ML20015A376
| ML20015A376 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/08/2020 |
| From: | NRC/OCIO |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20015A350 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA, NRC-2019-000132, NRC-2020-000076 | |
| Download: ML20015A376 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20IIIHI 0001 September 3, 1999 Mr. Jim Dykman Utah State Historic Preservation Office 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, UT 84101
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS REGARDING CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOR THE PROPOSED RECLAMATION PLAN FOR INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CORPORATION'S (IUC) WHITE MESA URANIUM MILL SITE IN BLANDING, UTAH
Dear Mr. Dykman:
lntemational 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 in San Juan County, in Blanding, Utah. The original reclamation plan was submitted on February 28, 1997. After response to NRC comments, revision 2.0 was submitted to the NRC in 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 is 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 corre to a close and the site is ready to be decommissioned and the tailings reclaimed. The plan includes the removal of contaminated materials (including windblown material) and placement into the tailings pile, cover and in place stabilization of the tailings and contaminated material, and removal of 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 is 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 10 CFR Part 40, Appendix A. As part of that review, the NRC is required to complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) associated
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with the acceptance of the reclamation plan. The NRC requests your assistance in completing this EA.
The following paragraphs concerning historical and cultural resources were taken from a previous NRC EA associated with license renewal completed on February 27, 1997.
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A historical survey was conducted in the project vicinity as part of the initial license application, and six historical sites were identified. However, none of these sites is in an area which will be affected by operations at the mill.
J. Oykman.
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September 3, 1999 Archaeological survo:/s of the project site conducted in 19n and 1979, identified 121 prehistoric sites *,vhioh are affiliated with the San Juan Anasazi Indians who occupied this area of
- Jtah from about O A.O. to 1300 A.O. As a result of the archaeological findings, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between 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 sL*bsequer;t 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 compt3te the EA for the reclamation plan, unless any new information is found regarding this site. In addition, the current license condition that requires the licnnsee to administer a cultural resource inventory is enclosed. If you hav,,1 any comments or questions regarding this request, please contr.ct the NRC Project Manager, William von Till, at (301) 415-6251 or rwvOnrc.gc,v. A response within 30 days of receipt of this letter is appreciatec\\
Docket No.: 40-8681 License No.: SUA-1359
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
M. Rehmann, IUC W. Sincf&ir, UT C.Crist, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe EPA Terry Brown, US EPA Region VIII John J. Surmeier, Chief Uranium Recovery and Low-Level Waste Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
UClNSE CONDITION 9.7 FROM SUA-1368 The cwrent license contains the following oondition to address historical and cultural issues:
9.7 Before engaging in any activity not previously assessed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the licensee shall administer a cultural resource inventory. Atl disturbances associated with the proposed development will be completed in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), and the Archaeological Resources 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 discoV6ry of previously unknown cultural artifacts shall cease.
The artifacts shaN be inventoried and evaluated in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800, and no disturbance shall occur until the licensee has received authorization from the NRC to proceed.
The licensee shall avoid by project design, where feasible, the archaeological sites designated "contributing" in the report submitted by letter dated July 28, 1988. When it is not feasible to avoid a sfte 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 Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), dated April 13, 1981.
The licensee shalt recover through archeological excavation all "contributing" sites listed in the report which are located in or within 100 feet of borrow areas, stockpile areas, construction areas, or the perimeter of the reclaimed tailings impoundment.
Data recovery fieldwork at f!'!ech 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 locensee shall conduct such testing as is required to enable the Commission to determine if 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 warrar,t 'their redesignation as "contributing." In all cases, such testing shall be completed before any aspect of the undertaking affects a site.
Archaeological contractors shall be approved in writing by the Commission. The Commission will approve an archaeological contractor who meets the minimum standards for a principal investigator set forth in 36 CFR Part 66, Appendix C, and whose qualifications are found acceptable by the SHPO.
Enclosure
J.~
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September 3, 1999 Archaeological surveys of the project lite conducted in 19n and 1979, identified 121 prehiatoric att* which are affHiated with the San Juan Anuazl Indians who occupied this
.,.. ~ Utah from about o A.O. to 1300 A.O. Aa a result of the archaeological findings, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among NRC, the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Ac:Meoly Council on Historic Preservation was established to specify requirements necessary to minimize adverse impacts to the previously idttntified 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 wiH ahiiO 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 wiH be used to complete the EA for the reclamation plan, unless any new information ie found regarding ttlts site. In addition, the current license condition that requires the licensee k, administer a cuatural t&!fOUrce inventory is enclosed. If you have any comments or questions regarding this reqUttst, pteiase contact the NRC Project Manager, William von Till, at (301) 415-6251 or rwvOnrc.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,
[Signed by]
John J. Surmeier, Chief Uranium Recovery and Low-Level Waste Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards PISIBIBUTION wtEQCI.:
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