A bill to amend the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of a disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, until the site is filled to designed capacity.

Senate Bill

S. 4005

119th Congress

A bill to amend the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of a disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, until the site is filled to designed capacity.

In Committee

Introduced:Mar 5, 2026

Primary Sponsor

John Hickenlooper

D - CO

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Summary

This bill would extend the operating authorization for a radioactive waste disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to continue accepting uranium mill tailings and other radioactive materials until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on a fixed date. The site handles hazardous waste left over from uranium mining and processing, which requires secure long-term storage to protect public health and the environment.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Introduced3/5/2026

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

A bill to amend the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of a disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, until the site is filled to designed capacity.

This bill would extend the operating authorization for a radioactive waste disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to continue accepting uranium mill tailings and other radioactive materials until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on a f

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would extend the operating authorization for a radioactive waste disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to continue accepting uranium mill tailings and other radioactive materials until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on a fixed date. The site handles hazardous waste left over from uranium mining and processing, which requires secure long-term storage to protect public health and the environment.

Bill Number: 4005
Introduced: 3/5/2026
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: A bill to amend the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of a disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, until the site is filled to designed capacity.
Bill Number: 4005
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced: 3/5/2026
Summary: This bill would extend the operating authorization for a radioactive waste disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to continue accepting uranium mill tailings and other radioactive materials until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on a fixed date. The site handles hazardous wa

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would extend the operating authorization for a radioactive waste disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to continue accepting uranium mill tailings and other radioactive materials until it reaches full capacity rather than closing on a fixed date. The site handles hazardous waste left over from uranium mining and processing, which requires secure long-term storage to protect public health and the environment.

Last updated: 3/7/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Removes the current expiration date for a Colorado radioactive waste disposal facility, allowing operations to continue until the site is physically full
Affects the management of uranium mill tailings—radioactive waste materials from uranium mining that can pose health risks if not properly contained
Provides certainty for Colorado and surrounding states that need a location to safely dispose of radioactive waste from legacy uranium mining operations
Could impact Mesa County residents living near the disposal site by extending facility operations indefinitely
Addresses cleanup of Cold War-era uranium mining sites across the Western United States

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill primarily affects communities in Colorado's Western Slope region, particularly Mesa County residents near the disposal site, as well as cleanup efforts at former uranium mining sites throughout the Western U.S. By extending the site's authorization, it ensures continued availability of a federally approved facility for radioactive waste disposal, preventing potential delays in environmental cleanup projects. However, it also means nearby communities will host radioactive waste operations for a longer, indefinite period until the site reaches capacity.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

4005, 119th Congress (2026). "A bill to amend the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the authorization of a disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, until the site is filled to designed capacity.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-4005

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