DOE signs decision to move Moab mill tailings

The U.S. Department of Energy has signed the official decision to move Moab's nearly 12 million tons of radioactive uranium mill tailings from near the Colorado River to Crescent Junction, 30 miles away.

Samuel W. Bodman, DOE secretary, announced Wednesday that the project's Record of Decision has been signed. According to Utah's two senators, the official signing was by Jim Rispoli, DOE assistant secretary for environmental management.

According to DOE, the site covers 400 acres, including a 130-acre uranium mill tailings pile. A uranium ore processing facility once stood there, about three miles northwest of Moab.

Wednesday's action was simply the formalizing of decisions announced earlier this year. DOE issued its final environmental impact statement on the project in July, saying the tailings should be moved. The DOE considered potential environmental impact, costs and other implications of both leaving the tailings on site and moving them, according to the agency.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said it was great news for Utah and millions of others who rely on the Colorado for their water supply. "We commend the work of the entire Utah congressional delegation for their tireless dedication to this effort," he said in a statement e-mailed to the Deseret Morning News.

Bodman commented in a press release that the signing shows great progress can be made through hard work and cooperation.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said, "Today's decision is a hard-won victory for the people of Moab, the water users downstream and the ecology of one of the nation's great rivers — the Colorado." The tailings are in the 2nd Congressional District, Matheson's district.

Many people have waited a long time for the announcement, he added. "It's a big step towards removing a major threat to the health and safety of millions of Westerners. I will continue to make the removal of the pile one of my highest priorities."

The state's Republican U.S. senators were on the same side of the issue as Democrat Matheson.

"This process will take many years," Sen. Bob Bennett noted in a release. The release said Bennett obtained about $50 million in federal funding for the project. "But we remain committed to the effort and will continue to seek funding to ensure it moves forward in a timely manner."

Sen. Orrin Hatch added, "We've fought hard for this for a long time, and we worked closely with officials in Moab and the Department of Energy to get this done."

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