Riverton uranium mill tailings remedial action.

WORKING DRAFT
2012
STATE OF
WYOMING
12LSO-0259.E1

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
SJ0002

Riverton uranium mill tailings remedial action.

Sponsored by:
Select Committee On Tribal Relations

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to provide for increased monitoring and funding for remediation of the Riverton uranium mill tailings remediation site.

WHEREAS, as a result of uranium and vanadium ore processing from 1958 to 1963 in Fremont County Wyoming, radioactive mill tailings were deposited on the Wind River Indian Reservation approximately two (2) miles from the town of Riverton; and

WHEREAS, in 1988 nearly two million (2,000,000) cubic yards of the contaminated materials were removed from the site, with surface remediation completed in 1989; and

WHEREAS, the federal Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation and Control Act mandated the federal department of energy to
regulate cleanup of contaminated ground water at uranium mill tailing sites in accordance with standards adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and

WHEREAS, despite the surface remediation undertaken, ground water contamination occurred at the site, with concentrations of molybdenum and uranium measured in the surficial aquifer
;
and

WHEREAS, the department of energy has adopted a strategy for the surficial aquifer to "flush naturally," in conjunction with institutional controls and verification monitoring in order to meet federal law requirements for uranium and molybdenum to fall below their allowable maximum concentration levels within the next one hundred (100) years; and

WHEREAS, the Wind River flooded to historic levels in 2010, with dramatic spikes in contaminant concentration levels including radium, uranium, molybdenum, manganese and sulfate concentration; and

WHEREAS, these spikes in contaminant levels are contrary to what would be expected if the department of energy models and proposed remediation plan were accurate, and demonstrate that passive remediation through natural flushing is not working at the site;
and

WHEREAS, prior to the flood the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had projected that the department of energy's attenuation plan would not meet the mandated maximum levels for certain wells; and

WHEREAS, the department of energy has demonstrated an inability to carry out mandates of federal law in connection with the site and has engendered a climate of distrust, which negatively impacts the ability to reach a solution to remedy a clear health hazard to the residents of the Wind River Indian Reservation and residents of the State of Wyoming.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

C
ongress
immediately
provide for and adequately fund increased monitoring and, as necessary,
commence active remediation of the
Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings site as requested in the proposal presented to the department of energy by tribal officials in October, 2010.

Section 2.

Congress
immediately
enact legislation requiring the department of energy to work cooperatively with the other federal agencies, the tribal officials
and
state and local government agencies to replace the current department of energy model, develop increased monitoring and determine as quickly as feasible the need to implement a plan of active remediation of the Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings site consistent with the proposal presented to the department of energy by tribal officials in October, 2010.

Section 3.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation and to the Secretary of the Department of Energy.

(END)

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SJ0002