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June 26, 2009

EPA to Hold Public Meeting in Canon City, Colorado
on Radon NESHAP for Uranium Mills

The Envirironmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public meetings to take input on their review of the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for radon emissions from operating uranium mills (40 C.F.R. Part 40, Subpart W.)

The first meeting will be in Canon City, Colorado, from 6 p.m. to 9.p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. The meeting will be at the Quality Inn and Suites motel on Hwy. 50 and Dozier. Canon City is 2.5 hours from Denver, where the National Mining Association and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will have their annual Uranium Recovery Workshop in Denver on July 1 and 2. The EPA will also discuss the review of Subpart W at the workshop.

Over twenty years ago, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommended that the limit or standard be set at 2 pico Curies per square-meter per second (pCi/m2-sec). Instead, the EPA set the limit at 20 pCI/m2sec. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required EPA to review this standard and, if appropriate, revise it within ten years. EPA failed to perform this non-discretionary duty by 2001.

Due to concerns over air emission violations at the Cotter Uranium Mill in Canon City, Colorado, Colorado Citizens against ToxicWaste (CCAT) and Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action began discussions in 2006/2007 with EPA, that ultimately led to the filing of a lawsuit filed on their behalf by the Energy Mineral Law Center.  They requested the radon-standard review from EPA, and public participation during the review through public meetings, teleconferences, and an internet Webinar.  The lawsuit is nearing final settlement.  In the meantime, EPA began the review after the lawsuit was filed, which will include this first public meeting in Canon City allowing participation from affected communities.  EPA chose this date because they were coming to Denver from Washington for the NRC/NMA Uranium Recovery Workshop.  There will also be quarterly call-in teleconferences and an internet Webinar.

An identical meeting will be held in conjunction with the semi-annual Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota, in October 2009, and then another meeting in Blanding, Utah, sometime before June 2010. 

To read more about the EPA Subpart W radon NESHAPS Click Here

June 17, 2009

Comments on Air Quality Permit for La Sal Uranium Mines Due July 3 - Public Hearing July 7

The Utah Division of Air Quality is accepting comments on their Intent to Approve Denison Mines Corporation's request for an Approval Order for their uranium mines in La Sal, San Juan County, Utah. The mines are the Beaver Shaft, La Sal, Pandora, and Snowball, all of which are connected underground. The DAQ action is in response to the May 2008 Notice of Intent to Construct the Proposed La Sal Mines Project (as supplemented).

The DAQ Notice states that comments will be received on or before July 3, 2009. Mail comments to the Executive Secretary, Utah Division of Air Quality, 150 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4820. Or e-mail comments to Maung Maung at mmaung@utah.gov by the end of business (6 p.m.) on July 3.

The Intent to Approve and the Denison MInes' Application gives the impression that Denison MInes is proposing to reactivate the La Sal uranium and vanadium mines. Actally, the mines, which were closed down in 1990, have already begun to operate. The Pandora began operation in April 2007 and the Energy Queen in late 2008. Radon is already being vented from the mine vents.

The Beaver Shaft Mine is 1/2 mile from the La Sal Elementary School. Radon from the mine is vented 1/4 mile from the school. Radon is a radioactive gas that must be vented from the mines so that the mine workers will not breath the radon. The radon can lodge in the lungs, break down into highly radioactive particles, which then expose the miner to gamma rays and alpha and beta particles and can lead to lung cancer.
Read More: Pandora Mine . . . .
Read More: La Sal Mine Complex . . . .
Photos:
• Beaver Shaft
• Beaver Shaft Vent 1
• Beaver Shaft Vent 2
• Beaver Shaft Vent 3
• Pandora Mine Road Picture

NRC Issues Final GEIS for ISL Uranium Recovery -
Drops Plan for Site Specific EAs

Today the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a News Release announcing the availability of the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) on In Situ Leach (ISL) uranium recovery operations. Originally, the NRC intended to develop site-specific Environmental Assessments (EAs) and tier off the GEIS when reviewing applications for new ISL opertions. The announcement discussed a change in that plan. In response to many comments from the public during the scoping and comment periods, the NRC realized that the development of site specific Supplemental EISs when reviewing new applications was more appropriate. After all, NRC regulations do require EISs for uranium recovery operations.

Many commenters pointed out to the NRC that the GEIS would not address many significant site-specific impacts, such as impacts to the ground water and cultural resources. The EIS process for new operations will allow citizens and entities to participate in the site- specific scoping and comment processes and prevent unnecessary delays with respect compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The final “Generic Environmental Impact Statement on In Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities,” NUREG-1910, will be available Friday on the NRC Web site at this address: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1910/.

For the draft EIS and other information, Click Here.

June 3, 2009

Protests of Water Use for Nuclear Power Plant
in Green River, Utah

Uranium Watch, along with several organizations and individuals, filed protests of the Kane County Water Conservancy (KCWCD) application to divert water from the Green River so that Transition Power Development LLC (TPD) can use the water for a proposed 2-unit nuclear reactor.  Uranium Watch joined Living Rivers and the Glen Canyon Group of the Sierra Club to submit a joint Protest and Request for Hearing to the State Engineer, Division of Water Rights (DWR). KCWCD proposes to with draw 29,600 acre-feet of water (over 2.5 million gallons per day) from the Green River for the proposed reactor.

HEAL Utah, Red Rock Forests, Center for Water Advocacy, the Utah and Local Green Parties, two Green River farming families, a commerical river recreation company, and the Center for Biological Diversity also submitted protests. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation submitted letters of concern.

The protests and documents related to the protest proceeding as it develops can be accessed on the DWR website. Click on "Select Related Information" menu arrow (in upper left, below "Utah Division of Water Rights") and choose "Scanned Documents." The index of scanned documents will appear (many documents are posted one page at a time); scroll to bottom of list for protest documents. Read More . . . .

 May 26, 2009

Monticello BLM Issues Final EA and FONSI
for Daneros Uranium Mine

The Monticello Field Office of the Bureau of Land Managment issued the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record of Decision for Utah Energy for the proposed Daneros Uranium MIne. The owner, Utah Energy Corporation proposes to mine 100,000 tons of ore in Bullseye Canyon off of Hwy. 95 in western San Juan County, Utah.

May 5, 2009

Energy Fuels Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill Public Hearing in Nucla, Colorado - May 19

The Montrose County, Colorado, Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the special use permit for Energy Fuels Resources proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill in the Paradox Valley. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m., at the Nucla High School gymnasium. Read Montrose Daily Press Articles . . . .

April 30, 2009

Opportunity to Protest Change of Water Rights for a Nuclear Power Reactor in Green River, Utah

The Utah Division of Water Rights (DWR) has published a Notice to Water Users regarding the change application for 29,600 acre feet from the Green River for a 2-unit nuclear power reactor. Protests and requests for a hearing must be filed with the Kent L. Jones, State Engineer, P.O. Box 146300, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114-6300 on or before May 25, 2009. An objection to the application must be readable, and state the filing number (a35402), reasons for objections, protestant's name and address, and any request for a hearing. A protest may be faxed or sent electronically, but a signed paper copy must also be sent in the mail. Fax to 801-538-7467; e-mail to kellyhorne@utah.gov.

These are informal proceedings pursuant to Rule R655-6-2 of the DWR.

The Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD) submitted an application to the Utah State Engineer, Division of Water Rights, to change the point(s) of diversion, place of use, and nature of use for 29,600 acre feet of water (over 26.5 million gallons per day) from the Green River. The March 30, 2009, Application for Permanent Change refers to Water Rights 89-74, 89-1285, and 89-1513. The KCWCD leased the water to Transition Power Development Corporation (Transition Power) on September 20, 2007, for a 2-unit nuclear power reactor, named the Blue Castle Generation Project.

Transition Power proposes to site the reactor on land about three (3) miles west of the City of Green River in Emery County, Utah. The site is part of an industrial development park on land that Emery County has leased from the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Emery County intends to lease or sell land within the Mancos Hills Industrial Park. In addition to the water from the KCWCD, Transition Power has leased 24,000 acre-feet of water from San Juan County Water Conservancy District (SJCWCD).

There are great many issues associated with the use of the water from the Green River in this time of drought. There are major health and safety and environmental issues associated with the construction and operation of a nuclear power station next to a major Union Pacific passenger and freight rail line, an interstate highway (I-70), the City of Green River, and the Green River (a major tributary of the Colorado River). Read more . . . .

Application and Protest FACT SHEET . . . .

April 20, 2009

EPA Decision that Church Rock ISL is on
Indian Land Upheld by Federal Court of Appeals

On April 17, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver upheld a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (NRC) that an approved in-situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery operation in New Mexico was on Indian Land. Hydro Resurces Inc. had callenged a 2007 EPA decision that the proposed ISL facility was on Indian Land, thereby placing the injection wells under EPA jurisdiction. Hydro Resources has already received a license to operate from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC decision is under appeal in federal court. The community has opposed the underground mobilization of uranium and other hazardous elements that would result from the ISL operation, because of the closeness of the projects to sources of drinking water for the Navajo communities in Church Rock and Crownpoint. The ruling resolves an important jurisdictional issue and would apply to other proposed ISLs in the vicinity of tribal lands.

In 2006 tribal and community groups filed comments on the proposed EPA determination in support of EPA jurisdiction: Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Churchrock Chapter, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Southwest Research Information Center and Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining. In addition to the underground injection control (UIC) permit from the EPA, Hydro Resources would also need an aquifer exemption. An aquifer exemption can only be issued if the aquifer in the area impacted by the ISL operation could never be used as a source of drinking water. Read Gallup Independent article . . . .

April 1, 2009

Application for Water Right Change to Permit Use of Green River Water for Nuclear Power Station

The Kane County Water Conservancy submitted an Application for Permanent Change of Water to the State Engineer, Utah Division of Water Rights, on March 30. The application requests a change in point of diversion for 29,600 acre feet of water from Lake Powell to Green River, below the town of Green River, for Transition Power Development's proposed nuclear power reactor. The water would be stored and used for the reactor on land 3 1/2 to 4 miles west of Green River. The application will be noticed in local newspapers, and there will be an opportunity to comment, file a protest, and request a protest hearing. Read more . . . .

 

HOW TO LOCATE LICENSING DOCUMENTS IN THE NRC ELECTRONIC READING ROOM (ADAMS):

1. Go to  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html   
2. Click on Web-based access / Begin ADAMS search / Advanced Search 
3. Enter Docket Number in the Docket Number box.
4. Sort by Document Date in Descending order.  Some document packages are undated and are found at of beginning of end of list of documents in Descending order and at beginning of list of documents in Ascending order.

Read more about how to access NRC documents . . . .

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Updated June 23, 2009