This bill amends a 1999 law to allow the United States to transfer the Moab uranium mill tailings site to Grand County, Utah, once cleanup reaches a level the Secretary of Energy and regulators agree is sufficient for land conveyance. The transfer would give Grand County all available federal title to the land at no cost, but it would be subject to regulatory or use restrictions needed to protect health and safety, including requirements under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act and 40 C.F.R. part 192. The Department of Energy must retain any water rights it determines are necessary to carry out its cleanup and monitoring responsibilities, including access to wells if groundwater remediation is ongoing. The transfer must prohibit Grand County from reconveying the land to any private entity or nonprofit. The Secretary of Energy may impose additional terms and conditions to protect U.S. interests.
If you live in or near Grand County, the county could receive ownership of the Moab site after officials determine cleanup is sufficient. The county would not be allowed to sell or transfer the land to a private company or nonprofit. The federal government would keep water rights needed to continue cleanup or monitoring work, and could require conditions on the transfer. No publicly available information on the timing of the transfer or how remaining cleanup work will be paid for.
The bill states the land conveyance would be made "at no cost" to Grand County. No publicly available information on the costs of any remaining cleanup, long-term monitoring, or which party would pay those costs. The Secretary of Energy may add terms and conditions to the conveyance, but the bill does not specify any funding changes.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.