Uranium Watch: News Archive


UTAH Uranium Mills Uranium Mines Nuclear Power URANIUM MILLS Proposed Licensed Reclamation Historical URANIUM MINES Arizona Colorado New Mexico Other States Abandoned RESOURCES Community Data and Info Government Industry Environmental Justice Site Index	NEWS ARCHIVE May 14, 2008 Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Denies Uranium Mine Permits The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality denied Denision Mines, Inc., permits to operate two uranium mines in Grand Canyon area. Denison owns and operates a conventional uranium mill on White Mesa, near Blanding, Utah. The mill is adjacent to the White Mesa Band, Ute Mt. Ute, community. Read More . . . . April 29, 2008 Intervenors in Crow Butte ISL Expansion Proceeding Are Granted Standing by NRC Crow Butte Intervenors: Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way and Western Nebraska Resources Council, were granted standing to participate in an adjudicatory proceeding before a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP). Contentions A, B, and C were granted and limited as set forth in the 130-page Order. The Oglala Sioux Tribe and any other interested state, local government body, or federally-recognized Native American Tribe may file a request to participate in the hearing pursuant to NRC regulations at 10 C.F.R. §2.315(c). April 19, 2008 Navajo Community Challenges ISL Uranium Recovery Operation on Tribal Lands in Federal Court The New Mexico Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Navajo communities of Crownpoint and Church Rock, New Mexico, is challenging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of the nearby Hydro Resources, Inc., in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery project. The appeal was filed in February 2007 in Tenth District Circuit Court of Appeals. The court will hear arguments in Denver on May 12. Read More . . . . April 5, 2008 Federal Judge Issues Injunction to Hault Uranium Exploration Next to Grand Canyon National Park On April 4, 2008, a federal judge issued an injunction to halt exploratory drilling for uranium by VANE Minerals close to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The order is the result of a suit against the Forest Service by the Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, and the Sierra Club challenging the exploratory drilling and demanding a complete analysis of the cumulative impacts associated with all of the uranium exploration in the Grand Canyon area. More. . . March 30, 2008 Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., tells Congressional Subcommittee that Nation Will Continue to Oppose Uranium Mining President Shirley gave testimony at a hearing before the Congressional Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in Flagstaff on March 30. The hearing gathered testimony on "Community Impacts of Proposed Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park." Recently, the Forest Service granted VANE Minerals, LLC, permission to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium just three miles south of Grand Canyon National Park. There was minimal contact with the surrounding tribes about the drilling program. President Shirley spoke about the past impacts to the people and lands of the Navajo Nation from the mining and milling of uranium and firmly presented the Navajo position against any new uranium mining on and near Diné lands. He explained that "the science that they're talking about in mining the uranium ore is not proven either; its not proven safe; and we don't want to deal with it." More, including audio links . . . . March 13, 2008 Cotter Corporation Fined $15,000 for Death of Migrating Birds by Solvent Spill at Cañon City Uranium Mill U.S. Magistrate, Kathleen Tafoya, sentenced Cotter Corporation to pay $15,000 for an organic solvent spill that resulted in the death of about 40 geese and ducks at the Cañon City Uranium Mill, Cañon City, Colorado. The waterfowl are considered "migrating birds" under federal statutes and regulations. The 4,500 gallons of kerosene-contaminated liquid was discharged into a settling pond pond at the mill. Cotter entered a Plea Agreement that stipulated that Cotter would pay the money to the non-profit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They are also required to submit an Environmental Compliance Plan designed to prevent similar events and ensure timely and effective remediation of such events should they occurr. The plan will be submtted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Cotter will provide proof to the Probation Office that the plan has been implemented. More . . . . March 12, 2008 Conservation Groups Challenge Uranium Exploration Near Grand Canyon The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Grand Canyon Trust filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the VANE Mineral proposal to conduct exploratory uranium drilling within just a few miles of Grand Canyon. The group is challenging the Forest Service's approval of the project under a "categorical exclusion" under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). More . . . . March 10, 2008 Transition Power Resources Submits Letter of Intent to NRC for Development of Nuclear Power Plant Project in Utah On January 30, 2007, Transition Power Development LLC submitted a Letter of Intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding their plans to develop two nuclear power houses in Utah. Transition Power informed the NRC that they intend to submit either an Early Site Permit and/or a Combined Operating License Application by April 2010. Information about New Reactor applications and regulation can be found at the NRC website: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactor licensing.html. The Transition Power project is called the Blue Castle Generation Project. Blue Castle is the name of a butte and other formation northeast of the town of Green River and just west of the Green River. According to statements made by Transition Power to the Salt Lake Tribune, they have two primary locations identified and are still in the process of negotiating a site for the project. One of the locations is near Green River. Transition Power has not been forthcoming regarding exactly where these location are. According to the Tribune, the Letter of Intent "keeps the company's place in the line of 22 reactor license applicants in various stages of review." This is not so. Only the submittal of a complete application will hold a place in line for the review of the application. The Letter of Intent will facilitate planning and budgeting by the NRC, but will not allow Transition's application to be reviewed before power house applications that were submitted earlier than Transition's. According to an October 29, 2007, Press Release by EnergyPath Corporation, Transition Power's partners and principals are President Tom Retson (also president of EnergyPath Corporation); CEO Aaron Tilton, member of the Utah House of Representatives; Nils Diaz, Executive Policy Advisor and immediate past Chariman of the NRC; and Reed Searle, Strategic Relations Director and former General Manager of Utah's Intermountain Power Agency. As a member of the 5-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mr. Diaz was able to help lay the groundwork for the revised nuclear power facility licensing process, which he will now be able to take advantage of financially. February 29, 2008 DOE Amends Record of Decision for the Moab Mill UMTRA Project to Allow for Truck Transportation of Tailings to Crescent Junction Disposal Site The US Department of Energy amended the Moab Mill, Utah, UMTRA Project Record of Decision (ROD) for the relocation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings from the Moab mill site at to the disposal site at Crescent Junction, 30 miles north. The amended ROD would allow the DOE to move some or all of the mill tailings by truck, rather than by rail, as originally planned. According to the February 28 Federal Register Notice (73 Fed. Reg. 11103): "This ROD amendment meets the strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive material as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first shipment because truck shipments could start sooner since the logistics of initiating the rail alternative would require time to safely implement (i.e. building the hillside loadout infrastructure). In addition long-term risks would be reduced through earlier completion, and reducing total project costs would be reduced through greater flexibility and competition between rail and truck transporters." February 21, 2008 Mancos Resources Inc. Withdraws Request to Lease Grand County, Utah, Water for a Uranium Mill Mancos Resources Inc. notified the Grand Water and Sewer Service Agency that it not wish to pursue its request for a lease of water from Grand County. Mancos intended to use the water from Green River for a proposed uranium mill west of the town of Green River. The company had not yet been granted rights to use land that Emery County intends to use for an industrial park development. February 7, 2008 Mancos Resources Inc. Plans for Uranium Mill at Green River, Utah Mancos Resources Inc., a company with no known history in the uranium mining and milling industry, is asking the Grand Water Sewer and Service Agency (GW&SSA), Grand County, Utah, for a lease of water from Green River for a uranium mill to be constructed west of Green River, near the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Interstate 70. The proposed site is where Emery County plans to develop an industrial park. The park will depend on obtaining approval of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) for the sale or lease of the land to Emery County. GW&SSA will consider the request at their February 21 meeting. The planned mill would require local and state permits and a license from the Utah Division of Radiation Control. January 30, 2008 Uranium One Completes Purchase of Energy Metals Uranium One Inc. (formerly sxr Uranium One) completed acquisition of Energy Metals Corp. (EMC). EMC website was removed from the Web. Information about EMC uranium projects at the EMC website are no longer available. January 23, 2008 Spot Price of Uranium Continues to Drop A Mineweb article reports slowing of uranium buyer's interest and possible end to the rush to invest and develop. Reports that spot prices are down about 37% from last summer's $136 per pound high. According to TradeTech's Uranium Information Web site, last week the spot price has dropped from $90 to $84 per pound. December 17, 2007 Petitioners Request Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hearing on Crow Butte ISL Expansion On November 12, 2007, seven petitioners submitted requests for hearing and petitions to intervene to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), challenging the Crow Butte, Nebraska, in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery facility expansion. The petitions were filed in response to a request by Crow Butte Resources Inc. (CBR) to authorize an upgrade to the central processing plant (CPP) and an increase in the CPP flow rate at its main ISL facility near Crawford, Nebraska. Debra L. White Plume, Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way, Western Nebraska Resources Council, Thomas Kanatakeniate Cook, and Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Corporation, filed timely petitions In response to a September 13, 2007, notice of opportunity for hearing that was published on the NRC website. Two other petitions werelater withdrawn. CBR is a subsidiary of the Canadian company, Cameco. The filings and information about the Crow Butte facility and the hearing are available on the NRC's Electronic Reading Room (ADAMS). The Crow Butte Docket Number is 40-8943. The State of Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) issued theTechnical Review of Aquifer Exemption Petition for North Trend Expansion on November 8, 2007. The Review includes a lengthy evaluation of the Crow Butte Resources (CBR) application The NDEQ states that the document provided by CBR for NDEQ review "lacks site specific data, inclusion of recent research, and the presentation of well supported scientific interpretations to be considered acceptable." An aquifer exemption must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, in addition to approval by the NDEQ. More . . . HOW TO LOCATE CROW BUTTE 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 04008943 in the Docket Number box. 4. Sort by Document Date. Some document packages are undated and are found at end of list of documents in Descending order and at beginning of list of documents in Ascending order. More about NRC document access . . . . <<Back to Top>>
Uranium Watch • 435-259-4734 • PO Box 344 • Moab, Utah 84532

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NEWS ARCHIVE

May 14, 2008

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Denies Uranium Mine Permits

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality denied Denision Mines, Inc., permits to operate two uranium mines in Grand Canyon area. Denison owns and operates a conventional uranium mill on White Mesa, near Blanding, Utah. The mill is adjacent to the White Mesa Band, Ute Mt. Ute, community. Read More . . . .

April 29, 2008

Intervenors in Crow Butte ISL Expansion Proceeding Are Granted Standing by NRC

Crow Butte Intervenors: Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way and Western Nebraska Resources Council, were granted standing to participate in an adjudicatory proceeding before a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP). Contentions A, B, and C were granted and limited as set forth in the 130-page Order.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe and any other interested state, local government body, or federally-recognized Native American Tribe may file a request to participate in the hearing pursuant to NRC regulations at 10 C.F.R. §2.315(c).

April 19, 2008

Navajo Community Challenges ISL Uranium Recovery Operation on Tribal Lands in Federal Court

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Navajo communities of Crownpoint and Church Rock, New Mexico, is challenging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of the nearby Hydro Resources, Inc., in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery project. The appeal was filed in February 2007 in Tenth District Circuit Court of Appeals. The court will hear arguments in Denver on May 12.
Read More . . . .

April 5, 2008

Federal Judge Issues Injunction to Hault Uranium Exploration Next to Grand Canyon National Park

On April 4, 2008, a federal judge issued an injunction to halt exploratory drilling for uranium by VANE Minerals close to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The order is the result of a suit against the Forest Service by the Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, and the Sierra Club challenging the exploratory drilling and demanding a complete analysis of the cumulative impacts associated with all of the uranium exploration in the Grand Canyon area. More. . .

March 30, 2008

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., tells Congressional Subcommittee that Nation Will Continue to Oppose Uranium Mining

President Shirley gave testimony at a hearing before the Congressional Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in Flagstaff on March 30. The hearing gathered testimony on "Community Impacts of Proposed Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park." Recently, the Forest Service granted VANE Minerals, LLC, permission to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium just three miles south of Grand Canyon National Park. There was minimal contact with the surrounding tribes about the drilling program. President Shirley spoke about the past impacts to the people and lands of the Navajo Nation from the mining and milling of uranium and firmly presented the Navajo position against any new uranium mining on and near Diné lands. He explained that "the science that they're talking about in mining the uranium ore is not proven either; its not proven safe; and we don't want to deal with it." More, including audio links . . . .

March 13, 2008

Cotter Corporation Fined $15,000 for Death of Migrating Birds by Solvent Spill at
Cañon City Uranium Mill

U.S. Magistrate, Kathleen Tafoya, sentenced Cotter Corporation to pay $15,000 for an organic solvent spill that resulted in the death of about 40 geese and ducks at the Cañon City Uranium Mill, Cañon City, Colorado.
The waterfowl are considered "migrating birds" under federal statutes and regulations. The 4,500 gallons of kerosene-contaminated liquid was discharged into a settling pond pond at the mill.

Cotter entered a Plea Agreement that stipulated that Cotter would pay the money to the non-profit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They are also required to submit an Environmental Compliance Plan designed to prevent similar events and ensure timely and effective remediation of such events should they occurr. The plan will be submtted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Cotter will provide proof to the Probation Office that the plan has been implemented. More . . . .

March 12, 2008

Conservation Groups Challenge Uranium
Exploration Near Grand Canyon

The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Grand Canyon Trust filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the VANE Mineral proposal to conduct exploratory uranium drilling within just a few miles of Grand Canyon. The group is challenging the Forest Service's approval of the project under a "categorical exclusion" under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). More . . . .

March 10, 2008

Transition Power Resources Submits
Letter of Intent to NRC for Development
of Nuclear Power Plant Project in Utah

On January 30, 2007, Transition Power Development LLC submitted a Letter of Intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding their plans to develop two nuclear power houses in Utah. Transition Power informed the NRC that they intend to submit either an Early Site Permit and/or a Combined Operating License Application by April 2010. Information about New Reactor applications and regulation can be found at the NRC website: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactor licensing.html.

The Transition Power project is called the Blue Castle Generation Project. Blue Castle is the name of a butte and other formation northeast of the town of Green River and just west of the Green River. According to statements made by Transition Power to the Salt Lake Tribune, they have two primary locations identified and are still in the process of negotiating a site for the project. One of the locations is near Green River. Transition Power has not been forthcoming regarding exactly where these location are.

According to the Tribune, the Letter of Intent "keeps the company's place in the line of 22 reactor license applicants in various stages of review." This is not so. Only the submittal of a complete application will hold a place in line for the review of the application. The Letter of Intent will facilitate planning and budgeting by the NRC, but will not allow Transition's application to be reviewed before power house applications that were submitted earlier than Transition's.

According to an October 29, 2007, Press Release by EnergyPath Corporation, Transition Power's partners and principals are President Tom Retson (also president of EnergyPath Corporation); CEO Aaron Tilton, member of the Utah House of Representatives; Nils Diaz, Executive Policy Advisor and immediate past Chariman of the NRC; and Reed Searle, Strategic Relations Director and former General Manager of Utah's Intermountain Power Agency. As a member of the 5-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mr. Diaz was able to help lay the groundwork for the revised nuclear power facility licensing process, which he will now be able to take advantage of financially.

February 29, 2008

DOE Amends Record of Decision for the Moab Mill UMTRA Project to Allow for Truck Transportation of Tailings to Crescent Junction Disposal Site

The US Department of Energy amended the Moab Mill, Utah, UMTRA Project Record of Decision (ROD) for the relocation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings from the Moab mill site at to the disposal site at Crescent Junction, 30 miles north. The amended ROD would allow the DOE to move some or all of the mill tailings by truck, rather than by rail, as originally planned. According to the February 28 Federal Register Notice (73 Fed. Reg. 11103):

"This ROD amendment meets the strong stakeholder desire to relocate the residual radioactive material as soon as practicable by accelerating the date of the first shipment because truck shipments could start sooner since the logistics of initiating the rail alternative would require time to safely implement (i.e. building the
hillside loadout infrastructure). In addition long-term risks would be reduced through earlier completion, and reducing total project costs would be reduced through greater flexibility and competition between rail and truck transporters."

February 21, 2008

Mancos Resources Inc. Withdraws Request to Lease Grand County, Utah, Water for a Uranium Mill

Mancos Resources Inc. notified the Grand Water and Sewer Service Agency that it not wish to pursue its request for a lease of water from Grand County. Mancos intended to use the water from Green River for a proposed uranium mill west of the town of Green River. The company had not yet been granted rights to use land that Emery County intends to use for an industrial park development.

February 7, 2008

Mancos Resources Inc. Plans for Uranium Mill
at Green River, Utah

Mancos Resources Inc., a company with no known history in the uranium mining and milling industry, is asking the Grand Water Sewer and Service Agency (GW&SSA), Grand County, Utah, for a lease of water from Green River for a uranium mill to be constructed west of Green River, near the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Interstate 70. The proposed site is where Emery County plans to develop an industrial park. The park will depend on obtaining approval of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) for the sale or lease of the land to Emery County. GW&SSA will consider the request at their February 21 meeting. The planned mill would require local and state permits and a license from the Utah Division of Radiation Control.

January 30, 2008

Uranium One Completes Purchase of Energy Metals

Uranium One Inc. (formerly sxr Uranium One) completed acquisition of Energy Metals Corp. (EMC). EMC website was removed from the Web. Information about EMC uranium projects at the EMC website are no longer available.

January 23, 2008

Spot Price of Uranium Continues to Drop

A Mineweb article reports slowing of uranium buyer's interest and possible end to the rush to invest and develop. Reports that spot prices are down about 37% from last summer's $136 per pound high. According to TradeTech's Uranium Information Web site, last week the spot price has dropped from $90 to $84 per pound.

December 17, 2007

Petitioners Request Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hearing on Crow Butte ISL Expansion

On November 12, 2007, seven petitioners submitted requests for hearing and petitions to intervene to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), challenging the Crow Butte, Nebraska, in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery facility expansion. The petitions were filed in response to a request by Crow Butte Resources Inc. (CBR) to authorize an upgrade to the central processing plant (CPP) and an increase in the CPP flow rate at its main ISL facility near Crawford, Nebraska.

Debra L. White Plume, Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way, Western Nebraska Resources Council, Thomas Kanatakeniate Cook, and Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Corporation, filed timely petitions In response to a September 13, 2007, notice of opportunity for hearing that was published on the NRC website. Two other petitions werelater withdrawn. CBR is a subsidiary of the Canadian company, Cameco.

The filings and information about the Crow Butte facility and the hearing are available on the NRC's Electronic Reading Room (ADAMS). The Crow Butte Docket Number is 40-8943.

The State of Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) issued theTechnical Review of Aquifer Exemption Petition for North Trend Expansion on November 8, 2007. The Review includes a lengthy evaluation of the Crow Butte Resources (CBR) application The NDEQ states that the document provided by CBR for NDEQ review "lacks site specific data, inclusion of recent research, and the presentation of well supported scientific interpretations to be considered acceptable."

An aquifer exemption must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, in addition to approval by the NDEQ.
More . . .

HOW TO LOCATE CROW BUTTE 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 04008943 in the Docket Number box.
4. Sort by Document Date. Some document packages are undated and are found at end of list of documents in Descending order and at beginning of list of documents in Ascending order.
More about NRC document access . . . .

<<Back to Top>>

Uranium Watch • 435-259-4734 • PO Box 344 • Moab, Utah 84532