Mill Tailings Act: industry and Congress continue assault on UMTRCA

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Mine Talk; (United States)

OSTI ID:5862101

UMTRCA, Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (also known as the Mill Tailings Act), provides that states regulating uranium milling and mill tailings under authority delegated by NRC, adopt rules and regulations equal to or more stringent than NRC's before Nov. 8 or lose their agreement status. NRC promulgated a list of uranium-licensing criteria for dealing with mills and mill wastes on Oct. 3, 1980. Industry is seeking removal of most of the rules, claiming they are excessive and will not provide any extra protection for public health and the environment. The congressional debate has centered around how to prevent NRC from implementing and enforcing the licensing criteria without jeopardizing the agency's primary jurisdiction over licensing of uranium processing facilities. Environmentalists and public interest groups criticized the industry and congressional moves as clearly disguised methods to bail out an industry in decline and gut the requirements of the Mill Tailings Act itself. The Stratton amendments influence was discussed. New Mexico's reactions to industrial and congressional moves are included. (DP)

• OSTI ID: 5862101
• Journal Information: Mine Talk; (United States), Journal Name: Mine Talk; (United States) Vol. 1:3; ISSN METKD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

055002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
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& Accountability-- Nontechnical Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENT
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
HEARINGS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
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NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
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NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
REGULATIONS
SOLID WASTES
SOUTHWEST REGION
STATE GOVERNMENT
TAILINGS
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
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WASTES