Скачать или смотреть How could the closure of Colorado's only long-term storage facility impact you

Federal lawmakers from Colorado and Utah have introduced a bipartisan bill to prevent the scheduled 2031 closure of the Grand Junction uranium disposal site. The legislation, known as the Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act, aims to keep the facility open until it reaches its full capacity.

The Grand Junction facility is currently the only long-term uranium disposal site in Colorado. Local officials and lawmakers argue that an early closure would increase environmental risks and force the community to pay millions of dollars in transportation costs to move radioactive waste out of the state.

Sen. Michael Bennet and Sen. John Hickenlooper, along with Sen. John Curtis of Utah and Rep. Jeff Hurd, are the primary sponsors of the legislation. The facility manages low-level radioactive materials, including mill tailings that were historically used in building materials.

Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel explained that the site has been a staple of the region's waste management since the 1970s.

"This bipartisan bill is really fantastic because we're working with a representative herd and then also our senators. And this is nothing new. Basically, we're wanting to reauthorize something that could be really detrimental to the Western Slope and the uranium deposit site. And we have this deposit site that's outside of Grand Junction. It's in Mesa County and it's been really effective in making sure that mill tailings, uranium that had been used in the past, sometimes it's been used for building materials in the past," Daniel said. "And so in the 1970s, we were able to authorize this bill for a mill tallings disposable site in Mesa County. So we're reauthorizing it. And then the interesting part, too, is there is a cap on the date."

Daniel noted that the facility's closure would impose a heavy financial burden on the community by forcing the transport of waste to other locations. She estimated that without the local site, disposal would cost over $16 million.

"It would actually be really costly for us to transport it elsewhere and millions of dollars to be able to take it somewhere else," Daniel said. "And then it would be very expensive for our community in general."

Bennet stated that the bill is essential for the ongoing cleanup of Western Colorado.

"The Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act will support Western Colorado as the region continues to clean up low-level radioactive materials," Bennet said. "Currently, the Grand Junction Disposal cell is the only facility of its kind in Colorado and this bill will allow this critical site to continue operating until it reaches capacity, protecting public health, lowering disposal costs and limiting environmental risk."

Hickenlooper highlighted the potential safety and financial concerns of a premature shutdown.

"Closing the Grand Junction disposal site before it even reaches capacity would risk the health and safety of the surrounding area and waste millions of dollars in the process," Hickenlooper said. "It's common sense to make sure the disposal site continues to safely manage the uranium waste and protect the community."

Hurd pointed to the site's role in the state's economic and national security history as a primary reason for the extension.

"The Grand Junction disposal site is Colorado's only long-term uranium disposal facility and it's a proven, safe place to store this material while keeping costs down for taxpayers," Hurd said. "Reauthorizing the site allows Colorado to continue disposing of cleaned-up tailings here at home until the disposal cell reaches capacity. This bipartisan bill provides certainty for local governments and ensures this important work can continue without interruption."

The bill seeks to extend the Department of Energy's ability to utilize the land in Western Colorado. If passed, the site would continue to operate until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on the currently scheduled 2031 date.