Utah lawmakers praise DOE action

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, are praising new action by the Department of Energy to move the Moab radioactive tailings pile.

Nearly a month ago, Matheson publicly criticized the DOE for being too slow in moving the 16 million tons of tailings from a site near the Colorado River to safe disposal at Crescent Junction, Colo.

Thursday the DOE announced it was issuing a "Request for Task Proposal" to find a contractor who will "initiate cleanup at the former Atlas uranium ore processing facility." The contractor will design and install waste removal systems and start the material on its way, according to the request. The project could take five years.

Matheson praised the action, saying the health and safety of Utahns, plus 25 million users of the Colorado River downstream, remains a top priority.