DOE/EIS-0355 Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, Final Environmental Impact Statement (July 2005)
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is proposing to clean up surface contamination and implement a ground water compliance strategy to address contamination that resulted from historical uranium-ore processing at the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Site (Moab site), Grand County, Utah. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) {section} 4321 et seq., DOE prepared this environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of remediating the Moab site and vicinity properties (properties where uranium mill tailings were used as construction or fill material before the potential hazards associated with the tailings were known). DOE analyzed the potential environmental impacts of both on-site and off-site remediation and disposal alternatives involving both surface and ground water contamination. DOE also analyzed the No Action alternative as required by NEPA implementing regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality. DOE has determined that its preferred alternatives are the off-site disposal of the Moab uranium mill tailings pile, combined with active ground water remediation at the Moab site. The preferred off-site disposal location is the Crescent Junction site, and the preferred method of transportation is rail. The basis for this determination is discussed later in this Summary. DOE has entered into agreements with 12 federal, tribal, state, and local agencies to be cooperating agencies in the development and preparation of this EIS. Several of the cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law and intend to use the EIS to support their own decisionmaking. The others have expertise relevant to potential environmental, social, or economic impacts within their geographic regions. During the preparation of the EIS, DOE met with the cooperating agencies, provided them with opportunities to review preliminary versions of the document, and addressed their comments and concerns to the fullest extent possible. DOE received over 1,600 comments on the draft EIS from the public, federal, state and local agencies, tribes, governors, and members of Congress. DOE has considered these comments in finalizing the EIS and has provided responses to all comments in the EIS.
- Research Organization:
- Grand Junction Project Office
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42)
- OSTI ID:
- 842208
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EIS-0355; TRN: US0503230
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Final programmatic environmental impact statement for the uranium mill tailings remedial action ground water project. Volume I
The Little Engine That Could: No Project is too Small for Sustainable Remediation Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Removal Project - 16427
Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
COMPLIANCE
CONSTRUCTION
CONTAMINATION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
GROUND WATER
PROCESSING
REGULATIONS
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
TAILINGS
US CEQ
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
uranium mill tailings
MOAB
Grand Junction
Utah