Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Control Act.

  1. Law
  2. Illinois Compiled Statutes
  3. NUCLEAR SAFETY
  4. Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Control Act.

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(420 ILCS 42/1)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Control Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-1024.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/5)

Sec. 5. Legislative findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds:

  • (1) that a very large volume of by-product material, commonly referred to as uranium and thorium mill tailings, is located within this State, much of it in urban areas;
  • (2) that such radioactive materials pose a significant risk to the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of Illinois; and
  • (3) that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, pursuant to the provisions of the Radiation Protection Act of 1990, regulates the generation, possession, use, and disposal of such materials to protect the public health and safety from the radiation risks associated with these materials and to ensure that they do not pose an undue risk to the public health, safety, or the environment; and
  • (4) that in addition to this regulation, it is beneficial for the State to have a policy promoting the safe and timely decommissioning of source material milling facilities that have come to the end of their productive lives and the safe and effective decontamination of areas within the State that are contaminated with uranium or thorium mill tailings.

(a-5) The General Assembly also finds:

  • (1) that the Director, as represented by the Attorney General, and Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation entered into an agreement dated May 19, 1994 and other related agreements to facilitate the removal of by-product material from the City of West Chicago in reliance upon the enactment of this amendatory Act of 1994;
  • (2) that the May 19, 1994 agreement is consistent with the public purpose as expressed in this Act; and
  • (3) that the May 19, 1994 agreement is not an agreement intended to relieve Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation from the applicability of this Act under Section 35.

(b) It is the purpose of this Act to establish a comprehensive program for the timely decommissioning of uranium and thorium mill tailings facilities in Illinois and for the decontamination of properties that are contaminated with uranium or thorium mill tailings. It is the intent of the General Assembly that such a program provide for the safe management of these mill tailings and that the program encourage public participation in all phases of the development of this management program. It is further the intent of the General Assembly that this program be in addition to the regulatory program established in the Radiation Protection Act of 1990.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Agency" means the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

"By-product material" means the tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from any ore processed primarily for its source material content, including discrete surface wastes resulting from underground solution extraction processes but not including underground ore bodies depleted by such solution extraction processes.

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, agency, political subdivision of this State, any other State or political subdivision or agency thereof, and any legal successor, representative, agent, or agency of the foregoing, other than the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or any successor thereto, and other than federal government agencies licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or any successor thereto.

"Radiation emergency" means the uncontrolled release of radioactive material from a radiation installation that poses a potential threat to the public health, welfare, and safety.

"Source material" means (i) uranium, thorium, or any other material that the Agency declares by order to be source material after the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or its successor has determined the material to be source material; or (ii) ores containing one or more of those materials in such concentration as the Agency declares by order to be source material after the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or its successor has determined the material in such concentration to be source material.

"Specific license" means a license, issued after application, to use, manufacture, produce, transfer, receive, acquire, own, or possess quantities of radioactive materials or devices or equipment utilizing radioactive materials.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/15)

Sec. 15. Storage fees.

(a) Beginning January 1, 1994, an annual fee shall be imposed on the owner or operator of any property that has been used in whole or in part for the milling of source material and is being used for the storage or disposal of by-product material, equal to $2 per cubic foot of by-product material being stored or disposed of by the facility. After a facility is cleaned up in accordance with the Agency's radiological soil clean-up criteria, no fee shall be due, imposed upon, or collected from an owner. No fee shall be imposed upon any by-product material moved to a facility in contemplation of the subsequent removal of the by-product material pursuant to law or upon any by-product material moved to a facility in contemplation of processing the material through a physical separation facility. No fees shall be collected from any State, county, municipal, or local governmental agency. In connection with settling litigation regarding the amount of the fee to be imposed, the Director may enter into an agreement with the owner or operator of any facility specifying that the fee to be imposed shall not exceed $26,000,000 in any calendar year. The fees assessed under this Section are separate and distinct from any license fees imposed under Section 11 of the Radiation Protection Act of 1990.

The fee shall be due on June 1 of each year or at such other times in such installments as the Director may provide by rule. To facilitate the expeditious removal of by-product material, rules establishing payment dates or schedules may be adopted as emergency rules under Section 5-45 of the Administrative Procedure Act. The fee shall be collected and administered by the Agency, and shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(b) Moneys may be expended by the Agency, subject to appropriation, for the following purposes but only as the moneys relate to by-product material attributable to the owner or operator who pays the fees under subsection (a):

  • (1) the costs of monitoring, inspecting, and otherwise regulating the storage and disposal of by-product material, wherever located;
  • (2) the costs of undertaking any maintenance, decommissioning activities, cleanup, responses to radiation emergencies, or remedial action that would otherwise be required of the owner or operator by law or under a license amendment or condition in connection with by-product materials;
  • (3) the costs that would otherwise be required of the owner or operator, by law or under a license amendment or condition, incurred by the State arising from the transportation of the by-product material from a storage or unlicensed disposal location to a licensed permanent disposal facility; and
  • (4) reimbursement to the owner or operator of any facility used for the storage or disposal of by-product material for costs incurred by the owner or operator in connection with the decontamination or decommissioning of the storage or disposal facility or other properties contaminated with by-product material. However, the amount of the reimbursements paid to the owner or operator of a by-product material storage or disposal facility shall not be reduced for any amounts recovered by the owner or operator pursuant to Title X of the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 and shall not exceed the amount of money paid by that owner or operator under subsection (a) plus the interest attributable to amounts paid by that owner or operator.

An owner or operator who incurs costs in connection with the decontamination or decommissioning of the storage or disposal facility or other properties contaminated with by-product material is entitled to have those costs promptly reimbursed as provided in this Section. In the event the owner or operator has incurred reimbursable costs for which there are not adequate moneys with which to provide reimbursement, the Director shall reduce the amount of any fee payable in the future imposed under this Act by the amount of the reimbursable expenses incurred by the owner or operator. An owner or operator of a facility shall submit requests for reimbursement to the Director in a form reasonably required by the Director. Upon receipt of a request, the Director shall give written notice approving or disapproving each of the owner's or operator's request for reimbursement within 60 days. The Director shall approve requests for reimbursement unless the Director finds that the amount is excessive, erroneous, or otherwise inconsistent with paragraph (4) of this subsection or with any license or license amendments issued in connection with that owner's or operator's decontamination or decommissioning plan. If the Director disapproves a reimbursement request, the Director shall set forth in writing to the owner or operator the reasons for disapproval. The owner or operator may resubmit to the Agency a disapproved reimbursement request with additional information as may be required. Disapproval of a reimbursement request shall constitute final action for purposes of the Administrative Review Law unless the owner or operator resubmits the denied request within 35 days. To the extent there are funds available, the Director shall prepare and certify to the Comptroller the disbursement of the approved sums to the owners or operators or, if there are insufficient funds available, the Director shall off-set future fees otherwise payable by the owner or operator by the amount of the approved reimbursable expenses.

(c) To the extent that costs identified in parts (1), (2), and (3) of subsections (b) are recovered by the Agency under the Radiation Protection Act of 1990 or its rules, the Agency shall not use money under this Section to cover these costs.

(d) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05; 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/20)

Sec. 20. Local approval. Notwithstanding the licensing provisions of the Radiation Protection Act:

(1) A person shall not operate a facility for the disposal of by-product material that is located in a municipality or within 1.5 miles of the boundary of any municipality, unless approval is given by the governing body of that municipality.

(2) A person shall not operate a facility for the disposal of by-product material in an unincorporated area of a county that is situated more than 1.5 miles from the boundary of the nearest municipality, unless approval is given by the governing body of that county.

(3) A person shall not place any by-product material at a disposal facility located in a municipality or within 1.5 miles of the boundary of any municipality, unless approval is given by the governing body of that municipality.

(4) A person shall not place any by-product material at a permanent disposal facility located in an unincorporated area of a county that is situated more than 1.5 miles from the boundary of the nearest municipality, unless approval is given by the governing body of that county.

Nothing in this Act shall relieve an applicant from securing any necessary zoning approval from the unit of government having zoning jurisdiction over the proposed facility and complying with other applicable local laws.

(Source: P.A. 87-1024.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/25)

Sec. 25. Response plans.

(a) Within one year of the effective date of this Act, the owner or operator of any licensed site where by-product material is located on the effective date of this Act shall file with the Agency a detailed plan describing all of the activities necessary for implementation of a permanent remedial action, including, but not limited to, disposal of by-product material at a permanent disposal site, restoration of the licensed site to unrestricted use, and decontamination of all properties that have been identified as being contaminated with by-product material produced at the licensed site. If the licensed site is located in a municipality or within 1.5 miles of the boundary of any municipality, the plan shall also be filed with the governing body of that municipality. If the licensed site is in an unincorporated area of a county and situated more than 1.5 miles from the boundary of the nearest municipality, the plan shall be filed with the governing body of that county.

(b) Within one year of discontinuing active source material milling operations, the owner or operator of any facility where ores are processed primarily for their source material content shall file with the Agency a detailed plan describing all of the activities necessary for implementation of a permanent remedial action, including, but not limited to, disposal of by-product material at a permanent disposal site, restoration of the facility site to unrestricted use, and decontamination of all properties that have been identified as being contaminated with by-product material produced at the licensed facility. If the facility is located in a municipality or within 1.5 miles of the boundary of any municipality, the plan shall also be filed with the governing body of that municipality. If the site is in an unincorporated area of a county and situated more than 1.5 miles from the boundary of the nearest municipality, the plan shall be filed with the governing body of that county.

(c) The plans filed under subsection (a) or (b) shall include a schedule for disposal of by-product material at a facility that has a specific license authorizing disposal of by-product material. The schedule shall be such that disposal could be completed within 48 months or less of commencement of disposal activities. The plans shall also describe permits, approvals, and other authorizations that will need to be obtained and the plans for obtaining those permits, approvals and authorizations.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/30)

Sec. 30. Rules and regulations. The Agency may adopt such rules and procedures as it may deem necessary or useful in the execution of its duties under this Act. The rules may require submission of pertinent information by taxpayers.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/32)

Sec. 32. Limitations on groundwater and property use.

(a) In connection with the decommissioning of a source material milling facility or the termination of the facility's license, the Agency shall have the authority to adopt by rule, or impose by order or license amendment or condition, restrictions on the use of groundwater on any property that has been licensed for the milling of source material and any property downgradient from the property that has been licensed for the milling of source material where the groundwater impacted by a licensed facility has constituents above naturally-occurring levels and is in excess of the groundwater standards enforceable by the Agency.

(b) In connection with the decommissioning of a source material milling facility or the termination of the facility's license, the Agency shall have the authority to adopt by rule, or impose by order or license amendment or condition, restrictions on property that has been licensed for the milling of source material where the soil has constituents above naturally-occurring levels to limit or prohibit:

  • (1) the construction of basements or other similar below-ground structures, other than footings or pilings, on any portion of the property where elevated levels of the constituents are present in the soil; and
  • (2) the excavation of soil from a portion of the property where elevated levels of the constituents are present in the excavated soil, unless the excavated soil is (i) disposed of in a facility licensed or permitted to dispose of that soil or (ii) returned to the approximate depth from which it was excavated and covered with an equivalent cover.

(c) The authority granted to the Agency under this Section is intended to secure the greatest protection of the public health and safety practicable in the decommissioning of a source material milling facility or the termination of the facility's license and shall be in addition to the authority granted under the Radiation Protection Act of 1990.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/35)

Sec. 35. Agreements. If the Director certifies to the General Assembly that the State and the owner or operator of a licensed by-product material storage or disposal facility have entered into an agreement enforceable in court that accomplishes the purposes of subsection (b) of Section 5 of this Act, and that also provides financial assurances to protect the State against costs described in parts (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b) of Section 15, then Sections 15, 25 and 40(b) of this Act, and any rules that the Agency may adopt to implement those Sections, shall not apply to that owner or operator.

(Source: P.A. 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/40)

Sec. 40. Violations and penalties.

(a) Any person who violates Section 20 shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day of violation.

(b) Any person failing to pay the fees provided for in Section 15 shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed 4 times the amount of the fees not paid.

(c) Violations of this Act shall be prosecuted by the Attorney General at the request of the Agency. Civil penalties under this Act are recoverable in an action brought by the Attorney General on behalf of the State in the circuit court of the county in which the facility is located. All amounts collected from fines under this Section shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund. It shall also be the duty of the Attorney General upon the request of the Agency to bring an action for an injunction against any person violating any of the provisions of this Act. The Court may assess all or a portion of the cost of actions brought under this subsection, including but not limited to attorney, expert witness, and consultant fees, to the owner or operator of the source material milling facility or to any other person responsible for the violation or contamination.

(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05; 95-777, eff. 8-4-08.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/45)

Sec. 45. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

(Source: P.A. 87-1024.)

 

(420 ILCS 42/49)

Sec. 49. This Act shall take effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 87-1024.)


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