GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The U.S. Department of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are hosting the International Workshop on Legacy Management and Regulatory Supervision of Uranium Legacy Sites from August 13 through 24 to exchange information and share examples of regulatory processes and case studies of site remediation, including post-remediation long-term care programs. Scientists, environmental regulators, and other representatives of nuclear regulatory agencies from more than 20 countries will visit uranium cleanup sites in Utah and Colorado before attending a four-day workshop in Grand Junction.

“One of the objectives of the site visits and workshop is to help countries that are just beginning to remediate former uranium mining and milling sites to develop effective programs, including establishing standards for cleanup, understanding the role of regulators and operators in the cleanup process, stakeholder involvement, and post-closure management of the sites,” said Russel Edge, IAEA waste safety specialist.

The international group chose Utah and Colorado for their proximity to the nation’s largest ongoing uranium mill tailings cleanup project in Moab, Utah; the country’s only operating uranium mill in White Mesa, Utah; and several remediated uranium mill tailings disposal sitesthat are under long-term care with the Energy Department’s legacy management program. The DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) is responsible for long-term surveillance and maintenance of disposal sites and remediated former uranium-milling sites to ensure that the sites do not pose a future risk to the public or the environment.

“One of the reasons Legacy Management is involved in this program with the IAEA is that it’s the only organization in the world whose mission is the post-closure management of legacy sites after they’re remediated,” said David Shafer, LM scientist.

Members of the media are welcome to join two of these tours:
DOE Moab Project site
2021 North U.S. Highway 191, Moab, Utah
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 15, 2012
For information, contact Wendee Ryan at (970) 424-3154 or by e-mail at wryan@gjemtac.doe.gov.

DOE Grand Junction Disposal Site
4800 U.S. Highway 50, Whitewater, Colo.
9:00 a.m., Monday, August 20, 2012

For information, contact Judy Miller at (970) 248-6363 or by e-mail at jmiller@lm.doe.gov.