ML20015A375
| ML20015A375 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/08/2020 |
| From: | NRC/OCIO |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20015A350 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA, NRC-2019-000132, NRC-2020-000076 | |
| Download: ML20015A375 (4) | |
Text
Ms. Mary Jane Yazzie Board Chair White Mesa Ute Council P.O. Box 340 Blanding, Utah 84511 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR AIOULA'll'ORY COMMISSION WASHING TON, D. C. 205M--000t September 9, 1999
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS REGARDING CUL TUAAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOR THE PROPOSED RECLAMATION PLAN FOR INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION'S (IUC) WHITE MESA URANIUM Mill SITE IN BLANDING. UTAH
Dear Ms. Yazzie:
International Uranium Corporation (IUC) has submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) a revised plan for reclamation of the White Mesa Uranium Mill site m San Juan County. 1n Blanding, Utah. The original reclamation plan was submitted on February 28.
1997. After response to NRG comments, revision 2.0 was submitted to the NRC,n a letter dated May 26, 1999, and Attachment A to revision 2.0 was submitted in a letter dated June 22, 1999. The IUC site 1s licensed by the NRC under Materials license SUA-1358 to possess byproduct material in the form of uranium waste tailings and other uranium byproduct waste generated by the licensee's milling operations. as well as other source material from multiple locations. The mill is currently operating.
The reclamation plan is to be implemented after operations of the mill have come to a close and the site 1s ready to be decommissioned and the tailings reclaimed. The plan includes the removal of contaminated materials (including windblow.., material) and placement into the tailings pile, cover and in place stabilization of the tailings and contaminated material, and removal uf mill structures. All disturbed areas will be covered, graded, and vegetated as required. All materials will be mainly collected within the site boundaries with the exception of rock which will be obtained from one of three pits surrounding the Blanding area. The plan,s being reviewed by NRC staff in order to assure that the reclamation of the tailings and waste areas is in accordance with technical criteria defined in 1 O CFR Part 40, Appendix A. As part of tr,at review, the NAC is required to complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) associated with the at::ceptance of the reclamation plan. The NRC requests your assistance in completing this EA.
The following paragraphs concerning historical and
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previous NRC EA associated with license renewal completed on February 27, 1997.
A historical survey was conducted 1n the project vicinity as part of the 1mtial license application, and six historical sites were identified. However, none of these sites 1s in an area which will be affected by operations at the mill.
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M.J. Yazzie
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Archaeolog1cal surveys of the proJect site conducted 1n 197 7 and 1979, 1dent1fied 121 prehistoric sites which are affiltated with the San Juan Anasaz1 Indians wt10 occupied this area of Utah from about O A.O. to f300 A.D As a result of the archaeological findings, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NRC, tt1e Utah State Historic Preservation Officer. and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was establlshed to specify requirements necessary to minimize adverse impacts to the previously 1dentif1ed archaeological sites.
The requirements were incorporated into SUA-1358 when 1rnt1ally issued The requirements have been modified following subsequent amendments to the MOA Th~1 most recent modifications were incorporated into SUA-1358 through the issuance of a license amendment on May 11, 1983. These requirements will be included 1n the renewed license.
The licensee w,11 also be required to conduct, as a minimum. an archaeological and h1stoncal artifact survey of areas not previously surveyed prior to their disturbance.
The above 1nformat1on will be used to complete the EA for the reclamation plan, unless any new 1ntormat1on ts found regarding this site. In addition. the current license cond1t1on that requires the licensee to adm1n1ster a cultural resource inventory 1s enclosed. If you have any comments or questions regarding this request. please contact the NRC Project Manager, Wilham von Till.
at (301) 415-6251 or rwv@nrc.gov. A response w1th1n 30 days of receipt of this letter 1s appreciated.
Sincerely.
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John J. Surme1er, Chief (-
Uranium Recovery and Low-Level Waste Branch Div1s1on of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety Docket No.*. 40-8681 License No.. SUA-13::>8 Enclosure As stated cc:
M. Rehmann, IUC W. Sinclair, UT C.Crist, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe EPA Terry Brown. US EPA Region VIII and Safeguards
LICENSE CONOITION 9. 7 FROM SUA-1358 The current license contains the following condition to address historical and cultural issues:
9.7 Before engaging in any activity not previously assessed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NAC), the licensee shall administer a cultural resource inventory. All disturbances associated with the proposed development will be completed in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended) and its implementing regulations (36 CFFl 800), and the Archaeological Rescurces Protection Act (as amended) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 7).
In order to ensure that no unapproved disturbance of cultural resources occurs. any work resulting in the discovery of previously unknown cultural artifacts shall cease.
The artifacts shall be inventoried and evaluated,n accordance with 36 CFR Part 800, and no disturbance shall occur until the licensee has received authorization from the NAG to proceed.
The licensee shall avoid by proiect design, where feasible, the archaeological sites designated "contributing" in the report submitted by letter dated July 28, 1988. When
,t 1s not feasible to avoid a site designated "contributing" in the report, the licensee shall institute a data recovery program for that site based on the research design submitted by letter from C. E. Baker of Energy Fuels Nuclear to Mr. Melvin T. Smith, Utah State H1stonc Preservation Officer (SHPO). dated April 13, 1981 The licensee shall recover through archeological excavation all "contributing" sites listed in the report which are located in or within 100 feet of borrow areas, stockpile areas, con&truction areas, or the perimeter of the reclaimed tailings impoundment.
Data recovery fleldwork at each site meeting these criteria shall be completed prior to the start of any project related disturbance within 100 feet of the site, but analysis and report preparation need not be complete.
Additionally, the licensee shall conduct sucti testing a~ is required to enable the Commission to determine 11 those sites designated as "Undetermined" in the report and located within 100 feet of present or known future construction areas are of such significance to warrant their redesignation as "contributing." In all cases, such testing shall be completed before any aspect of the undertaking aft ects a site.
Archaeological contractors shall be approved tn writing by the Commission. The Commission will approve an archaeological contractor who meets the minimum standards for a principal investigator set forth 1n 36 CFR Part 66,,~ppendix C, and whose qualifications are found acceptable by the SHPO.
Enclosure
M. September 9, 1999 Archaeological surveys of the project site conducted in 1977 and 1979, identified 121 prehistoric sites which are affiliated with the San Juan Anasazi Indians who occupied this area of Utah f(om about O A.O. to 1300 A.O. As a result of the archaeological findings, a Memoriindum of Agreement (MOA) among NRC, the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was established to specify requirements necessary to minimize adverse impacts to the previously identified archaeological sites.
The requirements were incorporated into SUA-1358 when initially issued. The requirements have been modified following subsequent amendments to the MOA. The most recent modifications were incorporated into SUA-1358 through the issuance of a license amendment on May 11, 1983. These requirements will be included in the renewed license.
The licensee will also be required to conduct, as a minimum, an archaeological and historical artifact survey of areas not previously surveyed prior to their disturbance.
The above information will be used to complete the EA for the reclamation plan, unless any new information is found regarding this site. In addition, the current license condition that requires the licensee to administer a cultural resource inventory is enclosed. If you have any comments or questions regarding this request, please contact the NRC Project Manager, William von Till, at (301) 415-6251 or rwv@nrc.gov. A response within 30 days of receipt of this letter is appreciated.
Docket No.: 40-8681 License No.: SUA-1358
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
M. Rehmann, IUC W. Sinclair, UT C.Crist, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe EPA Terry Brown, US EPA Region VIII Sincerely,
[Dan Gillen for]
John J. Surmeier, Chief Uranium Recovery and Low-Level Waste Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards QISJAUjUJIQN w/Encl.:
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