Stakeholders Weigh In On EPA's Uranium Mining Groundwater Rule

摘要

Environmentalists and industry are reiterating and expanding in written comments their opposing positions on EPA's proposed groundwater protection rule for a growing type of uranium mining, with environmentalists generally supportive of the rule and industry urging EPA to withdraw it. Environmentalists argue the rule is necessary and long overdue but industry contends EPA is overstepping its regulatory authorities with some of the requirements, and is using inadequate cost estimates of the rule's impact. Some western states are also weighing in to say EPA should withdraw the proposal and recognize states already regulate in-situ mining robustly, with extensive monitoring and reporting requirements.