Review of 40 CFR 192

Announcement: EPA is reviewing and potentially revising its Health and Environmental Standards for Uranium and Thorium Milling Facilities

May 27, 2010 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing its regulations for uranium and thorium milling to determine if revisions are necessary to bring them up-to-date. These regulatory standards at 40 CFR Part 192 are currently in effect. They were originally issued in 1983 under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA), and last revised in 1995.

The regulations under review establish standards for protection of the public health, safety, and environment from radiological and nonradiological hazards associated with uranium and thorium ore processing, and their associated wastes. The cross-media standards apply to pollution emissions and site restoration. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and their Agreement States use these standards in their oversight of uranium and thorium facility operations and in issuing licenses for source material. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) uses them in their management of closed uranium mills and in the cleanup of contaminated soil and buildings.

EPA is reviewing all the standards in the existing regulations, and potentially revising them to take into account--

changes in uranium industry technologies (such as utilization of the In Situ Leaching recovery process as the principal current technology for extracting uranium) and their potential environmental impacts
revisions in EPA drinking and groundwater protection standards
judicial decisions concerning the existing regulations
issues relating to environmental justice, Tribal, and low-income populations
updated dose and risk factors, and scenarios, for assessing radiological and nonradiological risk
facilities proposed in states outside existing uranium mining and milling areas
costs and benefits of possible revisions

To ensure an open and transparent review of 40 CFR 192, EPA has opened a discussion forum at http://blog.epa.gov/milltailingblog/ where members of the public may submit their thoughts on the subject. The website contains of a library of relevant documents as well as notices of meetings and opportunities for public participation.

Members of the public can receive periodic email updates on the review by siging up below—

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Review of 40 CFR 192

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