Update on Reimbursement for Costs of Remedial Action at Uranium and Thorium Processing Sites, 16428 [2023-05505]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 16428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05505]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Update on Reimbursement for Costs of Remedial Action at Uranium 
and Thorium Processing Sites

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of acceptance of title X claims during fiscal year (FY) 
2023.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the Department of Energy's (DOE) 
acceptance of claims in FY 2023 from eligible uranium and thorium 
processing site licensees for reimbursement under Title X of the Energy 
Policy Act of 1992. In FY 2022, DOE distributed $16.155 million to 
licensees with approved claims from licensees in the Title X Uranium 
and Thorium Reimbursement Program.

DATES: The closing date for the submission of FY 2023 title X claims is 
July 14, 2023. The claims will be processed for payment together with 
any eligible unpaid approved claim balances from prior years, based on 
the availability of funds from congressional appropriations. If the 
total approved claim amounts exceed the available funding, the approved 
claim amounts will be reimbursed on a prorated basis. All 
reimbursements are subject to the availability of funds from 
congressional appropriations.

ADDRESSES: Claims must be submitted by certified or registered mail, 
return receipt requested, to Charlee Anne Boger, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Legacy Management, 2597 Legacy Way, Grand Junction, 
Colorado 81503. Two copies of the claim should be included with each 
submission. In addition to the mailed hardcopies, claims may be 
submitted electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amie Robinson, Title X Program Lead at 
(202) 586-5000 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE published a final rule under 10 CFR part 
765 in the Federal Register on May 23, 1994, (59 FR 26714) to carry out 
the requirements of title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (sections 
1001-1004 of Pub. L. 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 2296a et seq.) and to establish 
the procedures for eligible licensees to submit claims for 
reimbursement. DOE amended the final rule on June 3, 2003, (68 FR 
32955) to adopt several technical and administrative amendments (e.g., 
statutory increases in the reimbursement ceilings). Title X requires 
DOE to reimburse eligible uranium and thorium licensees for certain 
costs of decontamination, decommissioning, reclamation, and other 
remedial action incurred by licensees at active uranium and thorium 
processing sites. The eligible licensees incurred these costs to 
remediate byproduct material, generated as an incident of sales to the 
United States Government of uranium or thorium that was extracted or 
concentrated from ores processed primarily for their source material 
contents. To be reimbursable, costs of remedial action must be for work 
that is necessary to comply with applicable requirements of the Uranium 
Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.), 
as amended, or where appropriate, with requirements established by a 
State pursuant to a discontinuance agreement under section 274 of the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2021), as amended. Claims for 
reimbursement must be supported by reasonable documentation as 
determined by DOE in accordance with 10 CFR part 765. Funds for 
reimbursement will be provided from the Uranium Enrichment 
Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund established at the Department 
of Treasury pursuant to section 1801 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
(42 U.S.C. 2297g). Payment or obligation of funds shall be subject to 
the requirements of the Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341).
    Authority: Section 1001-1004 of Pub. L. 102-486, 106 Stat. 2776 (42 
U.S.C. 2296a et seq.).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 14, 
2023, by Amie Robinson, Office of Waste Disposal, Office of 
Environmental Management, pursuant to delegated authority from the 
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date 
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in 
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-05505 Filed 3-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P