EPA’S

Clean Air Act Requirements:

Uranium Mill Tailings

Radon Emissions Rulemaking

Reid J. Rosnick Presentation to 

Environmental Protection Agency Uranium Contamination

Radiation Protection Division (6608J) Stakeholders Workshop

Washington, DC 20460 September 2010 

rosnick.reid@epa.gov
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Overview

EPA regulatory requirements for operating 

uranium mill tailings (Subpart W)

Status update on Subpart W activities

Outreach/Communications
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EPA Regulatory Requirements for 

Operating Uranium Mill Tailings (Clean Air Act)

• 40 CFR 61 Subpart W requirements apply to facilities 

licensed to manage uranium byproduct materials 

during and following the processing of uranium ores

• Limit on number/size of impoundments

• Phased Disposal – lined impoundments no more 

than 40 acres, no more than two in operation at 

any time

• Continuous Disposal – tailings are dewatered and 

immediately disposed, no more than 10 acres 

uncovered at any time
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EPA Regulatory Requirements for 

Uranium Operations (Clean Air Act)

Subpart W Requirements (continued)

• Radon emission standard of 20 pCi/m2/sec --

annual reporting requirements, notification in 

advance of testing

• The radon emission standard is for existing sources 

only (existing before 12/15/89)

• See 

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/neshaps/subpartw/index.html for 

more information
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Uranium Recovery Methods

Surface Mill In Situ Leach (ISL)

Heap Leach

 

 

PRODUCTION ZONE MONITOR WELL

OVERLYING AQUIFER MONITOR WELL

UNDERLYING AQUIFER MONITOR WELL

INJECTION WELL

PRODUCTION WELL

PRODUCTION 

ZONE

MONITOR WELL RING

MINING UNIT

PROJECTED LIMIT

500' TYPICAL

500' MAX.
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Uranium Mill Tailings In-Situ Leach

Impoundments
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•Status Update on Subpart W Activities
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Status of Subpart W Review Activities

• We conducted historical research on the risk 

assessment work originally done in support of the 

1989 standard

• We completed a survey of existing technologies

• We requested that ISL facilities provide radon flux 

data from their evaporation ponds 

• We are now in the process of performing new risk 

assessments at existing uranium mills and ISL 

facilities
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Communications Plan

• EPA is committed to maintaining an open and 

transparent rulemaking process

• Objectives:

• Inform stakeholders of potential changes in EPA’s Subpart 

W requirements 

• Give stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback 

• Audiences:

• Tribes

• States

• Offices/Regions within EPA

• Other Federal Agencies: NRC, DOE, BLM, others

• Mining companies
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Communications Plan

• Strategies:

• Develop clear messages and materials to explain the 

potential amendments to Subpart W 

• Educate stakeholders by using communications tools to 

provide easy-access to information 

• Work with stakeholder representatives and EPA regional 

staff to identify additional audiences and methods of 

dissemination 

• Communicate a timely and consistent message to 

stakeholders (Industry, Public, Tribes, States, other 

government agencies)
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Outreach

• Holding stakeholder meetings to inform and receive 

input

• on City, CO – June 2009

• Rapid City, SD – October 2009

• Gallup, NM – November 2009

• White Mesa, UT – May 2010

• Denver, CO – May 2010

• Tuba City, AZ – September 2010
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Outreach

• National webinar held June 2010

• Established a dedicated web site to act as an 

information outlet

• http://www.epa.gov/radiation/neshaps/subpartw/rule

making-activity.html

• Site contains current and historical rulemaking 

documents, presentations, contact information, 

useful links
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Outreach

• Quarterly conference calls to answer stakeholder 

questions

• Next call – October 5, 2010 – 11:00 AM EDT

• Call in number is 1-866-299-3188. You will be 

prompted for a conference code, which will be 

2023439563. After entering the conference code 

press the # key and you will then be placed into the 

conference call 

• Public participation by e-mail:

• subpartw@epa.gov
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Questions?