United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20555

Phone 301-415-8200 Fax 301-415-2234

Internet:opa@nrc.gov

No. 99-49 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Friday, March 12, 1999)

NRC ISSUES FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

ON URANIUM MILL TAILINGS PILE IN UTAH

A proposal by the Atlas Corporation to leave its uranium mill tailings pile permanently in

place near Moab, Utah, was found environmentally acceptable by the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission if the company meets a number of specific requirements from the NRC and the

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and if it can show that ammonia levels in the Colorado River

will be reduced to levels specified by the FWS.

The finding was contained in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued by

the NRC.

The tailings pile resulted from operations of a uranium mill at the Moab site from 1956

until 1984. The facility has been owned by Atlas since 1962. Uranium is no longer processed

at the site, and the mill has been dismantled except for one building.

The Atlas proposal includes (1) re-grading the tailings to enhance draining off the pile

and (2) installing an earth and rock cover system over the pile. This cover system is intended

to minimize radon escape, infiltration of rain water into the tailings (thus minimizing infiltration of

tailings contaminants into the groundwater), and tailings erosion potentially caused by surface

runoff from rain or flooding of the Colorado River.

The NRC issued a draft environmental impact statement on the proposed on-site

disposal for public comment in January 1996 and held public meetings in Moab in April 1994,

February 1996 and September 1998 to discuss the proposal. Copies of public comments and

NRC responses to them are included as appendices to the FEIS.

As required by the Endangered Species Act, the agency also consulted with the FWS

concerning the proposed onsite tailings stabilization. In a Final Biological Opinion, FWS

concluded that the proposal would jeopardize the continued existence of four endangered fish

species. To avoid the likelihood of this jeopardy, the FWS developed reasonable and prudent

alternatives that are focused on expediting cleanup of the groundwater and that identify the

ammonia concentrations in the Colorado River that are needed to avoid future jeopardy to

endangered fish. If the NRC approves the Atlas proposal, it will require the company to meet

the conditions specified in the FWS opinion.

Significant additional NRC requirements that would be imposed if the agency approves

the Atlas plant would include analyses to show that ammonia concentrations in the Colorado

River will be reduced to the levels identified by the FWS and more expeditious cleanup of the

groundwater. Other requirements would include minimization of dust emissions; submission of

a spill prevention plan and an erosion control plan for NRC approval; interception and storage
of contaminant-laden runoff through use of adequate drainage control, retention and treatment

ponds, silt fences, and other means as necessary; and avoidance of major earthmoving

operations during periods of high thunderstorm potential when feasible.

The NRC also issued a final technical evaluation report in March 1997 on the safety

aspects of the company’s proposal to dispose of the mill tailings on site.

When printed copies of the FEIS are available (expected within several weeks), copies

will be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The NRC can make no decision on

the pending Atlas request for a license amendment to permit stabilization of tailings on site until

30 days after publication by EPA of a Federal Register notice stating that the FEIS has been

filed with EPA.

A copy of the “Final Environmental Impact Statement Related to Reclamation of the

Uranium Mill Tailings at the Atlas Site, Moab, Utah,” document number NUREG-1531, will be

sent to the Grand County Public Library, 25 South 100 East, Moab. A copy will also be

available for review and copying at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20555; telephone 202/634-3273.

Copies of the document will be available for purchase from the Government Printing

Office, P.O. Box 37082, Washington, DC 20402-9328.

In addition, portions of the FEIS will be available on the NRC Internet web site at

http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/reports.