Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2278) to extend the authorization of the Uranium Mill Tailing Radiation Control Act of 1978 relating to the disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2278 was introduced by my Colorado colleague, Scott Tipton, and cosponsored by my Energy and Commerce colleague from Colorado, Diana DeGette.

H.R. 2278 extends the authorization of the Uranium Mill Tailing Radiation Control Act of 1978 as it relates to the disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado.

The legislation was considered by the Subcommittee on Environment and marked up through regular order. It was reported by the full committee with a bipartisan amendment and passed on a voice vote.

Mining and processing uranium generates a byproduct known as uranium mill tailings. Congress passed the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act 40 years ago to establish the framework for DOE to dispose of mill tailings, which are left over from the nuclear defense activities and the development of our nuclear commercial industry.

The act also authorizes the Grand Junction, Colorado, site to serve as a disposal location.

This is the only DOE uranium mill tailing disposal site remaining open in the Nation, and so it is necessary for the final disposition of mill tailings discovered throughout this country.

H.R. 2278 extends the site's current authorization until 2030. The extension will enable the site to plan long-term operations to protect the public health and the environment.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), who is the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, again, this is the last remaining disposal site that we need to keep open.

I appreciate the support, and I applaud the work of my colleague from Colorado (Mr. Tipton) for his efforts and Diana DeGette and the bipartisan nature of that cooperation between the two of them to get this done.

Mr. Speaker, I call upon the Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from West Virginia for the time.

The Department of Energy's Cheney disposal cell in Mesa, Colorado, is a critical component of DOE legacy management's mission to be able to protect public health and the environment. The cell receives radioactive waste materials that were produced decades ago during the uranium milling process. The waste materials continue to be uncovered during road construction, bridge replacement, home foundation excavation, and other construction activities in several towns in western Colorado. Once the waste materials are discovered, they must be properly disposed of at the Cheney cell.

The authorization for the Cheney disposal cell expires at the end of 2023 or when the site is filled to capacity. Currently, the remaining capacity in the cell is approximately 234,000 cubic yards, and, therefore, an extended authorization is required. H.R. 2278 would extend that authorization until 2030.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment supports extending the reauthorization for the Cheney cell and will remain a strong partner in DOE's legacy management program.

I would like to thank my colleague from Colorado, Ms. Diana DeGette, for her support on this legislation. I would also like to thank the Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee chairman, John Shimkus, and Ranking Member Paul Tonko, as well as the full committee chairman, Greg Walden, and Ranking Member Pallone for recognizing the importance of the Cheney disposal cell and working to bring this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2278, the Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2018. H.R. 2278 is bipartisan legislation to address the safe disposal of uranium mill tailings, a sandy byproduct of the uranium milling process.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, uranium mill tailings were offered to the community as fill material before the health risks of the radioactive material were fully understood. The tailings were subsequently used in the construction of local homes, roads, sidewalks, parks, and schools.

The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act provided for the cleanup of those tailings in 1978 and created 19 disposal cells for the radioactive waste. The last of the cells available to accept this material for disposal, the Cheney cell in Grand Junction, Colorado, is set to close in September 2023. This bill extends the cell's closure date to September 2030 or until the cell is filled, whichever day comes first.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has already extended the closure date of the disposal cell several times. I support this legislation to keep the site operational, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.