CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A legislative committee has endorsed the idea of the state taking over sole regulation of uranium mining in Wyoming, the largest producer of uranium in the country.
Currently, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the state both oversee the industry.
The Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee on Monday unanimously approved a proposed bill for the state to negotiate an agreement with the NRC to take over sole regulation of uranium mining.
The full Legislature will consider the proposal when it convenes in January.
Industry representatives favor the bill, saying the permitting process through the NRC is cumbersome and costly.
“Those high costs and the length of time it takes to get a permit, or to get anything done, is quite burdensome to the uranium industry,” said Bob Tarantola, a representative of the Wyoming Mining Association. “It doesn’t mean the level of regulation is diminished at all. It will still be as high as always, but it means we have better access. Timing should be a lot faster to get things done, and the cost is going to be much less.”
Under the proposed bill, the state would invest about $1.4 million to help the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality begin establishing the necessary rules and adding personnel needed to meet NRC requirements for taking on the responsibility. The governor’s office would be responsible for negotiating details with the NRC.
DEQ Director Todd Parfitt said it could take four to six years for the agency to fully take over the job and get NRC approval.
Once the state takes over the responsibility, Wyoming would collect fees from the industry to cover its costs of regulating mining.
Paul Goranson, president of Uranerz Energy Corp., said he likes the idea of paying fees to the state because it would provide a “transparent, accountable regulatory authority” for the mining companies with operations in the state.
A provision in the draft bill that would have the state recapture the startup costs within five years was stripped out by the interim committee.
Tarantola noted that the state will save money in the long run because the full cost of the program will be paid from fees charged to industry, whereas now the state is paying all the costs associated with regulating uranium mining.
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