The U.S. Department of Energy will host an informational public meeting for Riverton, Wyoming, Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) Site stakeholders from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at the Central Wyoming College Arts Theater, 2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, Wyoming.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss recent events and ongoing work at the Riverton site. The discussion will include an update on the current state of the groundwater remediation strategy, the alternative water supply system, and health concerns associated with the site.

The Riverton site, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming, is the location of a former uranium- and vanadium-ore-processing mill that operated from 1958 to 1963. Although there is no disposal cell at Riverton (the mill tailings were moved to another uranium mill in Wyoming for future disposal), past ore-processing operations resulted in groundwater contamination. Natural flushing was selected as the remediation strategy for the groundwater. DOE is conducting additional work this summer to better define the extent of the groundwater contamination and evaluate how floods may affect the movement of contaminants.

The Community Open House, scheduled from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., will give attendees the opportunity to review and discuss informational exhibits and speak with DOE representatives. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., DOE and representatives from other agencies will provide briefings about the current status and planned actions at the site. There will also be time for questions, comments, and discussion.


“We encourage everyone to come to the meeting to discuss DOE’s ongoing work at the Riverton site and hear about our upcoming plans,” said April Gil, DOE Riverton site manager. “We take our responsibility of protecting the local citizens and the environment very seriously.”