LM Advises on Temporary Storage of Residual Radioactive Materials

Staff from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) met with La Plata County officials on June 21, 2018, in Durango, Colorado, to learn more about options for handling suspect residual radioactive materials (RRM) generated from "vicinity properties," or properties beyond a uranium mill site boundary. DOE completed cleanup of the former uranium mill site in Durango and vicinity properties in the late 1990s under Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) Title I. The Colorado congressional delegation has advised DOE of their interest in reopening the Durango, Colorado, Disposal Site. Specifically, their interest is in establishing a temporary storage facility for the suspect RRM before the material is transported to the Cheney Disposal Cell near Grand Junction, Colorado, for final disposal. LM is providing assistance and technical advice to La Plata County and the City of Durango in siting a location that will meet their requirements since DOE is not authorized to reopen the Durango disposal site.