The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has unanimously advanced the Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act, which aims to transfer the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) site to Grand County after cleanup is complete. The legislation is led by Senator John Curtis (R-UT) and Representative Mike Kennedy (R-UT), with support from Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representatives Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy, and Blake Moore.
Senator Curtis commented on the committee’s decision: “The Committee’s action today is the result of years of steady, bipartisan work and close collaboration with local leaders, community members, and federal agencies. The Moab UMTRA site has been the focus of one of the most significant environmental cleanups in the country, and as that work nears completion, it’s essential that we plan responsibly for the future. This legislation ensures the land can be safely transferred and that Grand County—not Washington—is empowered to decide what comes next. That local control is the heart of this bill.”
If enacted, the bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Energy to transfer ownership of the site once it is considered safe for reuse. Local officials would then have authority over its long-term management.
Further details about the legislation are available here.
