40 CFR Part 192: Proposed Rulemaking and Background Documents
Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings (40 CFR 192) establish standards for protection of public health, safety, and environment from radiological and non-radiological hazards associated with uranium and thorium ore processing, and their associated wastes. In January 2015, EPA proposed an amendment to the rule that would have regulated byproduct materials produced by in-situ recovery (ISR) activities with a primary focus on groundwater protection and restoration. The proposed rule would have added post-restoration groundwater standards and monitoring requirements for ISR facilities. After reviewing public comments on the proposal and new information, the Agency decided not to finalize the 2015 proposed rule. In January 2017, EPA issued another proposed rule with groundwater standards and monitoring requirements for ISR facilities. In October 2018, EPA withdrew the January 2017 proposed rule because of issues raised in the public comment period and because the once anticipated influx of new ISR license applications is not likely to materialize.
Withdrawal of January 2017 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Download the Notice from the October 30, 2018 Federal Register.
Links Concerning the Proposed Rulemaking of January 19, 2017
- January 2017 Proposed Rule from the Federal Register.
- Fact Sheet: 2017 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf)
Links Concerning the Proposed Rulemaking of January 26, 2015
- 2015 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF) (526.54 K, January 26, 2015) from the Federal Register.
- Electronic docket (EPA-HQ-2012-0788-0001) on Regulations.gov.
Published Sources Used in the Proposed Rulemaking of January 26, 2015
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Groundwater Restoration at Uranium In-Situ Recovery Mines, South Texas Coastal Plain (3.16 MB)
U.S. Geological Survey (Open-File Report 2009–1143). -
NRC Regulatory Agenda, Semiannual Report: July – December 2010 (2.55 MB)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NUREG-0936, Vol. 29, No. 2). -
Nuclear Fuel’s Dirty Beginnings: Environmental Damage and Public Health Risks from Uranium Mining in the American West (4.13 MB)
Natural Resources Defense Council. -
Options and Recommendations For NRC Deferring Active Regulation Of Ground-Water Protection at In Situ Leach Uranium Extraction Facilities (10.68 KB)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (SECY-03-0186). -
Protecting the Nation’s Ground Water: EPA’s Strategy for the 1990s. The Final Report of the EPA Ground-Water Task Force
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (21Z-1020). -
Recommendations on Ways to Improve the Efficiency of NRC Regulation At In Situ Leach Uranium Recovery Facilities (44.25 K)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (SECY-99-013). -
Regulation of Groundwater Protection at In Situ Leach Uranium Extraction Facilities, NRC Memorandum (451.16 K)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (COMJSM-06-0001). -
Staff Requirements - SECY-99-0013 - Recommendations on Ways to Improve the Efficiency of NRC Regulation at In Situ Leach Uranium Recovery Facilities (17.23 K)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (SECY-99-0013). -
Standard Review Plan for In Situ Leach Uranium Extraction License Applications (1.94 K)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NUREG-1569). -
Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data At RCRA Facilities: Unified Guidance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (530-R-09-007). -
Status of the Development of Memorandum of Understanding with Nebraska and Wyoming, Regarding the Regulation of Groundwater Protection at Their In Situ Leach Uranium Recovery Facilities (39.66 K)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (SECY-05-0123).
EPA Background & Supporting Documents for the Proposed Rulemaking of January 26, 2015
- Background Information Document for the Revision of 40 CFR Part 192 (pdf)
- Economic Analysis: Proposed Revisions to the Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Rule (40 CFR Part 192) (pdf)
- Fact Sheet: Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf)
- Draft Technical Report: Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Revision 2 (pdf)
- Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Appendix A (pdf)
- Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Appendix B (pdf)
- Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Appendix C (pdf)
- Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Appendix D (pdf)
- Meeting Notes: Public Information Meeting (Corpus Christi, TX) (pdf)
- Meeting Notes: Public Information Meetings (Casper, WY and Denver, CO) (pdf)
- Presentation given at Colorado and Wyoming Public Information Meetings (pdf)
- Presentation given at NAS/NRC Committee on Uranium Mining in Virginia (pdf)
- Presentation given at Tuba City, AZ Public Information Meeting (pdf)
- Report on Findings Related to the Restoration of Groundwater at In-Situ Uranium Mines in South Texas (pdf)