EPA Uranium Program Upda

Loren W. Setlow and Reid J. RosnickEnvironmental Protection Agency Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J)Washington, DC 20460

NMA/NRC Uranium Recovery Workshop April 30, 2008
Overview

EPA Radiation protection programUranium reports and abandoned m

lands program

Coordination with NRC rulemakingEPA regulatory requirements for 

uranium operations
EPA Radiation Protection Program

•Specific Atomic Energy Act radiation protection 

authorities and responsibilities assigned to EPA uReorganization Plan No. 3 in 1970; 

•and•Environmental statute authorities; examples appli

to uranium extraction include

• Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act• Clean Air Act• Clean Water Act• Safe Drinking Water Act • Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

Compensation and Liability Act
Uranium Reports and Abandoned Mine Lands Program

•Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring 

Radioactive Materials from Uranium Mining, VoI: Mining and Reclamation Background

(Revised June 2007)•Volume II: Investigation of Potential Health, 

Geographic and Environmental Issues From Abandoned Uranium Mines (Final released Apri2008)

•Uranium Location Database (August 2006)

• Compilation of Federal and State sources, 

~15,000 records 

• Digital GIS database product
Uranium Reports and Abandoned Mine Lands Program

•Uranium AML Program:•Continued to partner with Federal Mining 

Dialogue agencies; uranium location databincorporated into combined AML spatial database

• Agency testimony for House Hearing on N

uranium AML-Oct. 2007, Senate Hearing on and uranium mining-March 2008

•EPA assistance to Navajo Nation—Five ye

plan to address uranium contamination
EPA Coordination with NRC Rulemakin

•EPA policy on ISL groundwater protection:

• EPA regulations generated in accordance 

UMTRCA (40 CFR 192) provide the appropstandards to be used by NRC for groundwprotection

• EPA’s UIC regulations promulgated under 

Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 146) prostandards which must be followed by ISL injection well applicants, but are supplemand independent of the requirements deveunder UMTRCA
EPA Coordination with NRC Rulemakin

•During 2007 and 2008, EPA participated 

NRC Working Group to develop draft proposed uranium ISL groundwater protection rule

•EPA participation is to ensure that NRC 

incorporates EPA regulatory requiremedeveloped under UMTRCA and that are consistent with EPA UIC injection well regulations

•Under UMTRCA, NRC must obtain EPA 

concurrence on the rule
EPA Regulatory Requirements For Uranium Operations (UMTRCA)

•40 CFR 192 regulations implementing UMTRC

environmental and radiation protection at uranmills and uranium extraction facilities, adopteNRC in 10 CFR Part 40

•Under UMTRCA (and RCRA), restoration of 

groundwater must be to 

• (1) background; or • (2) Maximum Concentration Limits (MCL’s

particular constituents, whichever is high

• (3) Alternate Concentration Limits (ACLs)

established
EPA Regulatory Requirements For Uranium Operations (UMTRCA)

•ACLs must be determined on a case-by

basis and meet ALARA. 

•Class of use is not an approved provisi

under UMTRCA/RCRA for meeting ACLALARA

• Class of use could be considered as 

input in determining final ACLs

•Radiation and environmental protection 

standards for surface facilities and impoundments also established in 40 CF
EPA Regulatory Requirements For Uranium Operations (SDWA-UIC; CW

•EPA’s UIC regulations promulgated und

the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 14146) provide standards which must be followed by ISL injection well applicants

• UIC Class III injection wells• UIC Class V disposal wells

•40 CFR 440 Subpart C implementing the 

Clean Water Act with requirements for environmental limitations on dischargefrom uranium, vanadium and radium mimills and ISL facilities
EPA Regulatory Requirements for 

Uranium Operations (Clean Air Act

• 40 CFR 61, Subpart B regulations limiting rad

emissions from underground uranium mines include:

• Applies to 10,000 tons/yr ore production, o

100,000 tons/mine lifetime

• Ambient air radon standard not to exceed 

mrem/yr to any member of the public-comdetermined with COMPLY-R, or equivalentapproved code

• Annual reporting requirements – by 3/31 e

year, emissions calculations for the year, monthly if not in compliance

• Record keeping requirements: Five years
EPA Regulatory Requirements for 

Uranium Operations (Clean Air Act

• 40 CFR 61 Subpart W Requirements apply to f

licensed to manage uranium byproduct mater(after 12/15/89) during and following the proceuranium ores

• Preconstruction approval, 40 CFR 61.07• Impoundment construction and operation 

requirements in 40 CFR 192 cross referencSubpart W 

• Limit on number/size of impoundments

• Phased Disposal – lined impoundments 

more than 40 acres, no more than two ioperation at any time

• Continuous Disposal – tailings are dew

and immediately disposed, no more thaacres uncovered at any time
EPA Regulatory Requirements for 

Uranium Operations (Clean Air Act

Subpart W Requirements (continued)

• What is an impoundment (per 40 CFR 192.32, 

cross references 40 CFR 260.10)?

• “...a facility or part of a facility which is a n

topographic depression, man-made excavdiked area formed primarily of earthen mat(although it may be lined with man-made materials) which is designed to hold an accumulation of liquid wastes, or wastes containing free liquids, and which is not ainjection well. Examples of impoundments holding, storage, settling, and aeration pitsponds and lagoons.”
EPA Regulatory Requirements for Uranium Operations (Clean Air Act)

Subpart W Requirements (continued)

• Radon emission standard of 20 pCi/m

2/se

annual reporting requirements, notificatioadvance of testing

• The radon emission standard is for existin

sources only (existing before 12/15/89)

• All operators must comply with 40 CFR 

192.32(a), Application standards for proceoperations, and prior to end of the closure period.

• See 

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/neshaps/subindex.html for more information
Questions?