Homestake License Amendment Request Environmental Assessment Documentation Pertaining to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting an environmental review for a license amendment request (LAR) for Homestake to modify and install an evapotranspiration cover on the top of the Large Tailings Pile. Homestake’s LAR requests NRC approval of a revised LTP cover design that meets requirements under Materials License SUA-1471.

The NRC staff is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), to determine whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or finding of no significant impact. In accordance with 36 CFR 800 “Protection of Historic Properties” Section 800.8(c), the NRC staff is using the NEPA process to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA), in lieu of the procedures set forth in 36 CFR 800.3 through 800.6. The NRC staff initiated its consultation under Section 106 on March 26, 2024. The NRC staff consulted with the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (ML24065A064), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ML24085A726), and Native American Tribes (ML24065A043) to identify historic properties of religious and cultural significance.

The EA will include identification of historic and cultural resources and historic properties, an analysis of potential effects of the proposed action, including potential effects on historic and cultural resources and historic properties as well as the NRC staff’s preliminary determination.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c)(1)(iii), the NRC is ensuring that Indian Tribes who might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties in the area of potential effect (APE) are afforded the opportunity to identify their concerns, provide advice on the identification and evaluation of historic properties, including those of traditional religious, and cultural importance, and, if necessary, participate in the resolution of any adverse effects to such properties.

In addition, the NRC staff is soliciting comments from the public on the NRC’s Section 106 findings and the cultural resources information contained at the below link.

The NRC staff has made a copy of the historic and cultural resources sections of the draft EA available for your review and comment.

The NRC requests that you submit any comments or concerns on the NRC’s Section 106 consultation and historic and cultural resources evaluation. The comment period will close on September 8, 2025. Comments, questions, and concerns may be submitted to Amy Minor.