Legislation to identify disposal sites for radioactive material was introduced last week by U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet to work toward a solution for storing residual uranium.
About 115 properties in Durango have been identified as having uranium mill tailings. Since then, Colorado lawmakers have been working on legislation to require the U.S. secretary of energy to “identify and convey to the state of Colorado land for use as a storage site for residual radioactive material, and for other purposes,” according to the text of Tipton’s House Resolution 4427 and Bennet’s Senate Bill 2526.
Local stakeholders requested that Tipton, R-Colo., and Bennet, D-Colo., draft legislation to address the issue of disposal sites for tailings, and both recognized the efforts of the people in Durango and Colorado as a whole to solve the problem.
“The Durango community deserves to have any remaining hazardous materials from the last century removed safely and effectively,” Tipton said. “I am glad to continue to work with my colleagues in Congress, the Department of Energy and the Colorado state officials on this important issue as it requires a lot of collaboration at different levels of government.”
In terms of the collaboration that Tipton mentioned, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has been involved with efforts in Durango to find effective solutions to the uranium mill tailings and said it is “pleased” with the legislation introduced.
“The department’s Uranium Mill Tailings Program, headquartered in Grand Junction, has assisted Durango residents since 1998, providing records reports, interpreting the reports, traveling to Durango to perform site surveys, and most recently working with the local public health agencies to answer questions and provide community outreach,” CDPHE said in a statement.
The legislation is not a solution to the remaining uranium mill tailings in Durango, and CDPHE recognized that although “it can be a long process, we have been working with teams from Sen. Bennet’s and Rep. Tipton’s offices to find a safe, effective and convenient location for the citizens of Durango to dispose of the tailings, and know that this is a step in the right direction.”
Bennet agreed legislation is a step toward achieving an eventual solution and continues to work with and listen to the affected communities.
“The health and safety of residents is the priority here, which is why we all must do everything we can,” Bennet said. “This legislation is an important step in addressing the issues associated with disposing of the tailings and is a direct result of the community and local stakeholders coming together to find solutions. As we work to advance this bill in the Senate, we will continue to engage with the community.”
Ayelet Sheffey is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald.
