 1, 2009, NRC had requested additional information (ADAMS Acc. No. ML090820330 and ML090820357 ) that WNI submitted on June 16, 2009 (unpublished).

DOE files application for transfer of parts of Split Rock uranium mill tailings disposal site to DOE for long term maintenance and monitoring

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has filed an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to segregate from the mining laws approximately 749.08 acres of public land and 2559.13 acres of Federal reserved mineral interests underlying private surface estate from mining associated with a proposed withdrawal and transfer of jurisdiction. The proposed withdrawal will protect public health and safety on lands contaminated by previous mining and milling operations. This notice temporarily segregates the lands for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws while the withdrawal application is being processed.
Comments must be received on or before July 14, 2008.
> Federal Register Volume 73, Number 72 (Monday, April 14, 2008) p. 20062-20063 (download full text )

NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for relaxed groundwater standards at Western Nuclear, Inc.'s Split Rock uranium mill tailings site

Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for License Amendment for Western Nuclear, Inc., Jeffrey City, WY

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to authorize the establishment of ACLs instead of ground water protection standards for six constituents at the Licensee's Jeffrey City, Wyoming, facility. Specifically, this amendment will establish ACLs for ammonia, manganese, molybdenum, nitrate, radium-226 and -228, and natural uranium. This amendment will also require the Licensee to establish institutional controls on all properties within the long-term surveillance boundary to preclude domestic ground water use. On October 29, 1999, the Licensee requested that NRC approve the proposed amendment.

Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172) p. 52589-52590 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment for Amendment to Source Materials License SUA-56 Ground Water Alternate Concentration Limits, August 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML062130316)

In the EA, NRC discusses various groundwater treatment alternatives, not including permeable reactive barriers, though. The alternatives discussed are dismissed for reasons of inefficiency and of excessive cost. In approving WNI's preferred alternative, NRC permits the contamination of clean groundwater by the progressing contaminant plume and accepts that drinking water wells in the Red Mule area will become unsuitable for domestic use in the future.

On September 28, 2006, NRC issued the requested license amendment.

Western Nuclear requests permission for cessation of active groundwater restoration at Split Rock site, though standards not met

By letter dated Aug. 13, 2004, Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) requests that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) grant WNI a license amendment permitting cessation of its active ground water corrective action program (GWCAP) at its Split Rock site in Jeffrey City, Wyoming.
The GWCAP involves pumping and evaporation of site groundwater containing contaminants seeped from the former uranium mill site and/or the uranium mill tailings pile. Although pumping is ongoing since 1990, groundwater quality still does not meet NRC standards, and WNI does not believe that continued pumping will result in further improvement of site groundwater quality.
(Law Offices of Anthony J. Thompson, P.C., letter to NRC dated Aug. 13, 2004, see also: Law Offices of Anthony J. Thompson, P.C., letter to NRC dated May 26, 2005)
By letter dated July 6, 2005, WNI's request was withdrawn.

Western Nuclear wants to prohibit groundwater use rather than prevent contaminant plume dispersion

The modeling projections of Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI) illustrate that groundwater contamination will impact water sources under privately held land within 100-200 years in the Red Mule area, which is a cluster of ranches/homes with domestic water wells located approximately 1-2 miles southeast of the Split Rock site.

View animation of groundwater plume (70k)

WNI's preferred alternative "Pathway Elimination + Institutional Control" (!) would prohibit groundwater use for drinking water in an area of 3,635 acres (1,471 ha) that will be affected by the dispersing contaminant plume within 1000 years. Well owners are to be supplied with alternate drinking water supplies, instead. This area is much larger and in addition to the area of 1,640 acres (664 ha) used for stabilizing the uranium mill tailings pile itself. The costs for this preferred alternative would be $114,000 only, rather than the $17.9 - 117 million for the other alternatives considered.
(see: Minutes From The Groundwater Corrective Action Plan Meeting On September 22, 1999, U.S. NRC, Nov. 1, 1999, available on ADAMS )

On March 7, 2003, WNI filed a Supplemental Groundwater Modeling Report, indicating that the area affected by the groundwater plume after 1000 years would be smaller than previously assumed. Based on the results of the new predictions, WNI modified the proposed long-term care boundary for the site and its surroundings.

View revised animation of groundwater plume (153k)


Gas Hills North disposal site (ex Pathfinder Mines Lucky Mc uranium mill site), Fremont County, Wyoming

NRC Docket No. (PATHFINDER MINES CORP., RIVERTON, WY)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-672

On July 24, 2012, Ur-Energy Inc. announced that is acquiring Lucky Mc from Areva.
> View deposit data
NRC Facility Info   aerial view

 

DOE requests reclassification of groundwater in Gas Hills Uranium District from livestock use to industrial use

"As a follow-up to past discussions, between U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), LM is formally requesting WDEQ to consider LM’s proposal that groundwater in the Gas Hills Uranium District (the District) be re-classified from livestock use Class III to industrial use Class IV. A reclassification such as this has occurred in the past at the Bear Creek UMTRCA Title II site. The District includes Gas Hills North UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site (a.k.a. Lucky Mc Disposal Site), Gas Hills East UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site, and Gas Hills West UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site (a.k.a. ANC Gas Hills West)."
> Download: DOE LM letter to WYDEQ , Apr. 30, 2020 (PDF)

NRC and Wyoming DEQ issue Memorandum of Understanding on decommissioning of five uranium mill tailings sites transferred to state regulation

> View here

DOE proposes to abandon groundwater monitoring at former Lucky Mc Uranium Mill site, because it is contaminated anyway

By letter dated Dec. 12, 2017, "DOE-LM is formally requesting NRC to evaluate and respond to DOE-LM's proposal that groundwater monitoring at the Gas Hills North, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site (a.k.a. Lucky Mc Disposal Site) is not necessary for long-term management of the site. Groundwater monitoring would provide no additional benefit in ensuring protection of human health and the environment."
The Department of Energy quotes a number of reasons for its proposal, such as > Download DOE letter, Dec. 12, 2017 (628kB PDF)

 

NRC approves license transfer of Areva's former Lucky Mc Uranium Mill site to new entity

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received, and is considering approval of, an application filed by AREVA, Inc. on July 25, 2016. The application seeks the NRC's consent to: the direct transfer of control of source material License SUA-672 for the Lucky Mc Uranium Mill. The transfer of License SUA-672 would be from AREVA, Inc. to AREVA Nuclear Materials, LLC.
A request for a hearing must be filed by September 28, 2016.
Written comments may be filed by October 11, 2016.
> Federal Register Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016) p. 62180-62184 (download full text )

On Sep. 30, 2016, NRC issued an order approving the requested license transfer.
> Federal Register Volume 81, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016) p. 70444-70446 (download full text )
> Download Safety Evaluation Report (PDF)
> Access Docket ID NRC-2016-0210

 

NRC approves transfer of Lucky Mc license from Pathfinder Mines to Areva NC

On June 27, 2013, NRC approved the transfer of the Lucky Mc license from Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC) to its parent company Areva NC Inc. PMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogema Resources, Inc.. Cogema Resources, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Areva NC Inc. To facilitate the sale of PMC to Ur-Energy USA Inc., PMC desired to transfer the Lucky Mc license to its parent Areva NC Inc.

 

Uranium concentrations in groundwater exceed ACL standard at Gas Hills North (formerly Lucky Mc) disposal site

"The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management (DOE-LM) wishes to formally request assistance from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding uranium concentrations recently reported above the alternate concentration limit (ACL) in trend well AL-1 at the Gas Hills North (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming. Trend well AL-1 is downgradient of the point of compliance (POC) well T1-12. DOE-LM obtained this information from the licensee's Semi-Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report for Lucky Mc Mine (i.e., the Gas Hills North site) dated February 3, 2012. This condition appears to violate Criterion 5B(1) of 10 CFR 40, Appendix A, which states ''Hazardous constituents entering the ground water from a licensed site must not exceed the specified concentration limits in the uppermost aquifer beyond the point of compliance during the compliance period.''

The ACL for uranium at the POC is 1.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). DOE-LM noted that uranium concentrations were reported just above the ACL in trend well AL-1 in both the third and fourth quarters of 2011. Uranium concentrations in well AL-1 were 1.76 mg/L in the third quarter and 2.42 mg/L in the fourth quarter. These concentrations represent a significant increase over the May 2010 observation of 0.4 mg/L (refer to Figure 10 in the monitoring report). Sulfate, chloride, and total dissolved solids concentrations are also increasing; these three analytes do not have ACLs. DOE-LM believes the monitoring results indicate that processing-related groundwater contamination is moving toward the site boundary, whereas the ACL application assumed that contamination would attenuate to levels less than the ACL at locations downgradient of the POC." [emphasis added]
(U.S. DOE letter to NRC dated Feb. 29, 2012, ADAMS Acc. No. ML12065A005 )

In a Technical Review dated Sep. 4, 2012, NRC staff concludes that "it is not likely that leakage of impacted groundwater from the tailings impoundment is the source of these elevated levels.". (ADAMS Acc. No. ML12248A210 )

 

DOE issues Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Gas Hills North (formerly Lucky Mc) Disposal Site

> Download: Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Gas Hills North (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont County, Wyoming, December 2011: Main Document and Appendix A (42M PDF) · Appendices B-E (15M PDF)

 

NRC approves reclamation performed on Lucky Mc uranium mill tailings

On September 27, 2006, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determined that the reclamation of the Lucky Mc uranium mill tailings site was performed in accordance with the requirements.

 

Pathfinder requests 2-year delay for completion of Lucky Mc uranium tailings cover

Federal Register: March 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 42) p. 10275 (download full text )
"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated December 5, 2002, as supplemented by an e-mail received February 3, 2003, a request from Pathfinder Mining Company to amend License Condition (LC) 61A(3) and 61B(1) of Source Material License SUA-672 for the Lucky Mc Site. The license amendment request proposes to modify LC 61A(3) to change the completion date for radon barrier placement to December 31, 2004, a delay of two years, and to modify LC 61B(1) to change the target completion date for the erosion protection placement to December 31, 2004, a delay of two years."

A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days of March 4, 2003.

 

NRC to approve relaxed groundwater standards for Pathfinder Lucky Mc mill site

On December 20, 2000, Pathfinder Mines applied for the following alternate concentration limits (ACL) in groundwater at its Lucky Mc uranium mill site:

Constituents STD ACL (at POC) POE
Uranium [mg/l] 0.11 1.70 1.17
Selenium [mg/l] 0.01 1.10 0.26
Nickel [mg/l] 0.09 0.85 0.15
Ra-226 + Ra-228 [pCi/l] 5.0 7.50 5.60
Cadmium [mg/l] 0.01 0.02 0.01
Beryllium [mg/l] 0.05 0.07 0.05
STD = Current standards, ACL = Alternate Concentration Limit, POC = Point of Compliance, POE = "Point of Exposure"

On September 9, 2002, NRC staff issued its "Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pathfinder Mine Corporation’s Lucky Mc uranium mill tailings site, Gas Hills region of Wyoming", concluding "that the environmental impacts associated with the proposed action are not significant and therefore do not warrant denial of the license amendment request."

Under the current program, a total of 197 million gallons [746,000 m3] of water has been pumped from the aquifer and 193 million gallons [731,000 m3] of fresh water has been injected through 2001. Also, approximately 217 million gallons [821,000 m3] of water have been pumped from the tailings.

On Dec. 12, 2002, NRC issed the "Environmental Assessment for the Pathfinder Mine Corporation's Lucky Mc uranium mill tailings site, Gas Hills region of Wyoming".

On Dec. 18, 2002, NRC published a related Federal Register notice :
Federal Register, Dec. 18, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 243), p. 77529-77530 (download full notice ).
A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days of Dec. 18, 2002.

On Dec. 20, 2002, NRC released a Final Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed Use of Alternate Concentration Limits:
Federal Register, December 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 245), p. 78029-78030 (download full notice ).
Also, on Dec. 20, 2002, NRC issued the requested license amendment.

 

NRC approves "no action" proposal for contamination at Lucky Mc mill site

Notice in Federal Register, March 17, 1999 (Vol. 64, No. 51), p. 13239-13241 (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-672, approving Pathfinder Mines Corporation's (PMC's) ``no action'' proposal on cleanup of Reid Draw located downgradient of the Lucky Mc tailings system at Gas Hills, Wyoming. This license currently authorizes PMC to possess byproduct material in the form of uranium waste tailings generated by the licensee's milling operations at the site. In accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51, an Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of PMC's Environmental Report (ER) on the status of Reid Draw. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) of ``no action'' proposal on cleanup of Reid Draw."
The proposal concerns an area contaminated from regular releases of excess tailings liquid and from one emergency release of 23 million gallons (87,000 cubic meters). Pathfinder Mines Corporation is 100% owned by COGEMA.


Exxon Highland uranium mill site, Wyoming

NRC Docket No. (EXXON MINERALS CO.)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-1139

NRC Facility Info
Aerial view: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

NRC and Wyoming DEQ issue Memorandum of Understanding on decommissioning of five uranium mill tailings sites transferred to state regulation

> View here

Modeling effort fails to analyze water balance of soil covers at selected uranium mill tailings sites

> View here

ExxonMobil requests grossly relaxed groundwater standards for Highland uranium mill tailings site

"In its license amendment application, ExxonMobil requests that NRC approve site and constituent-specific alternate concentration limits (ACL), including the establishment of a new point of compliance (POC) and points of exposure (POE) for 11e.(2) byproduct material constituents seeping into site groundwater from ExxonMobil's reclaimed uranium mill tailings impoundment to the "Southeast Drainage" (i.e., site areas to the south and east of the tailings impoundment) and with a POE and "alternative" for 11e.(2) byproduct material constituents that have seeped to the Highland Pit Lake to the west of the tailings impoundment."

> Download ExxonMobil cover letter May 12, 2011
> Download: Highland Uranium Mine and Millsite, Request for Amendment to Radioactive Materials License SUA-1139 Application to Amend Existing Alternate Concentration Limits, May 2011: Part 1 (Main Text) · Part 2 (Figures) · Part 3 (Appendix A - E) · Part 4 (Appendix E Exhibits 1 - 8) · Part 5 (Attachment 1 incl. Appendix A - C) · Part 6 (Attachment 2) · Part 7 (Attachment 2 Appendix A - C) · Part 8 (Attachment 3 w. Appendix A - H)

"[...] the current ACLs are identified in License Condition 33B and include the following: [...]
MFG-1 is proposed as a new POC well for the Southeast Drainage groundwater system. This well is located at the toe of the tailings embankment at the head of the Southeast Drainage. [...]
An ACL of 0.7 mg/L for uranium is proposed at Well MFG-1 in the Southeast Drainage. An ACL of 3 mg/L for uranium in Well 175 on the western side of the tailings impoundment is also proposed." [emphasis added]
On Sep. 30, 2011, NRC issued a "Notice of Application from ExxonMobil Corporation, Highland Uranium Mine and Millsite, To Amend Existing Alternate Concentration Limits and Extend the NRC Long-Term Surveillance Boundary With Respect to Materials License SUA-1139" including the opportunity to provide comments, to request a hearing, and to petition for leave to intervene.
Comments must be submitted, or requests for a hearing or leave to intervene must be filed by November 29, 2011.
> Federal Register: September 30, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 190) p. 60935-60937 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2011-0231

Monitoring well exceeds groundwater protection standard for uranium at Exxon Highland uranium mill tailings deposit

By letter dated Jan. 5, 2011, ExxonMobil notified NRC that "Point of Compliance (POC) Well No. 175 had a uranium concentration of 0.0325 mg/L, which is greater than the License Condition 33B ground water protection standard of 0.03 mg/L for this well." ExxonMobil intends to solve the problem by applying for an Alternate Concentration Limit.

Offsite groundwater contaminant plume identified at Exxon Highland uranium mill tailings deposit

By letter dated Aug. 12, 2008 (ADAMS ML082060075 ), NRC demanded ExxonMobil to provide a characterization plan to further assess the offsite migration of site-generated radionuclides and chemicals:
"In a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) dated March 18, 2008 (See ADAMS ML080850495 ), ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company (ExxonMobil), through its contractor, Arcadis, submitted a statement that "site historical constituents are not a current source of offsite migration, as evidenced by ongoing groundwater sampling at the perimeter of the site." No ground water sampling data was included in this letter. However, the Boner Property Well Report, submitted by Arcadis on May 29, 2008 (See ADAMS ML081630652 ), clearly shows that there is a ground water plume of site-generated radionuclides and chemicals from the mill tailings cell leaving the ExxonMobil property and impacting the adjacent property.
Because of the above discrepancy, ExxonMobil should provide a characterization plan for the ExxonMobil property to the NRC within 90 days of the receipt of this letter. [...]" [emphasis added]

New study finds Exxon Highland pit lake will not contaminate groundwater

A numerical modeling analysis of the transient groundwater conditions has been conducted in order to address uncertainties relating to the hydrochemical evolution of the Pit Lake at the Highland Mine Site. The results indicate that the Pit Lake will continue to fill until the water level reaches a steady-state elevation of approximately 5,060 feet amsl in the year 2054. Under these conditions, the Pit Lake elevation will remain well below the elevation of the regional discharge area in North Fork Box Creek and its tributaries. As a result, the Pit Lake will not discharge water to the groundwater system and will not become a flow-through system - contrary to previous studies.

Long Term Pit Lake and Groundwater Hydrology at the Highland Mine Site, Final Report, prepared for ExxonMobil by Tetra Tech, May 17, 2007

NRC approves relaxed groundwater standards for Highland mill decommissioning

Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Concerning the ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company License Amendment Request for Alternate Groundwater Protection Standards at the Highland Reclamation Project
Federal Register: July 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 142) p. 42137-42139 (download full text )

"By letter dated January 16, 2006, ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company (ExxonMobil) submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, requesting an amendment to Source Materials License SUA-1139 for the Highland Reclamation Project (Highland) to modify the groundwater protection standards for chromium, uranium, selenium, and nickel at the point of compliance wells designated in the license. Pursuant to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51, “Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions,” the staff has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the ExxonMobil request to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action (Enclosure). After a review of the potential impacts of the proposed action, the staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant impact on public health and safety and the environment and, as such, a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate." [...] (NRC letter to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, May 2, 2006)

NRC to approve relaxed groundwater standards for Highland mill decommissioning

Notice in Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 98 (May 21, 1999) p. 27828-27829 (download full notice )
"SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend Exxon Corporation's (Exxon's) Source Material License SUA-1139, to allow alternate concentration limits (ACLs) for groundwater hazardous constituents at the Highland uranium mill site in Converse County, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the EA is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this licensing action."
> See also Notice in Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 8 (January 13, 1999) p. 2241 (download full notice )


Pathfinder Mines Corp. Shirley Basin uranium mill site, Carbon County

NRC Docket No. (PATHFINDER MINES CORP.)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-442

> View deposit info
NRC Facility Info

> View more recent issues (Pathfinder Mines Corp. Shirley Basin ISL project)

 

NRC approves transfer of Shirley Basin license from Pathfinder Mines to UR-Energy

On June 27, 2013, NRC approved the transfer of the Shirley Basin license from Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC) to UR-Energy USA, Inc.

 

Uranium concentration in surface water at Areva's Shirley Basin tailings site exceeds drinking water standard

The uranium concentration in surface water at the Point of Exposure of Areva's decommissioned Shirley Basin tailings site has reached 0.0646 mg/l, more than twice EPA's 0.030 mg/l drinking water standard. Still, the actual value is less than half of the value of 0.15 mg/l expected by Areva at this location.
Uranium concentrations in groundwater near the tailings pile, that had stabilized at around 0.1 mg/l during the first decade after decommissioning, showed a more than tenfold sharp increase beginning in 2007 and now have reached values of up to 1.3 mg/l. Nevertheless, this is below the 4.45 mg/l Alternate Concentration Limit generously approved by NRC for this site in 2005 at Areva's request (see below).
Areva sees no connection between the sharp increase in uranium concentrations in groundwater and the observed increase in surface water: "This small change is not thought to be due to the tailings seepage."
> Download Semi-annual ground water monitoring report, Shirley Basin Mine, Pathfinder Mines Corp., Aug. 2011 (17.8MB PDF - ADAMS Acc. No. ML11252A529)

 

NRC approves further weakening of Pathfinder's Shirley Basin uranium mill tailings cover specifications

On July 1, 2004, NRC issued a license amendment approving relaxed requirements for the gradation of the clay to be used in the tailings cover. Now, only 70 percent, rather than 83 percent, must be passing a 200 size sieve (corresponding to a particle diameter of 75 µm or less). The radon exhalation from the covered pile, therefore, will be higher than anticipated, if the cover thickness remains unchanged.
However, in a license amendment issued on Aug. 1, 2003 (see below), the clay cover thickness already had been reduced to 6 inches [15.24 cm]. For the relaxed gradation requirement, NRC now calculates a radon flux of 19.2 pCi/m2s, only just below the regulatory limit of 20 pCi/m2s [0.74 Bq/m2s]. Given the uncertainties with such radon flux calculations, and, given that "the construction and 200-year minimum durability of a discrete 6-inch-thick clay layer is problematic", it is highly questionable that the cover will meet the radon flux limit in the long term. Nevertheless, NRC approved this further weakening of the cover specifications.

 

Pathfinder requests 2-year delay for completion of Shirley Basin uranium tailings cover

Federal Register: March 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 42) p. 10275-10276 (download full text )
"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated December 26, 2002, as supplemented by an e-mail received February 3, 2003, a request from Pathfinder Mining Company to amend License Condition (LC) 50A(3) & 50B(1) of Source Material License SUA-442 for the Shirley Basin Site. The license amendment request proposes to modify LC 50A(3) to change the completion date for radon barrier placement to December 31, 2006, a delay of two years, and to modify LC 50B(1) to change the target completion date for the erosion protection placement to December 31, 2006, a delay of one year."

 

PMC requests amendment to the approved tailings reclamation plan in order to reduce cost

By letter dated Oct. 16, 2001, PMC requests an amendment to the approved tailings reclamation plan for its Shirley Basin uranium mill site. PMC believes that the current plan is not cost effective and that the the required volume of rock can significantly be reduced, while still meeting all NRC technical and safety criteria.
"The revised plan differs from the approved plan in two key ways. The revision involves a substantial increase in regrading in order to create relatively flat surfaces or benches that utilize rock-protected apron slopes to make the transition from upper benches to lower benches. The result is a reclamation surface covered primarily by vegetated topsoil instead of large expanses of rock.
The other significant change concerns the thickness of the radon barrier. When the approved plan was designed, the available information concerning the Ra-226 source term of the tailings was limited. [...] After completing the interim cover a tailings sampling program was initiated in order to obtain comprehensive data on the tailings source term. [...] The result of the analysis was a significantly lower source term than presented in the approved plan. Much of this reduction was due to the presence of substantial layers of interim cover that was treated for radon flux modeling purposes as the upper part of the source term. Consequently, the required barrier thickness to meet the 10 CFR 40 Appendix A radon flux criterium has dropped substantially." (emphasis added)

On Jan. 24, 2003, NRC staff issued an Draft Environmental Assessment proposing approval of PMC's amendment request.

On April 30, 2003, NRC announced a Finding of No Significant Impact and Availability of the Environmental Assessment Regarding the Proposed Changes to the Reclamation Plan:
Federal Register: May 9, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 90) p. 25070-25071 (view full text )

On Aug. 1, 2003, NRC changed the license accordingly.

 

NRC approves relaxed groundwater standards for Pathfinder's Shirley Basin uranium mill tailings

Notice in Federal Register Vol.65, No.92, p.30450 (May 11, 2000) (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated April 3, 2000, an application from Pathfinder Mines Corporation to establish Alternate Concentration Limits and, accordingly, amend Condition 47 of its Source Material License No. SUA-442 for the Shirley Basin Wyoming, uranium mill."

PMC requests a Point of Compliance ACL for uranium that is 64-fold and for thorium-230 19-fold the current site standard. The expected resulting concentrations at the "Point of Exposure" (defined by PMC) are for uranium 0.15 mg/l, and for thorium-230 0.3 pCi/l (0.011 Bq/l).
According to PMC, "the use of well water containing 0.15 mg U/l by the residents at this site is not expected to result in uranium burdens in the kidney that are associated with kidney damage." This uranium concentration, however, exceeds the proposed EPA standard of 20 µg/l 7-fold and the 1998 World Health Organization guideline of 2 µg/l 75-fold.

EPA std 40 CFR 192current POC site stdproposed POC ACLexpected POE conc. for proposed POC ACLEPA drinking water stdWHO drinking water guideline
uranium0.044 mg/l *0.07 mg/l4.40 - 4.45 mg/l0.15 mg/l0.02 mg/l ***0.002 mg/l
thorium-230(15 pCi/l) **0.3 pCi/l5.53 - 5.76 pCi/l0.3 pCi/l(15 pCi/l) **
* Combined U-238 and U-234: 30 pCi/l (equiv. 0.044 mg/l for equilibrium)
** Gross alpha-particle activity (excluding radon and uranium)
*** proposed
POC = Point of Compliance, POE = "Point of Exposure", ACL = Alternate Concentration Limit

Background documents are available through ADAMS .

On Dec. 24, 2002, NRC staff issued its draft environmental assessment of the request for Alternate Concentration Limits. From the conclusions:

"Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the environmental impacts associated with the proposed action are not significant and, therefore, do not warrant denial of the license amendment request."

On July 31, 2005, NRC staff issued the final environmental assessment of the request for Alternate Concentration Limits. NRC staff proposes to approve the license amendment request with additional conditions, "because concerns exist regarding impacts to Spring Creek after CAP deactivation".

On August 25, 2005, NRC issued a Finding of No Significant Impact.
Federal Register: September 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 169) p. 52136-52137 (download full text )

 

PMC requests extension of reclamation completion date by two years

Notice in Federal Register Vol.64, No.241, p.70293-70294 (December 16, 1999) (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated October 29, 1999, an application from Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC) to amend License Condition (LC) 50 of its Source Material License No. SUA-442 for the Shirley Basin, Wyoming uranium mill site. The license amendment application proposes to modify LC 50 to change the completion date for three site-reclamation milestones. The new dates proposed by PMC would extend completion of placement of the interim cover over tailings pile, completion of placement of the final radon barrier, and completion of placement of the erosion protection cover by two years."

 

NRC approves reclamation plan

Notice in Federal Register Vol.63, No.225, p.64740-64741 (November 23, 1998) (download full notice ):
"Pathfinder Mines Corporation, Final Finding of No Significant Impact, Notice of Opportunity for Hearing.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-442 to authorize Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC) to reclaim the Shirley Basin uranium mill site located in Carbon County, Wyoming. This license currently authorizes PMC to possess byproduct material in the form of uranium waste tailings generated by the licensee's milling operations at the site. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of PMC's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action of approval of a reclamation plan."


Petrotomics Co Shirley Basin South uranium mill site (Wyoming)

NRC Docket No. (PETROTOMICS)
NRC Source Material License No. SUA-551

> U.S. DOE Office of Legacy Management: Shirley Basin South site

Aerial View: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

Radium and selenium continue to exceed site-specific alternate concentration limits in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

"Concentrations of radium-226, radium-228, and selenium continued to exceed their respective ACLs [site-specific alternate concentration limits]. No risks to human health and the environment were identified." (2020 Annual Site Inspection and Monitoring Report for Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Title II Disposal Sites, U.S. DOE Legacy Management, December 2020)

Selenium now exceeding alternate concentration limits in more groundwater wells at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

"The 2019 sampling event was the first ACL [Alternate concentration limit] exceedance for selenium in well 5-SC [0.14 mg/L]. Aside from an anomalously high selenium concentration of 1.3 mg/L in 2000, well 5-DC did not exceed the ACL [of 0.12 mg/L] until 2019 [0.33 mg/L].
An expanded characterization of the site's hydrologic and geochemical processes is planned for 2020 and will examine possible mechanisms for increasing selenium trends near wells 5-DC and 5-SC."
(2019 Annual Site Inspection and Monitoring Report for Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Title II Disposal Sites, U.S. DOE Legacy Management, December 2019)
> See also: Now also selenium exceeding alternate concentration limits in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

DOE intends to exclude a large portion of Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site for Ur-Energy's in situ leach project

"DOE-LM has become aware that Ur-Energy is planning to conduct in-situ recovery (ISR) solution mining on their property adjacent to the northern boundary of SBS. Because these future ISR operations will affect groundwater conditions and were not considered when the current LTSP (Long-Term Surveillance Plan) was drafted, DOE-LM plans to factor this operation into its revised LTSP. UR-Energy has approached DOE-LM about acquiring a portion of SBS property to expand their ISR operations. This portion of SBS is referred to as the Area of Interest and is shown on the attached map.
Per requirements of 40 CFR 40.28(c)(3), DOE-LM is notifying NRC of proposed changes to the LTSP. Pending NRC's response to this proposal, DOE-LM plans to revise the LTSP as follows:
  1. revise DOE-LM's long-term surveillance boundary to exclude the Area of Interest;
  2. implement institutional controls between the new long-term surveillance boundary and the existing long-term surveillance boundary (i.e., current DOE-LM ownership boundary);
  3. revise ACLs to ensure continued compliance during any future ISR operations; and
  4. eliminate existing monitoring wells located within the Area of Interest."
(DOE letter to NRC, July 15, 2016)

DOE proposes to relax groundwater standards for Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

On July 15, 2016, the Department of Energy (DOE) informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intention to relax the site's Alternate concentration limits (ACLs) for groundwater: "Alternate concentration limits (ACLs) for the site have been exceeded since before the site was transferred to DOE-LM. As previously requested by NRC, DOE-LM conducted an evaluation of historical data for the site and concluded that higher ACLs are justified."

Now also selenium exceeding alternate concentration limits in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

In addition to Radium-226 and Radium-228, now also selenium exceeds the alternate concentration limits in groundwater at the Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site. "The selenium concentrations in POC [Point of Compliance] wells 5-DC and 5-SC and in monitoring well 54-SC have been following a general upward trend since 2010, with the concentration in well 54-SC now exceeding the ACL [alternate concentration limit]."
> Download: Data Validation Package, July 2015 Groundwater Sampling at the Shirley Basin South, Wyoming, Disposal Site , LMS/SBS/S00715, U.S. Department of Energy, Legacy Management, October 2015 (6MB PDF)

NRC not convinced that Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings impoundment is not leaking

"NRC staff has reviewed DOE's report, and other information about the Shirley Basin South site as discussed below, as well as, DOE's proposed changes to the LTSP. Based on our review of this available information, the NRC staff has concluded that the current ground water monitoring data do not conclusively demonstrate whether or not the tailings impoundment is leaking.
Therefore, consistent with the following observations, the NRC staff has concluded that DOE's proposed revisions to the ground water monitoring program are not acceptable: [...] Therefore, in light of the foregoing, the NRC staff has concluded that the DOE should continue to monitor the ground water in accordance with the current ground water monitoring program." (NRC letter to DOE, March 25, 2014, emphasis added)

Elevated radium-226 concentrations in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site not caused from seepage, DOE report

"A further review of Petrotomics' ACL application and groundwater modeling, combined with an evaluation of groundwater monitoring data collected by Petrotomics and DOE, indicate that elevated radium concentrations at the site represent localized ore mineralization. There is no evidence to suggest that the disposal cell is not functioning as designed, and the attenuation capacity of the formation is sufficient to prevent offsite plume migration of the legacy groundwater contamination. Furthermore, potential site-related contamination due to tailings seepage will not present any unacceptable risks at concentrations that are likely to be observed at the site boundary."
> Download Groundwater Evaluation and Recommended Monitoring for the Shirley Basin South, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II, Disposal Site, August 2013 , LMS/SBS/S10313, U.S. Department of Energy - Legacy Management

Radium-226 exceeds alternate concentration limits in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

On Nov. 4, 2009, U.S. DOE notified NRC that a new monitoring well had a radium-226 concentration of 172 picocurries per liter (pCi/L) during the 2009 sampling event which exceeds the ACL of 91.3 pCi/L.
In an evaluation prepared in March 2011 and released on Oct. 6, 2011, DOE states: "At this time, there are insufficient data to definitively determine why radium-226 is elevated at well 110-DC." But, the available information "suggests that the elevated radium-226 concentrations at well 110-DC do not represent a contaminant plume migrating off site; rather, they more likely represent natural conditions as discussed below."
> Download Evaluation of Elevated Radium-226 and Radium-228 Concentrations at the Shirley Basin South, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site , U.S. DOE Legacy Management, March 2011

Radium-228 exceeds alternate concentration limits in groundwater at Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings disposal site

Shirley Basin South, Wyoming: the ground water alternate concentration limit for radium-228 continued to be exceeded at two monitor wells. The cause for this occurrence has not been determined. Regulatory notifications have been made and a recommended evaluative monitoring program is being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Long-Term Surveillance Plan (LTSP). (2007 Annual Site Inspection and Monitoring Report for Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Title II Disposal Sites, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management, November 2007)
> Download 2007 Annual Site Inspection and Monitoring Report
In an evaluation prepared in March 2011 and released on Oct. 6, 2011, DOE states: "Cell leakage does not appear to have caused the elevated concentrations of radium-228."
> Download Evaluation of Elevated Radium-226 and Radium-228 Concentrations at the Shirley Basin South, Wyoming, UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site , U.S. DOE Legacy Management, March 2011

NRC establishes U.S. Department of Energy as the long-term custodian of the Shirley Basin South uranium mill tailings site

Federal Register: June 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 124) p. 37448-37449 (download full text )

NRC terminates license for Petrotomics Shirley Basin tailings site

On June 8, 2005, NRC accepted the Long-term Surveillance Plan for the Petrotomics Shirley Basin tailings site and terminated the Source Material License No. SUA-551 for the site.

NRC approves relaxed groundwater standard for selenium at Petrotomics Shirley Basin tailings site

"By letter dated April 25, 2002, Petrotomics Company (Petrotomics) requested that License Condition (LC) 47B of the Shirley Basin site Source Materials License SUA-551 be amended to modify the groundwater protection standard for selenium at the designated point of compliance (POC) wells. Specifically, Petrotomics proposed to increase the standard for selenium from the current value of 0.023 mg/l to 0.12 mg/l at POC wells 5DC, 19DC, 5SC, and 51SC. In a telephone conference on August 21, 2002, the staff requested that Petrotomics perform additional selenium transport simulations to support the license amendment request and this additional information was provided in a letter dated September 12, 2002. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed its review of the Petrotomics amendment request and the staff’s detailed evaluation is documented in the enclosed Technical Evaluation Report (Enclosure 1).
Based on its review, the staff concludes that the Petrotomics request to amend LC 47B to modify the selenium groundwater protection standard is acceptable." (from NRC letter to Petrotomics, September 27, 2002, emphasis added)

Petrotomics Company "donates" uranium mining land to state

The Wyoming state Board of Land Commissioners has accepted a company's donation of 2,461 acres (996 ha) in the Shirley Basin. The land donated by Petrotomics Company, a subsidiary of ChevronTexaco Company, is about 30 miles north of Medicine Bow and 40 miles south of Casper. The land was once used for uranium mining but has not been mined since 1977. The Office of State Lands and Investments estimated the land is worth $250,000, or $100 per acre. The tract includes filled-in, open-pit uranium mines that were reclaimed by the Abandoned Mine Land Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality between 1986 and 1993, according to board documents.
Petrotomics is still transferring its mill site, encompassing 1,500 acres (607 ha) in the same area, to the U.S. Department of Energy for long-term study and monitoring. (Casper Star-Tribune August 10, 2002)

Tailings reclamation completed

On Nov. 30, 2001, Petrotomics submitted to NRC the Tailings Reclamation Construction Completion Report for the Shirley Basin tailings impoundment.
By letter dated Feb. 15, 2002, NRC accepted the report. The review of the report shall be completed by May 20, 2002.

Relaxed Groundwater Standards

Notice in Federal Register Vol.63, No.190, p.52777-52778 (October 1, 1998) (download full notice ):
"Petrotomics Company, Shirley Basin, WY; Final Finding of No Significant Impact

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend Petrotomics Company's (Petrotomics') Source Material License SUA-551, to allow alternate concentration limits (ACLs) for groundwater hazardous constituents at the Shirley Basin uranium mill site in Carbon County, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the EA is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this licensing action."

Petrotomics not able to comply with Wyoming groundwater standards at Shirley Basin uranium mill site

"Meeting Regarding Groundwater Cleanup at the Shirley Basin Uranium Mill Site

On August 13, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management met with representatives of the Petrotomics Company (Petrotomics), and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) to discuss and resolve issues related to groundwater cleanup at Petrotomics' uranium mill site in Shirley Basin, Wyoming. The main issue is that Petrotomics would not be able to comply with the State of Wyoming groundwater standards, and unlike the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the WDEQ standards have No risk-based provision such as those contained in 10 CFR Part 40, Appendix A, covering alternate concentration limits. Petrotomics discussed its approach in resolving the WDEQ identified technical issues as well as its plan to work with WDEQ in seeking flexibility in WDEQ's standards at the statutory level. Petrotomics is scheduled to submit its response to the technical issues to WDEQ by the middle of October 1998."

(NRC Weekly Information Report For the Week Ending August 21, 1998)


Umetco East Gas Hills site (Wyoming)

NRC Docket No. (UMETCO MINERALS CORP., RIVERTON, WY)
NRC Material License No. SUA-648

NRC Facility Info · Views (WMA)
Aerial View: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

Umetco applies for reduction of groundwater monitoring at former Gas Hills uranium mill site

The Umetco Minerals Corporation of Grand Junction, Colorado, has applied for an amendment of its Source material License from the Land Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The amendment requests the reduction of the Land Use Survey area and the removal of two monitoring locating which do not provide pertinent data.
Written objections to the proposed license amendment must be received before the close of business on April 1, 2019.
> View: Public Notice Feb. 11, 2019 (Wyoming DEQ Land Quality Division)

NRC and Wyoming DEQ issue Memorandum of Understanding on decommissioning of five uranium mill tailings sites transferred to state regulation

> View here

NRC announces opportunity to request a hearing and to petition for leave to intervene on proposed modification of groundwater monitoring program at Umetco's former Gas Hills uranium mill site

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an application from Umetco Minerals Corporation for amendment of Materials License No. SUA-648 to modify the ground water monitoring program at Umetco's Gas Hills East site in Fremont and Natrona counties, Wyoming. The amendment would increase the number of wells in the ground water monitoring program, change the sampling period and parameters, change the reporting period for ground water monitoring reports and establish the ground water monitoring program as a stand-alone document, rather than an appendix in Umetco's Alternate Concentration Limit application.
A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by May 22, 2015.
> Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015) p. 15257-15259 (download full text )
> Download Umetco application Jan. 22, 2015 (45.7MB PDF - Acc.No. ML15027A095)
> Access Docket ID NRC-2015-0066

Attenuation of radium concentrations in groundwater not functioning as predicted at Umetco's former Gas Hills uranium mill site, NRC

"Figure 5 of the September 2013 report shows that 226+228Ra concentrations have increased in monitoring well (MW) 28 and decreased in MWI64 since about 2002. Umetco believes this indicates that the plume is moving across the site, as MW28 is hydrogeologically down gradient from MWI64. However, there does not appear to be any attenuation of constituent concentrations as described in the ACL [alternate concentration limit] application.
While the sampling data confirms that constituent concentrations remain well below the approved ACLs, the increasing 226+228Ra concentrations measured at monitoring well MW28 do not support the conclusions stated in the hazard assessment performed for approval of the ACL amendment request, i.e., that the constituent concentrations will be attenuated as the plume moves across the site towards the POE [Point of Exposure]. The apparent lack of attenuation taking place between MWI64 and MW28 may indicate that future constituent concentrations have the potential to be in excess of the background concentration of 69.5 pCi/l [2.57 Bq/l] at the POE in the WFR [Western Flow Regime]."
(NRC letter to Umetco Minerals Corp. March 11, 2014 , ADAMS Acc. No. ML14037A428)
> See also: UMETCO letter to NRC Sep. 18, 2013 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML13263A017)
> See also: UMETCO letter to NRC March 7, 2013 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML13070A088)

NRC issues Environmental Assessment on erosion enhancement design for Umetco's former Gas Hills uranium mill site

"The NRC staff concludes that Umetco's proposed actions to enhance the erosion protection design to correct the sub-grade erosion at its Gas Hill Reclamation Project will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement is not warranted for the proposed action. Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC staff has prepared this EA and determined that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate for the proposed action to amend Umetco's license."
> Download Environmental Assessment for Umetco Minerals Corporation, Gas Hills reclamation project, above-grade tailings impoundment and A-9 repository erosion protection enhancement design report , U.S. NRC, Aug. 11, 2011
> Federal Register: August 19, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 161) p. 52022-52024 (download full text )
> Download Technical Evaluation Report, Aug. 22, 2011

NRC issues Notice of Opportunity To Request a Hearing on erosion enhancement design for Umetco's former Gas Hills uranium mill site

Requests for a hearing must be filed by May 16, 2011.
Federal Register: March 16, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 51) p. 14437-14439 (download full text )
> Download Above Grade Tailings Impoundment and A-9 Repository Erosion Protection Enhancement Design Report , Dec. 20, 2010 (19MB PDF - ADAMS Acc. No. ML103640265)

Umetco requests dismissal of unfavourable groundwater monitoring results at former Gas Hills uranium mill site

By letter dated Sep. 22, 2009, Umetco notified the NRC that in two of four Point of Compliance (POC) wells, cadmium concentrations exceeded Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCL) established in 10 CFR 40, Appendix A. Umetco now claims "that the cadmium concentrations detected in two of the POC wells are erratically detected, not consistent with groundwater contamination and exclusion from the set of hazardous groundwater constituents at this site is appropriate".

NRC releases Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Gas Hills East (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site

> Download Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Gas Hills East (UMTRCA Title II) Disposal Site, Fremont and Natrona Counties, Wyoming, July 2009 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092250176)

NRC approves relaxed Radium-226 standard for topsoil covers at Umetco Gas Hills uranium mill site

By letter dated Feb. 7, 2006, Umetco Minerals Corp. requests from NRC a license amendment to relax the Ra-226 standard for the 1-foot topsoil cover on the C-18 pit from 5 pCi/g (0.185 Bq/g) to 10 pCi/g (0.37 Bq/g). Umetco maintains that the Ra-226 background concentration in the area exceeds the 5 pCi/g criterion.
Umetco moreover requests to relax the Ra-226 standard for the cover of the GHP-2/Mill Area from 10 pCi/g (0.37 Bq/g) to 15 pCi/g (0.555 Bq/g), and to adjust the related gamma exposure limit from 30 µR/h to 40 µR/h.
On Nov. 22, 2006, NRC approved the requested license amendments.

U.S. NRC approves Umetco's request for relaxed groundwater standards for lead-210 at East Gas Hills uranium mill site

The requested license amendment was issued on March 24, 2006.

Federal Register: January 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 18) p. 4624 (download full text )
> Download NRC's Environmental Assessment, Jan. 20, 2006 (ADAMS)

By letter dated June 17, 2005, Umetco requested from NRC a license amendment to revise the Alternate Concentration Limit (ACL) for Lead-210 (Pb-210) for the Southwestern Flow Regime (SWFR) four-fold to 189 pCi/L (7 Bq/L), since monitoring of Point of Compliance (POC) Well GW7 indicates increased concentrations of Pb-210 exceeding the ACL of 46.7 pCi/L (1.73 Bq/L).

NRC approves relaxed groundwater standards for Gas Hills uranium mill site

Notice in Federal Register Vol. 67, No. 61, p. 15252-15254 (March 29, 2002) (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-648 to authorize the licensee, Umetco Minerals Corporation (Umetco) to apply Alternate Concentration Limits (ACL) to licensed constituents of ground water according to the submitted plan. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of Umetco's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action."

A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days from March 29, 2002.

On May 11, 2001, Umetco had applied for Alternate Groundwater Concentration Limits at the Gas Hills uranium mill site.
> Download: Final Application for Alternate Concentration Limits For Gas Hills, Wyoming , Umetco Minerals Corporation, May 11, 2001 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML011490363)

Umetco Gas Hills site groundwater standards
ConstituentWestern Flow Regime
(Lower Wind River Aquifer)
Southwestern Flow Regime
(Upper Wind River Aquifer)
STDACLSTDACL
arsenic [mg/l]0.051.800.051.36
beryllium [mg/l]0.051.640.011.70
gross alpha [pCi/l]463,33817.86,223
lead-210 [pCi/l]5.035.44.646.7
nickel [mg/l]0.0613.00.049.34
radium-226+228 [pCi/l]31.525024.9353
selenium [mg/l]0.010.1610.010.53
thorium-230 [pCi/l]6.657.44.844.8
uranium-natural [mg/l]0.1311.90.2934.1
STD = Current Standard, ACL = Alternate Concentration Limit requested
1 pCi = 0.037 Bq

On January 25, 2002, NRC issued a draft Environmental Assessment for this application: "Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the environmental impacts associated with the proposed action do not warrant denial of the license amendment. [...] The NRC staff has determined that the proper action is to issue a FONSI in the Federal Register."
> Download: Environmental Assessment of the application of alternate concentration limits to ground water at the Umetco Minerals Corporation, Gas Hills uranium mill site , March 24, 2002 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML020840234)

NRC approves disposal of offsite-material at Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site

On May 11, 2001, Umetco issued a license amendment request to dispose of International Mining Company (IMC) residual beneficiation materials at Umetco's Gas Hills site. The IMC material is located a few miles from the Gas Hills Wyoming site. The estimated disposal volume is approximately 2,000 cubic yards (1529 m3) with an estimated average Ra-226 concentration of approximately 220 pCi/g (8.14 Bq/g).
NRC approved the license amendment on August 10, 2001.

NRC approves decommissioning of contaminated land at Umetco East Gas Hills uranium mill site

Notice in Federal Register Vol.66, No.41, p.12962-12963 (March 1, 2001) (download full notice :
"SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-648 to authorize the licensee, Umetco Minerals Corporation (Umetco), to decommission the contaminated land associated with the operation of the uranium mill facility according to the Revised Soil Decommissioning Plan submitted September 15, 2000, as amended. The Umetco East Gas Hills site, is located in Natrona County, Wyoming, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the town of Riverton, Wyoming. The mill operated from 1960 to 1979 and was dismantled in 1992. During operation, wind-blown tailings and tailings- solution from the Above-Grade Impoundment contaminated areas north of the Impoundment. A portion of the land contaminated with byproduct material was remediated (excavated) in 1993. Several changes and improvements have been proposed in the revised decommissioning plan.
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of Umetco's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action."
A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days from March 1, 2001.

The EA and other background documents are available through ADAMS .

NRC approves enhanced reclamation plan for A-9 in-pit tailings repository

Notice in Federal Register Vol.64, No.227, p.66512-66513 (Nov 26, 1999) (download full notice - watchout: wrong docket number shown in notice):
SUMMARY: The Umetco Minerals Corporation (Umetco) requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) amend its NRC Source Material License SUA-648 to authorize reclamation of the A-9 Repository (disposal cell), located in Natrona County, Wyoming, according to the 1998 Enhanced Reclamation Plan, as amended. The Umetco East Gas Hills site is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the town of Riverton, Wyoming. The A-9 cell is a former surface uranium mine that was lined with clay and used for mill tailings disposal. Cover construction was begun under a previously approved reclamation design and several changes have been proposed in the enhanced plan. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of Umetco's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the EA is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.

NRC approves enhanced reclamation plan for above-grade tailings repository

Notice in Federal Register Vol.64, No.100, p.28220-28221 (May 25, 1999) (download full notice ):
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-648 to authorize the licensee, Umetco Minerals Corporation (Umetco), to reclaim the Above-Grade Impoundment (Impoundment), located in Natrona County, Wyoming, according to the 1997 Enhanced Reclamation Plan, as amended. The Umetco East Gas Hills site is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the town of Riverton, Wyoming. The Impoundment was constructed to a previously approved reclamation design, except for the top cover layer, and several changes have been proposed in the enhanced plan. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of Umetco's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.

See also Notice in Federal Register Vol.63, No.231, p.66586 (Dec 2, 1998) (download full notice ).

Approval of Cleanup for heap leach site

Notice in Federal Register Vol.63, No.87, p.25100-25101 (May 6, 1998) (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-648 to authorize the licensee, Umetco Minerals Corporation (Umetco), to reclaim the commercial heap leach area, located in Natrona County, Wyoming, according to the 1996 Reclamation Plan, as amended. This license currently authorizes Umetco to receive, acquire, possess, and transfer uranium at the Umetco East Gas Hills site, which is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the town of Riverton, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of Umetco's license amendment request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action."

ANC Gas Hills uranium mill and tailings site, Fremont County, Wyoming

NRC Docket No. (AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORP., CASPER, WY)
NRC Material License No. SUA-667

NRC Facility Info
Aerial View: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

Reclamation efforts of ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings stalled, as available funds have been exhausted

"On May 9, 1994 the American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) announced its intention to discontinue operations at its Gas Hills Site and to go out of business. ANC forfeited its $3.2 million dollar reclamation bond to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) and subsequently the WDEQ undertook reclamation activities at the site under a Confirmatory Order (ML071520354 ) between the NRC and the WDEQ in October 1996. The Confirmatory Order provided specific conditions that the WDEQ needed to fulfill as part of site reclamation. [...]
As detailed in other correspondence [...], the forfeited funds were never sufficient to cover the reclamation costs as directed by the NRC. Reclamation efforts have stabilized the site; however, the site does not meet current NRC standards for decommissioning under 10 CFR 40 Appendix A. Forfeited bonds and Title X funds to perform the reclamation have been exhausted to less than $2,000 and, as is directed by the original order, the WDEQ is requesting termination of the Order by NRC." [emphasis added]
(WY DEQ letter to NRC re Termination of Confirmatory Order for American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) Gas Hills Site , Jan. 6, 2020)

On Apr. 14, 2020, NRC terminated the Confirmatory Order, as requested.

Interim stabilization of ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings completed - unresolved issues remain

Placement of a vegetated interim cover on TP-1 [Tailings Pond #1] was completed in 2018.
However, several unresolved issues remain:
  1. the construction of a detention pond upstream of the TP-1 reclamation site to temporarily mitigate the extreme sediment and runoff originating from unreclaimed spoils left from historic mining,
  2. the placement of additional fill on the north dam face of TP-1 to flatten the slope from the current 4:1 (H:V) to 8:1 (H:V) in order to avoid further rills and gullies on this slope,
  3. a replacement culvert across the Ore Road to receive runoff from the TP-1 diversion channels.
> Download: ANC Uranium Mill Tailings Closeout Report , Oct. 2019 (43.7MB PDF)

Licensee of leaking ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings evaporates - NRC left in the dark for one year

On July 19, 2018, NRC sent a letter to American Nuclear Corporation, seeking confirmation that the contact for the company is still valid.
> Download NRC letter July 19, 2018 (PDF)
On July 26, 2018, NRC obtained an email reply, stating that the company was dissolved in July 2017 (!) and that there are no officers or contact persons.
> Download Email reply by William C. Salisbury, July 26, 2018 (PDF)
On Aug. 30, 2018, NRC made an attempt to learn more about the whereabouts of the vanished company...
> Download NRC letter to William C. Salisbury, Aug. 30, 2018 (PDF)
On Sep. 30, 2018, William C. Salisbury sent a reply to NRC, stating: "ANC continued to maintain its corporate existence solely for the purpose of transferring the mill site to the DOE and the termination of the NRC license. After waiting for 23 years for this to happen, the directors decided in 2017 that continuing to maintain the corporation was no longer feasible. The lack of funds, together with the ongoing uncertainty of when the WDEQ would complete reclamation, when the DOE would accept the mill site, and when the NRC would terminate the license led to this decision."
> Download William C. Salisbury letter to NRC, Sep. 30, 2018 (PDF)

Design proposed for interim stabilization of ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings

"Based on site investigations, suitable material quality and quantity analysis, and estimated construction costs, the proposed design calls for an average cover thickness of 3.25 feet to be placed on TP-1 [Tailings Pond #1]. The engineering analysis shows that this cover will allow successful revegetation and as such will address geomorphic stability and provide an interim cover until additional funding is available for permanent closure of the site. The proposed design will address long term stabilization of TP-1 and minimize adverse impacts to the environment and public health and safety."
> Download: American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) Tailings Pond #1 Interim Stabilization Plan Design Memorandum , Oct. 2, 2017

On Mar. 15, 2018, NRC issued a Safety Evaluation Report concluding that the Interim Stabilization Plan is acceptable.
> Download: Safety Evaluation Report for the Interim Stabilization Plan for Tailings Pond # 1 at the American Nuclear Corporation Site in Fremont County, Wyoming , Mar. 15, 2018

NRC approves Wyoming's refusal to assume regulatory oversight for underfunded cleanup of ANC Gas Hills uranium mill and tailings site

> View here

Modeling effort fails to analyze water balance of soil covers at selected uranium mill tailings sites

> View here

NRC, in change of mind, orders use of remaining funds from reclamation bond for temporary stabilization of leaking ANC uranium mill tailings, rather than just for groundwater monitoring and site boundary extension

Responding to the groundwater evaluation reports and engineering evaluation/cost analysis reports submitted by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) (see below), NRC concludes that the Confirmatory Order for the reclamation of the ANC Gas Hills site should be modified as follows:
"Using the funds remaining from the forfeited reclamation bond, the WDEQ shall perform engineering and reclamation activities to temporarily stabilize the tailings ponds and provide surface diversions. The WDEQ shall provide the NRC with the plans for the engineering and reclamation and surface diversion activities before the WDEQ undertakes the activities. The WDEQ shall not undertake these activities until the NRC reviews and approves the plans, in writing. The WDEQ shall sample existing wells and surface water stations with any remaining funds from the forfeited bond after the completion of engineering and reclamation activities as described above. [...]" [emphasis added]
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff Review Of Task Order 2 Report And Request For Confirmatory Order Revision (Docket Number: 040-04492) , Sep. 28, 2016 (199k PDF)

State's Engineering Evaluation confirms reclamation costs far beyond reclamation bond for ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site

"LA [Lidstone & Associates] estimates that to complete the reclamation of TP-1 [Tailings Pond No. 1] to NRC standards, the total cost would range from approximately $13.8 million (2016 costs) to $17.7 million (2026 costs). This estimate addresses all NRC line items contained in their 2015 estimate. The LA cost estimate also includes construction/repair of four diversion channels not addressed by NRC in their 2015 estimate.
Finally, it was determined during the analysis that additional work on TP-2 [Tailings Pond No. 2], as suggested by NRC in their assessment, is not necessary, and should not be included in this reclamation cost estimate. [...]
There is approximately $635,000 remaining in the reclamation budget going forward. [...]
Based upon the total funding remaining in the ANC forfeited bond, there will not be enough available money to perform all or even a significant number of the reclamation options evaluated during the course of Task Order 002. Should progressive funding become available, a sequence of reclamation actions is presented in Table 7.1. The most immediate reclamation need is to place a limited (3 foot) cover over TP-1 [Tailings Pond No. 1]. The least pressing priority is to replace or rebuild the rock cover over TP-2." [emphasis added]
Draft ANC Uranium Mill Tailings Site Report of Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis and Prioritization of Reclamation Activities , prepared for Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality by Lidstone & Associates, May 2016 (22.7MB PDF)

ANC Uranium Mill Tailings Site Report of Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis and Prioritization of Reclamation Activities , May 2016 (13.5MB PDF)

Groundwater contamination at ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site extends farther than expected

"Water quality impacts to near surface groundwater from Tailings Pond No. 1 extend farther north than previously anticipated or measured. Based on Wyoming DEQ Chapter 8 Class III groundwater standards for livestock, the most significant water quality impacts exist around and just north of Tailings Pond No. 1 where sulfate concentrations in excess of 3,000 mg/L and radium-226 concentrations in excess of 5 pCi/L exceed water quality standards. The network of new monitoring wells that were installed in July 2015 has highlighted that general water quality impacts extend more than 2 miles downgradient of Tailings Pond No. 1. The downgradient migration of the water quality impacts is primarily due to the high permeability of the alluvium and Wind River Formation along preferred flowpaths." [emphasis added]
ANC Uranium Mill Tailings Site - Results of 2015 Hydrogeologic Investigation, Draft , March 4, 2016 (18.5MB PDF)

ANC Uranium Mill Tailings Site Results of 2015 Hydrogeologic Investigation , April 4, 2016 (52.7MB PDF)

Remaining US$ 16 million reclamation costs for the ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site not covered by reclamation bond

In a letter to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) dated Jan. 8, 2015, the NRC provided an estimate of the remaining reclamation costs for the ANC Gas Hills site of US$ 16,382,356. This amount does not include the long-term care and maintenance activities that may be necessary after transfer of the site to DOE.
On May 9, 1994, the American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) announced that it intended to discontinue operations at its Gas Hills Site and go out of business. The company forfeited its $3.2 million reclamation bond to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) in October 1994, and WDEQ subsequently undertook reclamation activities at the site using these funds.

Extension of site boundary envisaged as creative low-cost response to off-site groundwater plume at ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site - in view of insufficient reclamation funds

"NRC and WDEQ recognize that, contrary to WDEQ's initial projections, there are insufficient funds remaining to finish reclamation of the site. [...] NRC and WDEQ have decided that the best use of the remaining reclamation funds would be the installation of new monitoring wells and surface water sampling stations to determine the extent of the groundwater plume flowing off-site and, if feasible, to purchase land to extend the site boundary beyond the plume."
(NRC letter to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, June 12, 2014, ADAMS Acc. No. ML14106A328)
(American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) forfeited its $3.2 million reclamation bond to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) in 1994, and WDEQ subsequently undertook reclamation activities at the site using these funds.)

Groundwater contaminant plume continues to spread off-site from ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings site

Wyoming DEQ's Summary of ANC Tailings Pond 1 Analysis dated May 5, 2014, finds that the groundwater contaminant plume at the ANC Gas Hills tailings site spread further off-site between 1989 and 2013. The current pump back system is considered to be inefficient and recommended for shut down.

NRC issues Notice of Violation to Wyoming DEQ on failure to meet monitoring requirements at ANC Gas Hills uranium mill tailings

During an inspection conducted on May 2-3, 2007, at the American Nuclear Corporation's (ANC) Gas Hills Project in Fremont County, Wyoming, the NRC found that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality had failed to perform the prescribed settlement and groundwater monitoring program. Consequently, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation on June 22, 2007.

Reclamation of ANC Gas Hills Tailings Pond No.1 delayed further

While the reclamation of the 80 acre (32 ha) Tailings Pond No. 2 at the ANC Gas Hills site was completed on October 30, 1997 - approx. 3 months before(!) NRC's approval of the related reclamation plan -, reclamation of 40 acre (16 ha) Tailings Pond No. 1 is further delayed. WDEQ still has not submitted yet the final design of the reclamation to the NRC. (Wyoming DEQ Annual Report for ANC Gas Hills Project, July 15, 2004)

Approval of Reclamation Plan

"On February 13, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management issued a letter approving the Final Reclamation Plan for Tailings Pond No. 2 at the American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) uranium mill and tailings site, Gas Hills, Wyoming. The plan was submitted by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) , which is reclaiming the site under a Confirmatory Order issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ANC, the site owner and licensee, discontinued operation and went out of business in May 1994; the reclamation bond was forfeited to WDEQ, which accepted responsibility for site reclamation.

The ANC site reclamation plan was approved by NRC in 1984, and was one of the eight plans determined to be acceptable under Commission Paper SECY-95-155 on June 29, 1995.

WDEQ and its contractors worked with NRC staff to improve the ANC plan, and it is this improved plan which was approved February 13, 1998. The plan also included a preliminary reclamation plan for Pond No. 1; a final plan for Pond No. 1 will be submitted by WDEQ for NRC review and approval prior to reclamation of Pond No. 1."
(U.S. NRC Weekly Information Report for the week ending February 20, 1998)

> View American Nuclear Corp 2000 Annual Report (April 4, 2001) (EDGAR)


Day Loma heap leach site, Wyoming

NRC Docket No.

Release for Unrestricted Use

(Nov.4, 1997) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released Western Nuclear, Inc.'s Day Loma uranium processing site in Wyoming for unrestricted use. The agency found that the site has been successfully remediated to meet federal requirements.
At the Day Loma site, Western Nuclear used the heap leach process to extract uranium from low-grade ore-bearing material that was transferred from its Split Rock uranium mill, about 20 miles away.

> View NRC press release No. 97-164
> See also Notice in Federal Register Vol.62 p.55838-55840 (Oct. 28, 1997)


Bear Creek, Converse County, Wyoming

NRC Docket No. (BEAR CREEK URANIUM CO., CASPER, WY)
NRC Material License No. SUA-1310

NRC Facility Info
Aerial view: Google Maps · MSRMaps

 

Anadarko seeks license amendment to reflect current status of reclaimed Bear Creek uranium mill site

The Anadarko Petroleum Corporation of 1099 18th Street, Suite 1800 Denver, CO 80202 has applied for an amendment of its Source Material License WYSUA-1310 Amendment 53 from the Land Quality Division of the Department of Environmental Quality of the State of Wyoming.
The mining and milling operation began in 1977 and operated until 1986. Reclamation was completed in 1988. The land, after mining, has been returned to agricultural use. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is seeking to amend the above referenced Source Material License to reflect the current status of the reclaimed site.
The Department of Environmental Quality has issued initial approval to the Anadarko Petroleum license amendment application. Information regarding this initial draft decision and the application may be reviewed in the Office of the Land Quality Division, Department of Environmental Quality in Cheyenne or in the Converse County Clerk's Office, Douglas, Wyoming.
Written comments or objections to the proposed license amendment must be received before the close of business on January 17th, 2025.
> View: Public Notice, Nov. 20, 2024 (WY DEQ LQD)

NRC and Wyoming DEQ issue Memorandum of Understanding on decommissioning of five uranium mill tailings sites transferred to state regulation

> View here

NRC issues Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the former Bear Creek uranium mill site

> Download: Draft Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Bear Creek, Wyoming, (UMTRCA Title 11) Disposal Site, Converse County, Wyoming , U.S. DOE Legacy Management, March 2016 (12.1MB PDF)

NRC plans to drop requirement for groundwater monitoring at former Bear Creek uranium mill site in preparation of license transfer to DOE

In preparation of the termination of the license and transfer of the site to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Anadarko Petroleum Corp. requested on Nov. 28, 2011, to move the previously designated Points of Exposure (POE) to wells located at the northern property boundary, and to drop the requirement for groundwater monitoring.
Comments must be filed by May 29, 2012.
A request for a hearing must be filed by June 25, 2012.
> Federal Register Volume 77, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2012) p. 24993-24996 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2012-0095

On Feb. 27, 2013, NRC approved the request, facilitating the transfer of the site to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Long-Term Care and Surveillance. NRC staff nevertheless recommends that DOE continues a limited groundwater monitoring program "to verify the predictive accuracy of the revised ACL model over the entire recommended sampling period".
> Download Environmental Assessment , Feb. 2013
> Download Safety Evaluation Report , Feb. 2013
> Federal Register Volume 78, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2013) p. 25484-25486 (download full text )

Uranium concentrations in groundwater at Bear Creek tailings site exceed predicted values more then tenfold; NRC requests recalculation of alternate concentration limits

The Alternate Concentration Limit (ACL) application submitted on February 28, 1997, and approved by NRC on June 30, 1997, contained predictive modeling results for the maximum concentrations of nickel, radium, and uranium, at the Point of Compliance locations.
In well MW-14, however, uranium exceeded the predicted concentration of 45 pCi/l on several occasions and reached 520 pCi/l in 2008, more than 10 times the predicted value. This indicates that the assumptions used in the original 1997 predictive model to calculate the ACLs are not valid. NRC requests that a new risk-based ACL application be submitted incorporating the ground water data collected over the 13 years since the original ACL application. NRC requests the submittal of a new ACL application within 6 months.
> Download NRC letter to Andarko Petroleum Corp., Nov. 30, 2010 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML103280165)
In its reply dated Nov. 28, 2011, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. concluded: "The recalibrated ground water model predicts that the currently approved ACLs will not be exceeded and the risk assessment confirms there is no unacceptable risk to the public. Therefore, there is no need to change the ACLs." (ADAMS Acc. No. ML120470103 )

Institutional Controls at Bear Creek tailings fail miserably - even before they are relied on

The State of Wyoming has leased out the mineral estate at Bear Creek, although the State will be responsible for the long-term integrity of the reclaimed uranium mill tailings located on the site.
While DOE is the designated long-term custodian for the surface estate of the reclaimed Bear Creek uranium mill tailings site, the State of Wyoming will become the long-term custodian for the subsurface estate, obligated to ensure the long-term integrity of the tailings impoundment for 1000 years.
"... In this regard, the staff was particularly surprised to learn several months ago that the mineral estate at Bear Creek has already been leased. This discovery does not give the staff confidence that institutional controls such as, for example, restrictive covenants, will be sufficient to provide long-term protection of the disposal site, especially as memories fade in the future." (NRC letter to Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments, Sep. 17, 2003)

Relaxed Groundwater Standards

Excerpt from Federal Register: June 27, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 124), Notices, Page 34718-34720; download full notice

"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposes to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-1310 for the licensee, Bear Creek Uranium Company, to allow alternate concentration limits for groundwater hazardous constituents at the Bear Creek uranium facility in Converse County, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment was performed by the NRC staff in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed licensing action."

> View background information on Uranium Mill Tailings Management - USA

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