HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES-CC-2005-06RESOLUTION # 06-2005
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MOAB SUPPORTING THE REMOVAL OF
THE ATLAS URANIUM TAILINGS PILE FROM THE BANKS OF THE
COLORADO RIVER
WHEREAS, the Atlas Uranium Tailings Pile, consisting of 8.9 million cubic yards of
radioactive waste is located on the flood plain of the Colorado River; and
WHEREAS, the south bank of the Colorado River has since 1924 moved north, west and
northwest away from Moab and towards the Atlas Tailings Pile; and
WHEREAS, the Utah State Geological Service data shows that the Colorado River is
likely to continue to migrate north toward the Atlas Tailings Pile; and
WHEREAS, a Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) of 300,000 cfs could wash 20% to 80%
of the Tailings Pile into the Colorado River; and
WHEREAS, the 21,100 sq miles of up -stream Colorado River drainage coupled with the
possible failure of upstream dams creates a possible scenario for the Probable Maximum
Flood that could contaminate the Colorado River affecting drinking water for 26 million
residents as well as the irrigation water for some of America's most valuable lands and
crops; and
WHEREAS, the catastrophic opportunity for such a flood can not be dismissed from
consideration for the 1000+ years of Department of Energy's legal responsibility for the
Atlas Tailings Pile; and
WHEREAS, Federal Code 10 CFR 1002.4 in compliance with the Floodplain
Environmental Review Requirements for "the storage of volatile, toxic or reactive
materials" in an area that has "even a slight chance of flooding" is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the Floyd Spence Act, 42 USC 7912 (f) (3) requires remediation of the
Atlas Tailings Pile pursuant to section 3405 (i) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense
Act for the fiscal Year 1999 (10 U.S.C. 7420; Public Law 105-261) to include: (B) "the
removal, to a site in the State of Utah, for permanent disposition and necessary
stabilization of residual radioactive material and other contaminated material from the
Moab site and floodplain of the Colorado River."; and
WHEREAS, tailing piles that were mediated in place at Green River and Monticello
after multiple failures caused by a lack of an effective liner and a porous basement
structure were eventually moved from Colorado Drainage for reasons of safety; and
WHEREAS, there have been 8 UMTRCA sites located in the Colorado River Drainage
and all 8 have been removed to protect people and their environment; and
Resolution #06-2005 Page 1 of 2
WHEREAS, a resolution was passed by the 1999 Utah State Legislature and signed by
the Governor supporting the transfer of management of the Atlas Tailing Pile from the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission who wanted to cap the tailings in place to the DOE in
order to facilitate removal of the tailings to an environmentally safe location.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF MOAB, strongly
supports moving the Atlas Tailing Pile from the unstable banks of the Colorado River to
a safer more appropriate location so as to protect Moab City residents and environs, and
the 26 million downstream consumers of the Colorado River Water; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOVED THAT THE CITY OF MOAB is adamantly opposed
to the Atlas Tailings Pile being moved south by pipeline or truck. The White Mesa Mill
site is the most expensive alternative site to the Moab site; White Mesa has the most
problems with potentially polluting ground and surface water; and, there are numerous
cultural sites that would be destroyed. Moab strongly objects to the transport of the
11.9 million tons of radioactive waste through the community.
DATED this 8`h day of February, 2005.
ATTEST:
l
By:
Rachel Ellison,
ity Recorder
CITY OF MOAB, UTAH
By:
David L. Sakrison, Mayor
Resolution #06-2005 Page 2 of 2