Federal regulators reviewing license amendments for former uranium mill near Grants; November 24 deadline set for hearing requests
GRANTS, N.M. – Homestake Mining Company of California is seeking federal approval to modify groundwater cleanup requirements at its former uranium mill north of Grants, according to a notice published September 25 in the Federal Register.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced that it has accepted the company's application for technical review, beginning a regulatory process that could result in changes to the cleanup requirements governing the longtime uranium contamination site.
The application, submitted June 30, proposes amendments to five conditions of Homestake's federal license, including provisions concerning Alternate Concentration Limits (ACLs) and the company's groundwater corrective action program.
The NRC has not approved the proposed changes. Its preliminary determination means only that the application contains sufficient information to proceed with a technical review.
The announcement also establishes a November 24 deadline for individuals, organizations and eligible government entities to request a hearing or petition to intervene in the proceeding.
Homestake operated its uranium mill near Grants from 1958 until 1990, leaving behind groundwater contamination that has required decades of environmental monitoring and remediation.
The contamination has remained a longstanding concern for residents along the Highway 605 corridor, including neighborhoods near the former milling operation.
What Does Homestake Want?
At issue in the latest federal proceedings are the standards governing the company's groundwater cleanup obligations.
Alternate Concentration Limits are site-specific regulatory limits that, under certain conditions, allow contaminants to remain in groundwater at concentrations different from otherwise applicable standards.
Homestake is requesting revisions to License Conditions 15, 28, 35, 36 and 42, according to the federal notice.
However, the notice does not identify the specific concentration changes being requested or establish whether the amendments would allow higher levels of contamination to remain in groundwater. The Cibola Citizen has a request to receive this information.
The NRC said its staff will evaluate the technical basis for the proposed changes and determine whether the amendments comply with federal requirements intended to protect human health, safety and the environment.
The agency must document its findings before issuing a final decision.
Members of the public whose interests may be affected by the proposed amendments can request a hearing or petition to intervene by November 24.
Petitioners must meet federal procedural requirements, including explaining how the licensing action affects their interests and identifying specific issues they seek to contest. Filing a petition does not automatically guarantee a hearing.
The notice also outlines participation procedures for state, local and federally recognized tribal governments. The NRC has not announced a date for its final decision on Homestake's application.
Residents can review the September 25 notice at www.govinfo.gov by searching for document number 2026-19649.
The underlying license amendment application is available through the NRC's ADAMS document system under accession number ML26183A208.
The federal proceeding is identified as Docket No. 408903 and NRC-2026-4522.