10/27/96
Feds may pay some Gas Hills uranium cleanup costs
By JASON MARSDEN
Star-Tribune staff writer
CASPER -The state Department of Environmental Quality's $6 million ongoing cleanup of the American Nuclear Corp. Gas Hills uranium mill site will probably qualify for some federal reimbursement.
That announcement came Tuesday from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which also announced it will not require the state to perform or pay for any reclamation or monitoring that would exceed the funds available from ANC's $3.2 million forfeited bond or subsequent reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The latter decision may be subject to a hearing, if any parties adversely affected come forward by Oct. 28 and request one, according to a release.
The site covers about 550 acres, about 140 of which contained the decommissioned mill and two uranium mill tailings ponds. ANC originally licensed in 1971 to conduct uranium milling, filed for bankruptcy in 1994
The ANC site is just one of a number of abandoned mines in the Gas Hills region about 85 miles west of Casper which require reclamation. The area's total cleanup price tag stands at nearly $40 million, according to the state.
Reclamation now underway at ANC follows a DEQ-approved plan, including a six-foot radon barrier cover on top of the tailing spiles, radiation monitoring at the perimeter; an interim stabilization program to prevent dispersal of blowing tailings; and groundwater monitoring.
Requests for a hearing or for further information should be directed to the NRC, Attn: Chief, Docketing and Service Section, Washington, D.C, 20555-0001.
At the end of reclamation, the Department of Energy will take over the site permanently.