FLOPAM Powder Gets Government Green Light for Uranium Cleanup
Published Date: 7/21/2026
Notice
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a change to DISA Technologies' license to let them use a special powder called FLOPAM in their cleanup process for old uranium mines. This update won’t harm the environment and helps DISA improve how they clean up these sites. The decision was announced on July 21, 2026, with no extra costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
NRC OKs FLOPAM Use in HPSA
The NRC issued a generic environmental assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact on July 21, 2026, that would allow DISA Technologies (license SUA-1605 issued in 2025) to use solid FLOPAM (an APAM flocculant) in its high-pressure slurry ablation (HPSA) process. DISA proposes adding about 150 grams (about five ounces) of FLOPAM per ton of fines concentrates, and the NRC expects recirculating process-water FLOPAM concentrations to be less than 10 mg/L.
No-Action Alternative Would Restrict FLOPAM Use
If the NRC chose the no-action alternative, DISA would not be allowed to use FLOPAM in its HPSA operations and would need to find an alternative separation method or potentially not operate HPSA at sites. The environmental impacts of alternatives would depend on the separation method chosen.
Site Notices and Alternative Flocculant Review
Before mobilizing to each site, DISA must submit a site-specific premobilization notification (PMN) for NRC review and must identify if it intends to use any alternative flocculant formulation. Use of non-solid APAMs or non-APAM flocculants would require additional environmental review by the NRC staff.
NRC Finds No Significant Environmental Harm
The NRC concluded that using solid FLOPAM or similar APAMs in the HPSA process would not have significant impacts on water, soils, ecological resources, occupational health and safety, or waste management when operations match the assumptions in the generic EA. The NRC expects FLOPAM in recirculating process water to be less than 10 mg/L and notes any acrylamide monomer (AMD) formed is expected to biodegrade within hours to up to 30 days.
Worker Health Effects Considered Low
The NRC staff found that use of solid FLOPAM according to the manufacturer's instructions would not have significant effects on worker health; DISA's testing used FLOPAM without reported worker health or safety issues. FLOPAM does not have chronic or acute toxicity effects according to the assessment.
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