Sponsors (2)
Directs DOE to convey the Moab UMTRA site to Grand County, Utah, at no cost once remediation is deemed sufficient, while retaining federal water rights and imposing use restrictions.
The bill transfers cleaned federal land to local control and preserves federal oversight needed to secure remediation and environmental safety, but imposes federal constraints and timing uncertainty that limit local revenue options, water control, and flexibility for redevelopment.
Grand County (local government) will receive the cleaned Moab site land at no cost, giving the county control over site use and responsibility for local stewardship and redevelopment.
Local residents and the environment benefit because the United States retains water rights and access needed to complete and oversee groundwater remediation, helping ensure cleanup continues and public health protections are maintained.
Local communities are protected by subjecting the conveyance to federal environmental and uranium mill tailings safety rules (e.g., UMTRCA and 40 C.F.R. part 192), which preserves cleanup standards and limits hazardous reuse.
Grand County is prohibited from selling or transferring the conveyed land to private entities or nonprofits, restricting its ability to raise revenue, enter redevelopment partnerships, or attract private investment for reuse.
Federal retention of water rights and access can limit local control over water use on the conveyed land, potentially complicating development, recreation, or local water management plans.
The Secretary’s authority to impose additional terms and conditions on the conveyance could delay the transfer and impose unforeseen constraints on local reuse plans.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Official title: Amend the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to provide for the transfer of the Moab site to Grand County, Utah, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 8, 2025 by John R. Curtis · Last progress April 8, 2025
Directs the Department of Energy to transfer the Moab uranium mill tailings site to Grand County, Utah, at no cost once federal and state regulators determine cleanup is sufficient for conveyance. The transfer is subject to required retention of U.S. water rights needed for ongoing groundwater and remediation activities, enforceable regulatory or use restrictions (including under UMTRCA and EPA radiation standards), prohibitions on Grand County re-conveying the land to private entities or nonprofits, and any additional protective terms the Secretary of Energy requires.