URANIUM WATCH

A Uranium Mining,
Milling, and Nuclear
Information
and Action Project

Moab, Utah

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UTAH

Uranium Mills
• White Mesa Mill
• White Mesa
License Renewal

Uranium Mines
• Daneros Mine
• Energy Queen
• La Sal Mines Complex
• Tony M Mine
• Velvet Mine

Nuclear Power
• Blue Castle Project
• Blue Castle Project
Early Site Permit

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REGULATORY
ISSUES

• WISE Uranium Project

JANUARY 20, 2012

STATE ENGINEER APPROVES WATER RIGHTS FOR
BLUE CASTLE NUCLEAR REACTOR PROJECT

Kent Jones, the State Engineer, Utah Division of Water Rights, has approved the water right change applications to provide 53,600 acre-feet of water from the Green River for the proposed Blue Castle Project Nuclear Reactor a few miles west of the town of Green River. The decisions addressed a number of issues related to the provision of water for the reactor. The State Engineer determined that the water must be put to beneficial use by 2015 (San Juan County Water Conservancy District Water) and 2017 (Kane County Water Conservancy District Water). Given the time it will take to license and construct a nuclear reactor in Green River, it would be impossible to put the water to beneficial use by those dates.

• Division of Water Rights Press Release
• Kane County WCD Decision
• San Juan County WCD Decision

JANUARY 5, 2012

DOE RELEASES
LEGACY MANAGEMENT UPDATE
4TH QUARTER 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management has issued the October-December 2011 Program Update. The Update discusses the DOE preparation of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Uranium Leasing Program. Tentatively, the DOE expects the Draft PEIS being completed by April 30, 2012, and made available for public comment. The Final PEIS is expected by May 24, 2013.

• DOE PEIS Information Center
• Public Scoping Meetings - Transcripts

The Update discusses the Progress in Addressing Past Uranium Mining Impacts in New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation

The Update also discusses the extension of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) benefits to workers at 17 sites remediated by the DOE under Title I of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Conrol Act of 1978. For additional information about these sites and the benefits available under EEOICPA, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website.

For more information on covered DOE facilities, visit the Office of Health, Safety and Security's website.

If you have any questions regarding the Update, contact Brenda Waters at (202) 586-3559 or e-mail LM@hq.doe.gov.

DECEMBER 26, 2011

DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
PROPOSES RULE TO DEFINE "MAJOR" LICENSING ACTIONS

Comments Due January 3, 2012

The Utah Division of Radiation Control (DRC) has proposed a rule to define "major" licensing actions that require public notice ans an opportunity to provide comment. The DRC is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed rule.

According to the Notice of Proposed Rule: "This amendment to Rule R313-17 defines what licensing actions are considered to be major actions, and the amendment requires that a public notice be issued and a public comment period be held for license categories 2b and c, 4a, b, c, d, and 6 as identified in Section R313-70-7." The categories include uranium recovery and radioactive waste disposal.

The Proposed Rule also allows the Executive Secretary to provide a notice and opportunity to comment on other licensing actions of interest. This rule will also impact the types of mill licensing actions that require an environmental analysis by the DRC, as required by the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. § 2021(o). Therefore, It is important that the DRC better define "major licensing action."

• Notice of Proposed Rule and Text of Rule

DECEMBER 23, 2011

DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON
LISBON VALLEY GROUNDWATER WORK PLAN

Comments Due January 20, 2012

The Utah Division of Radiation Control noticed an opportunity to comment on an Amendment to the decommissioned Lisbon Valley Uranium Mill license. Amendment 4 requires the submittal of a work plan and schedule related to the groundwater contamination at the former Mill site. Monitoring well data in 2010 showed increases in uranium concentrations, where decreased were expected. In 2004 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Rio Algom Mining LLC alternate concentration limits (ACLs), because of a plume of contaminated water from the Mill. The revised License would require the submittal of the plan by December 16, 2011. Rio Algom has already submitted the plan and schedule, but the DRC decided to provide notice of the problems with increased uranium concentrations in the groundwater and provide an opportunity for the public to comment on amended license.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• DRC Website Public Notice
• Newspaper Notice
• Draft Amendment 4 to License No. UT19000481
• Statement of Basis for Amendment 4
• Statement of Basis for Groundwater Discharge Permit - 2007

• Work Plan - Supplemental Site Asessment: Out of compiance Status at Trend Wells RL-1 and EF-8 | Lisbon Facility - December 13, 2011

 

DECEMBER 21, 2011

UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE CALLS FOR MAJOR
CHANGES in OPERATION of WHITE MESA MILL

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's Environmental Program submitted extensive comments on the License Renewal of the White Mesa Uranium Mill, calling for substantial changes in the Mill operation and the way that the Mill is regulated by the Utah Division of Radiation Control (DRC). The Tribe requested closure of 2 tailings impoundments (cells 2 and 3), additional air and groundwater monitoring, revised corrective action plan to address groundwater contamination, suspension of processing of alternate feed, a separate quality assurance plan, and other actions by the DRC and Denison Mines (USA) Corporation in order assure protection of the public's health and safety.

Uranium Watch also submitted comments on the Draft License and Safety Evaluation Report. UW questioned the lack of a complete environmental analysis of the License Renewal and asked for full documentation to show that the Mill was complying with applicable radiation exposure regulations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• White Mesa License Renewal Comments, with Exhibits

 

 

- NEWS ARCHIVE -

 

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Last Updated January 20, 2012