August 5, 2005
The Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, Final Environmental Impact Statement provides information on the environmental impacts of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) proposal to (1) remediate approximately 11.9 million tons of contaminated materials located on the Moab site and approximately 39,700 tons located on nearby vicinity properties and (2) develop and implement a ground water compliance strategy for the Moab site using the framework of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Ground Water Project (DOE/EIS-0198, October 1996). The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) informs the public of the information used by DOE in decision-making for the remediation of the Moab site. The surface remediation alternatives analyzed in the EIS include on-site disposal of the contaminated materials and off-site disposal at one of three alternative locations in Utah using one or more transportation options: truck, rail, or slurry pipeline. This EIS evaluates the environmental consequences that may result from implementing the reasonable alternatives, including health impacts to the public, impacts to ground
water and surface water, traffic impacts, and impacts to other resources. The EIS also analyzes a No Action alternative, under which DOE would not implement any surface or ground water remedial actions. DOE’s preferred alternatives are off-site disposal of the mill tailings at Crescent Junction, Utah, using rail transportation, and implementation of active ground water remediation at the Moab site.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
