ML22105A107
| ML22105A107 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/22/2022 |
| From: | NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22096A216 | List: |
| References | |
| M220422B | |
| Download: ML22105A107 (26) | |
Text
Cathy Haney U. S N u c l e a r R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n D e p u t y E xe c u t i v e D i r e c t o r fo r M a t e r i a l s, Wa s t e, R e s e a rc h, S t a t e,
Tr i b a l, C o m p l i a n c e, A d m i n i s t ra t i o n a n d H u m a n C a p i t a l P ro g ra m s NRCs Role in the Ten-Year Plan to Address Uranium Contamination on the Navajo Nation 1
Historic Tailings Dam Failure at the Church Rock Mill Site
- July 16, 1979: tailings dam failed, and tailings liquid and solids were released
- Mill was repaired and is in a safe configuration today
- Today: more stringent requirements to prevent future spills and accidents 2
Breach in Tailings Dam Pasternak, 2010
UNC is decommissioning the former mill site Figure taken from NRC EIS
NRC actively participates in the Ten-Year Plan
- Regulates DOEs management of 4 former mill sites within the Navajo Nation
- Regulates the UNC Church Rock Mill site near the Navajo Nation
- Engaged with Navajo Nation on the Church Rock review to bring mine waste to the mill site 4
NRC regulates uranium mill sites
- NRC does not have role in permitting uranium mining.
5 Old Rifle mill site Photo from energy.gov Calco Mine Photo from Ten-Year Plan Northeast Church Rock Mine Site Cleanup Photo from EPA.gov Uranium Mines Uranium Milling Sites L-Bar mill site Photo from Fluor.com
Jessie M. Quintero U. S. N u c l e a r R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n O f f i c e O f N u c l e a r M a t e r i a l S a fe t y a n d S a fe g u a r d s C h i e f o f t h e E nv i ro n m e n t a l R e v i e w M a t e r i a l s B ra n c h NRCs Review of Church Rock License Amendment Request 6
- UNC submitted a request to amend their NRC license so they could place Northeast Church Rock mine waste on their NRC-licensed Mill Site
- NRC is conducting a safety and environmental review
- Expect to issue the Final EIS and Safety Evaluation Report in May
- Final NRC licensing decision to be made in June 7
NRC ensures amendment request meets safety requirements
8 NRCs preliminary recommendation in the Draft EIS is the environmental impacts do not preclude the approval of the license amendment.
NRCs NEPA process involves multiple opportunities for public input and engagement
NRC conducting thorough NEPA review 9
- The EIS includes evaluation of proposed action and no action and two iterations
- The EIS includes mitigation measures
- Changes between Draft and Final EIS will include:
- Highlighting Navajo Nation perspectives
- Inclusion of Programmatic Agreement (NHPA Section 6 Consultation)
- Updated impact determinations
- Final EIS expected to be published in May
- Will include NRC responses to comments on Draft EIS
NRC conducted consultation on cultural resources under NHPA Section 106
- Resolving the Section 106 Consultation through Programmatic Agreement with multiple signatories
NRC coordinated and engaged with Navajo Nation and other stakeholders throughout its review 11
John Lubinski Lessons Learned from Remediation Activities at Former Uranium Mill Sites U. S. N u c l e a r R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n O f f i c e o f N u c l e a r M a t e r i a l S a fe t y a n d S a fe g u a r d s O f f i c e D i r e c t o r 12
Typical Uranium Mill Lifespan 13 Site Characterization Licensing Construction Operation Decommissioning License Termination Long-Term Care
14 Rio Algom - Ambrosia Lake Former Mill Site in Grants, NM Before and After Decommissioning and Reclamation 14 Google Earth Map Data ©2022 Google
Lessons Learned
- Liners to prevent seepage and monitoring to detect potential seepage
- Collaboration with DOE for efficiency in license termination process
- Future licenses to include modern safety features 15 Liner system during construction Google Earth Map Data ©2022 Google Kennecott Sweetwater Site in Wyoming
Lessons Learned
- Cover design innovation 16 16
Bill Von Till U. S. N u c l e a r R e g u l a t o r y C o m m i s s i o n O f f i c e o f N u c l e a r M a t e r i a l S a fe t y a n d S a fe g u a r d s C h i e f o f t h e U ra n i u m R e c o v e r y a n d D e c o m m i s s i o n i n g B ra n c h Current Status of Remediation of Former Uranium Mill Sites 17
18 Former Uranium Mill Sites in Relation to Navajo Nation 18
19 Conventional Uranium Mill Sites Undergoing Decommissioning 19
UMTRCA Title I Sites on Navajo Nation
- Shiprock Disposal Site near Shiprock, New Mexico
- Tuba City Disposal Site near Tuba City, Arizona
- Mexican Hat Disposal Site near Mexican Hat, Utah
- Monument Valley Former Processing Site near Mexican Hat, Utah 20 Aerial Photo of Shiprock Site Google Earth Map Data ©2022 Google
Tribal Outreach
- Collaboration on Ten-Year Plan
- Meetings for potential new uranium mill tailings site applications
- Seminars at Tribal Colleges on Radiation Effects, Uranium Recovery, & NRCs Regulations pertaining to NEPA 21 Seminar at the Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, NM Seminar at Salish Kootenai College in Montana
Tribal Outreach Contd.
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- Homestake Mining Company of California, Grants Reclamation Project
- Grants, New Mexico
- Active groundwater remediation Ongoing Remediation at Former Mill Sites Historic Mill Location Milan, New Mexico Evaporation Ponds Reverse Osmosis Building Large Tailings Pile Small Tailings Pile Interstate 40 Evaporation Ponds Aerial Photo of Homestake Site 23 23
Ongoing Remediation at Former Mill Sites Contd.
- UNC Church Rock mill tailings site
- Gallup, New Mexico
- Groundwater remediation
- License amendment in progress
- Mine waste relocation
- Improved surface water hydrology in the Pipeline Arroyo
- Goal to make final licensing decision by June 2022 24 UNC Mill Site Northeast Church Rock Mine Red Water Pond Community Aerial Photo of UNC Church Rock Site Pipeline Arroyo Google Earth Map Data ©2022 Google
Sequoyah Fuels (pictured right)
Gore, Oklahoma Final stages of remediation Ongoing Remediation at Former Mill Sites Contd.
Rio Algom - Ambrosia Lake Milan, New Mexico Final stages of remediation American Nuclear Corporation Fremont County, Wyoming Unfunded but stabilized NRC is working on options for funding Aerial Photo of Sequoyah Fuels 25 Google Earth Map Data ©2022 Google
26 Acronyms
- DOE - U.S. Department of Energy
- EIS - Environmental Impact Statement
- NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act
- NPHA - National Historic Preservation Act
- NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- ROD - Record of Decision
- STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- UMTRCA - Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act
- UNC - United Nuclear Corporation
- UR - Uranium Recovery