The United States Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the development of uranium and/or thorium on BLM administered public lands.  The MOU establishes lanes of communication between the agencies, and a joint steering committee to ensure the sharing of specialized expertise and information and compliance with NEPA.  The BLM will maintain primary responsibility for the processing of plans of operations for mining claims, and applications for hardrock leases, while the NRC will continue to evaluate applications for licenses, license amendments or license renewals for the possession and use of source and byproduct materials at uranium or thorium recovery facilities.  But both agencies will now provide the other with advance notice of the above applications, and will coordinate and share data, analysis, research and other information regarding the agencies’ combined responsibilities.