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Homestake

1.0 Site Identification

Location:	Grants, NM
License No.:	SUA-1471
Docket No.:	40-8903
License Status:	Decon
Project Manager:	John Buckley

2.0 Site Status Summary

The facility is a conventional uranium mill site under reclamation. Uranium processing started in the late 1950's and continued until 1990. Tailings generated from the milling operation were placed on two piles, a large tailings pile and a small tailing pile. The facility has a tailings area of 170 acres with a weight of approximately 22 million tons. Currently there are several evaporation ponds and an ion exchange treatment building for groundwater remediation, and several administrative and maintenance buildings. Seepage from the tailings piles was noted in 1975. The current effort is a major groundwater corrective action plan which is also under the oversight of the EPA through Superfund. A MOU has been executed between NRC and EPA for this site regarding groundwater remediation. Staff completed a license amendment in 2006 to revise groundwater protection standards. The cost for decommissioning is estimated to be approximately $55.5 million and is expected to be completed by 2017.

3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues

Homestake submitted a license amendment application to add a third evaporation pond to assist with groundwater cleanup. The staff is expecting to issue the license amendment in April 2008. Homestake submitted a license amendment application to revise their groundwater corrective action plan December 2006. The amendment application has been accepted for review. The request is being evaluated.

4.0 Estimated Date For Closure

12/31/2017