PANDORA MINE
La Sal, San Juan County, Utah
(Connected Underground to La Sal Complex: Beaver Shaft, La Sal, and Snowball)
Pandora, Beaver Shaft, La Sal, and Snowball Mines now referred to as
the La Sal Mines Complex

BLM, Forest Service, and Denison Move Forward on
Plans for an Environmental Assessment of Expansion of the
Pandora, Beaver Shaft, La Sal, and Snowball Mines
(La Sal Mines Complex)

In November 2010 Denison MInes (USA) Corporation submitted a the final version of the Plan of Operations Amendment (POA) for the La Sal Mines Complex (Beaver Shaft, La Sal, Snowball, and Pandora Mines) to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and US National Forest Service-Manti-La Sal National Forest. The BLM and Forest Service is in the process of developing an Environmental Assessment (EA). The Agencies held two EA scoping meetings and provided an opportunity for submittal of written comments, which were due on January 31, 2011.

Denison has hired and will pay a consultant — CDM Inc. — to prepare the EA, under the direction of the BLM and Forest Service. CDM Inc. is the same consultant that Denison hired to develop their amendment to the Plan of Operations for the La Sal Mines Complex.

• BLM Response to EA Scoping Comments: Working Draft (25.5 MB)

• Plan of Operations Amendment - November 2010

Earlier POA Versions

• Plan of Operations Amendment - December 14, 2009 (165.6 MB)
• DOGM: Request for Additional Information - May 5, 2010 (36.4 MB)
• Supplement to Plan of Operations - January 26, 2010 (160.6 MB)

Earlier Plans of Operations and Environmental Assessments

• Pandora Mine Plan of Operations - April 27, 1981
• Pandora Mine Environmental Assessment - June 8, 1981
• Deer Creek Group (La Sal Mines) Plan of Operations - May 8, 1981
• Deer Creek Group (La Sal Mines) Environmental Assessment - June 12, 1981

EPA Conducts Inspection of La Sal Mines – April 2010

• EPA Inspection Report

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◊ Mine Operator
Denison Mines (USA) Corporation

◊ Land Ownership
Mine on Bureau of Land Management land (Moab Field Office)
Some mine vents are on Forest Service Land

◊ Utah Division of Air Quality Contact
• Maung Maung
~ 801-536-4153
~ mmaung@utah.gov

◊ Mine Safety and Health Administration
MSHA Mine ID No. 4200470
To Search for Information on Inspections, Violations, and Accidents CLICK HERE

MINE INFORMATION

The Pandora MIne and the La Sal mines form a complex of historic underground uranium and vanadium mines in the vicinity of the rural community of La Sal, on the south flank of the La Sal Mountains in San Juan County. The Pandora is connected underground to the La Sal MInes (M/037/026), also owned by Denison Mines (USA) Corporation (Denison Mines). The Pandora Mine received a permit from DOGM on April 27, 1977. The permit was never extended, despite the mine being closed down for over ten years.

MINE DOCUMENTS

• Pandora Mine - Large Mining Operation Progress Reports 1977-2008
• Letters regarding mine permit extension (and 1982 Progress Report) - 2002
• DOGM Inspection Report of Mines in La Sal w/photos - 2002 (with Hecla Shaft documents, inspections at end of PDF file)

Photos:
• Pandora Mine Road

Maps:
• Radon vent holes and exploration drilling proposed in 2009

DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY

On May 22, 2008, Denison Mines submitted a Notice of Intent of Construct the Proposed La Sal Mines Project to the Division of Air Quality (DAW). The project includes the Pandora Mine and the La Sal, Snow Ball, and Beaver Shaft. Denison only plans to use the Beaver Shaft and Pandora access shafts.

The Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) 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 DAQ will hold a public hearing at the La Sal Community Center on July 7, 2009.

The Notice and Intent to Approve are also posted at the DAQ web page: NSR Intents-to-Approve Out for Public Comment.

• Notice of Intent to Construct the Proposed La Sal Mines Project - May 2008

• DAQ Notice of Intent to Approve

• Intent to Approve - May 28, 2009

• Approval Order (DAQE-AN0141510002-09) - October 26, 2009

NOTICE OF INTENT TO MODIFY THE LA SAL MINES PROJECT APPROVAL ORDER

In October 2010, Denison submitted a Notice of Intent to Modify the La Sal Mines Project Approval Order to the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ). The request incorporates the La Sal Mine (one of the four mines that are part of the La Sal Mines Complex) into the La Sal Mines Complex mining operation. However, Denison has already commenced operation of the La Sal Mine. Denison is removing ore from the mine and disposing of waste rock on one or more of the La Sal Mine waste rock piles.

The DAQ is in the process of reviewing the NOI to Modify.

• Notice of Intent to Modify the La Sal Mines Project Approval Order - October 2010

COMPLIANCE WITH RADON EMISSION STANDARDS IN
40 C.F.R. PART 61, SUBPART B

• 2008 Annual Compliance Report - La Sal Mines - March 2009
• 2009 Annual Compliance Report - La Sal Mines - March 2010

• September 2010 Monthly Compliance Report (Cover Letter) - La Sal Mines
• September 2010 Monthly Compliance Report - La Sal Mines - October 2010
• September 2010 Monthly Compliance Report - Modeling Results - SENES Report

• Denison - Compliance with 40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subparts A and B, La Sal Mine Complex Radon Emissions Information - La Sal Mines - December 16, 2009

• Application and DAQ Approval for 7 New Radon Vents - 2010

Environmental Protection Agency - Notice of Violation

• Notice of Violation - August 16, 2010

Updated February 2, 2011

 

ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION

Utah Division of
Air Quality
◊
Utah Division of
Water Rights
◊
Utah Division of
Water Quality
◊
Utah Division of
Oil, Gas, and Mining
◊
Environmental
Protection Agency
~
• Uranium MInes
• EPA Uranium Mining
Studies - 2008
◊
Learn about
Uranium Mining
◊
Denison MInes
Ore Buying Program
for White Mesa Mill
◊
Other La Sal MInes
• Energy Queen
• La Sal Complex