Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and Decontamination of Contaminated Sites

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Environmental Protection Agency on the radiological decommissioning and decontamination of NRC-licensed sites. The MOU signed by NRC and EPA provides that EPA will defer exercise of authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) for the majority of facilities decommissioned under NRC authority. The MOU includes provisions for NRC and EPA consultation for certain sites when, at the time of license termination, (1) groundwater contamination exceeds EPA-permitted levels; (2) NRC contemplates restricted release or alternate criteria for release of the site; and/or (3) residual radioactive soil concentrations exceed levels defined in the MOU.