WISE Uranium Project: 2000 News Archive

(last updated 31 Dec 2005)

> See also Uranium Mining Issues: 2000 Review

2000 NEWS

> for more recent news, see 2001 News Archive

• December 26, 2000: Navajo Tribe urges cleanup for radioactive homes (Arizona)

• - ? - : Precise locations of depleted uranium use in Kosovo

• December 22, 2000: Depleted uranium weapons use in Bosnia 1994/1995 disclosed

• December 21, 2000: DOE releases two reports on Cold War era work at Paducah (Kentucky)

• December 20, 2000: Pathfinder Mines requests relaxed groundwater standards for Lucky Mc mill site (Wyoming)

• December 19, 2000: Cogema issues decommissioning plan for Christensen Ranch / Irigaray ISL project (Wyoming)

• December 19, 2000: Environmental Report for MOX fuel fabrication plant project issued (South Carolina)

• December 13, 2000: U.S. Department of Defence releases second interim Environmental Exposure Report - Depleted Uranium in the Gulf

• December 13, 2000: NRC denies petitions requesting that the NRC assert jurisdiction over FUSRAP material

• December 10, 2000: Already 242 sick U.S. uranium miners received IOU's rather than compensation payments

• December 7, 2000: U.S. EPA promulgates final rule for Radionuclides in Drinking Water, including uranium standard of 30 micrograms per litre

• December 6, 2000: Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Application Delayed (USA)

• December 5, 2000: U.S. DOE Stabilizing Bank of Creek Near Reclaimed Canonsburg Uranium Mill Tailings Pile (Pennsylvania)

• December 1, 2000: Potential Study on Harmonization of Chemical and Radioactive Hazards (USA)

• November 30, 2000: NRC issues Interim Guidance on waste disposal in uranium mill tailings and on alternate feed for uranium mills

• November 30, 2000: Siemens Power Corp. withdraws license application for use of Richland nuclear fuel plant waste solutions as fertilizer (Washington, USA)

• November 29, 2000: Texas opposes import of DU counterweights from United Kingdom to USA for land burial in Texas

• November 29, 2000: World Heritage Committee decides not to list Kakadu National Park as "in danger" (Australia)

• November 28, 2000: Russia to double uranium production by 2010

• November 27, 2000: Tribals oppose Domiasiat uranium project in northeast India

• November 23, 2000: UNESCO scientific advisory calls for Australia to establish an independent committee to monitor the Jabiluka uranium mine's impact on Kakadu National Park

• November 22, 2000: Groundworks begin on the Sillamäe Tailings Pond (Estonia)

• November 22, 2000: Southern Cross Resources releases supplementary Environmental Impact Statement for Honeymoon uranium in-situ leach project (Australia)

• November 15/16, 2000: Hearing on Umetco's license renewal request for disposal of off-site contaminated material at Uravan uranium mill site (Colorado)

• November 10, 2000: Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited to build MOX fuel plant at Rokkasho-mura

• November 9, 2000: Loss of Criticality Safety Controls at Siemens Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant

• November 8, 2000: Czech Government approves 2-year extension of uranium mining at Rozná

• November 7, 2000: Cameco writes down Crow Butte (Nebraska) and Highland (Wyoming) ISL properties

• November 3, 2000: UNEP assessment team to visit depleted uranium sites in Kosovo

• November 3, 2000: Beverley uranium ISL mine begins commercial production (South Australia)

• November 1, 2000: Commercial production begins at McArthur River mine (Saskatchewan)

• October 31, 2000: U.S. Department of Energy Issues Request for Proposals to Build Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Plants in Ohio and Kentucky

• October 30, 2000: President signs bill to relocate Atlas Moab tailings (Utah)

• October 30, 2000: President signs landmark U.S. DOE nuclear workers compensation legislation

• October 30, 2000: President signs bill to raise U.S. uranium miners compensation to $150,000

• October 27, 2000: Canadian drinking water standard for uranium of 20 µg/l approved

• October 27, 2000: INB puts operation of Lagoa Real mine on hold after spill (Brazil)

• October 25, 2000: Depleted Uranium Sets off Alarm at Scrap Yard (Pennsylvania)

• October 25, 2000: Decommissioning of Nukem Hanau nuclear fuel plant approved (Germany)

• October 25, 2000: 'Blue glow' reported at Paducah burial pit (Kentucky)

• October 24, 2000: Radioactive waste removed from Kakadu (Australia)

• October 14, 2000: Number of people exposed to radiation from Tokai criticality accident raised to 667 (Japan)

• October 12, 2000: Loss of Criticality Safety Controls at Siemens Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant

• October 12, 2000: Congress passes bill to relocate Atlas Moab tailings (Utah)

• October 11, 2000: Six officials of JCO Co. arrested for Tokai criticality accident (Japan)

• October 11, 2000: U.S. DOE releases independent investigation report on former Oak Ridge, Tennessee, enrichment plant

• October 6, 2000: Billiton acquires Rio Algom

• October 6, 2000: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) lodges submission with the World Heritage Committee, calling to list the Kakadu National Park as "in danger" (Australia)

• October 6, 2000: U.S. DOE Seeks Comment on Directives for Release of Scrap Metals

• October 6, 2000: Passage of landmark U.S. DOE nuclear workers compensation legislation

• October 5, 2000: U.S. NRC Releases Draft Regulatory Guides on Occupational Exposures in Uranium Recovery Facilities for Comment

• October 3, 2000: Tajikistan: High radiation in Leninabad region from former uranium mining

• October 1, 2000: Plutonium contamination around Paducah (Kentucky) enrichment plant

• September 28, 2000: Starmet requests license amendment to import more DU waste from United Kingdom

• September 27, 2000: Development of the Highland ISL uranium project to be suspended (Wyoming)

• September 26, 2000: Experts meeting advises United Nations to conduct field studies of DU-contaminated sites in Kosovo

• September 26, 2000: Legislation to relocate Atlas Moab tailings pile a step closer (Utah)

• September 25, 2000: Uranium spot price falls below 7.50 US$/lbU3O8, approaching all-time low (Ux)

• September 21, 2000: Air transport of plutonium in MOX fuel from Russia to Canada approved

• September 18, 2000: U.S. NRC issues final rule on "Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material"

• September 13, 2000: Environment at risk from uranium ISL project in permafrost at Khiagdinskoe (Buryatiya, Russia)

• September 8, 2000: U.S. NRC seeks comments on Draft Rulemaking Plan - Domestic Licensing of Uranium and Thorium Recovery Facilities - 10 CFR Part 41

• September 7, 2000: U.S. Department of Energy releases Draft DUF6 Materials Use Roadmap

• September 6, 2000: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is proposing relaxed limitations for Crow Butte ISL deep injection well

• September 4, 2000: Indian Supreme Court admits petition on Jaduguda uranium mine pollution

• August 31, 2000: Radiation dose standard at nearest residence of Atlas Moab tailings only met for non-permanent occupancy (Utah)

• August 30, 2000: Joint venture to be formed for exploitation of the Zarechnoye uranium deposit in Kazakhstan

• August 30, 2000: ERA revises Jabiluka ore reserves by -21.5% from 90,400 to 71,000 t U3O8 (Australia)

• August 28, 2000: German government sees only little chance to prevent export of Hanau MOX fuel plant to Russia

• August 23, 2000: High radiation found at abandoned Lake Way uranium mine in West Australia

• August 22, 2000: Noranda making offer to purchase Rio Algom

• August 22, 2000: Port Hope Cancer Incidence Study finds no elevated cancer rates (Ontario)

• August 22, 2000: U.S. NRC Issues Final Review Plan For Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

• August 21, 2000: Uranium spot price falls below 8 US$/lbU3O8, approaching all-time low (Ux)

• August 21, 2000: Field Leach Trial at Honeymoon ISL project completed (South Australia)

• August 15, 2000: Instead of $100,000 Radiation Exposure Compensation, former uranium miners get IOUs (USA)

• August 11, 2000: Rio Tinto acquires majority in North Ltd - the majority owner of Energy Resources of Australia

• August 9, 2000: Pre-development work has begun on a new uranium mine at Kayelekera, Malawi

• August 8, 2000: Licenses to be renewed for the GE Canada Inc. Toronto and Peterborough nuclear fuel facilities (Ontario)

• August 4, 2000: Wismut cleanup workers partly to be covered by new German Radiation Protection Regulations

• August 3, 2000: Temporary shutdown of Rabbit Lake mill for one year from first quarter of 2001 (Canada)

• August 2, 2000: Biological groundwater treatment pilot tests at Homestake Grants uranium mill tailings site (New Mexico)

• July 31, 2000: Import of DU counterweights from United Kingdom to USA for land burial in Texas

• July 28, 2000: Air transport of plutonium in MOX fuel from Russia to Canada

• July 28, 2000: U.S. DOE study sees no problem in near-surface disposal of depleted uranium at Nevada Test Site

• July 26, 2000: Court dismisses suit of former nuclear fuel plant worker against Siemens (Germany)

• July 26, 2000: U.S. NRC finalizes Standard Review Plan for Title II Uranium Mill Tailings Reclamation Plans

• July 26, 2000: NRC favors more flexibility in the disposal of other wastes in mill tailings impoundments

• July 26, 2000: NRC disapproves exemption of certain wastes produced during in situ leaching of uranium deposits from NRC regulation

• July 21, 2000: Cameco/KazAtomProm to assess potential of Inkay uranium project (Kazakhstan)

• - ? - : COGEMA/SICN nuclear fuel plant license jeopardized by poor safety culture (France)

• July 19, 2000: DSIN inspectors demand shutdown of COGEMA Cadarache MOX fuel plant for earthquake hazard (France)

• July 19, 2000: Contract for construction of enrichment plant at Resende, Brazil, expected to be signed

• July 18, 2000: Encapsulation of depleted uranium oxides in thermoplastic polymers for use in civilian products

• July 17, 2000: U.S. NRC to revise UF6 Transportation Safety Standards

• July 17, 2000: IUC requests license amendment to process alternate feed material from Lakehurst, NJ at its White Mesa Mill, Utah

• July 14, 2000: U.S. General Accounting Office criticizes differing NRC and EPA radiation and site cleanup standards

• July 13, 2000: Power Resources, Inc. requests 10-year license renewal for Highland ISL Project (Wyoming)

• July 12/13, 2000: U.S. NRC holds public meetings on licensing of MOX fuel fabrication plant project in South Carolina

• July 10, 2000: U.S. President Clinton signs bill to amend Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

• June 30, 2000: Verification study finds no excess chromosomal aberrations in Namibian uranium miners

• June 29, 2000: Range fire approaches Siemens Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant to 800 meters

• June 27, 2000: U.S. Congress passes bill to amend Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

• June 27, 2000: Supervising Scientist report finds leak at Ranger mine caused no damage to Kakadu National Park, and finds evidence of earlier spill not reported (Australia)

• June 24, 2000: Lagoa Real / Caetité uranium mine starts production (Bahia, Brazil)

• June 23, 2000: Christensen Ranch ISL project shut down (Wyoming)

• June 23, 2000: U.S. Navy recovers only 37 of 206 depleted uranium penetrators left on Vieques Island after inadvertent firing during a 1999 training exercise (Puerto Rico)

• June 23, 2000: Washington State Department of Agriculture registers Siemens nuclear fuel plant waste solution as fertilizer

• June 21, 2000: Open questions re dam safety of Sherwood uranium mill tailings, Washington

• June 21, 2000: USEC Portsmouth enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio to be closed

• June 16, 2000: Fuel pellets deliberately mixed at CE Nuclear Power LLC's Hematite, Missouri plant

• June 15, 2000: Trustee submits Dewatering Design Plan for in-place reclamation of Atlas Moab tailings (Utah)

• June 14, 2000: No phase out for German nuclear fuel industry

• June 9, 2000: Truck With "Empty" UF6 cylinders involved in traffic accident (Ohio)

• June 9, 2000: Quivira Mining requests relaxed groundwater standards for Ambrosia Lake mill site (New Mexico)

• June 8, 2000: Fire on railway car carrying uranium ore concentrates (France)

• June 7, 2000: Honeymoon ISL project Environmental Impact Statement released (South Australia)

• June 6, 2000: UNSCEAR releases 2000 report

• June 6, 2000: NRC releases Draft Standard Review Plan for Groundwater Cleanup at Title I Uranium Mill Tailings Sites

• June 6, 2000: Tailings from old uranium mines found dispersed in Kakadu National Park

• June 5, 2000: NRC revokes approval for release of a reclaimed evaporation pond at Ambrosia Lake mill site for unrestricted use (New Mexico)

• May 25, 2000: NRC puts hold on Crownpoint in-situ leach project (New Mexico)

• May 25, 2000: U.S. DOE releases independent investigation report on Portsmouth enrichment plant (Ohio)

• May 23, 2000: Protestors block main entrance to Olympic Dam mine (Australia)

• May 22, 2000: "Empty" container shipped from Westinghouse-Hematite (Missouri) to Sweden contained fresh fuel pellets

• May 22, 2000: Former nuclear fuel plant worker sues Siemens for lung fibrosis (Germany)

• May 22, 2000: Ex-Cañon City mill worker receives cancer compensation (Colorado)

• May 19, 2000: U.S. NRC to approve final rule on "Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material"

• May 18, 2000: Canadian government to liberalize ownership restrictions for Cameco

• May 17, 2000: Hematite nuclear fuel plant to be closed (Missouri)

• May 17, 2000: Greens in German Parliament start initiative for ban of DU weapons

• May 11, 2000: Pathfinder Mines requests relaxed groundwater standards for Shirley Basin mill (Wyoming)

• May 9, 2000: Bill introduced in U.S. Senate to compensate DOE workers

• May 9, 2000: New uranium ISL project to be developed in Buryat region, Russia

• May 9, 2000: U.S. EPA to amend standards for radionuclide emissions from Federal Facilities

• May 7, 2000: Protesters arrested at Beverley blockade (Australia)

• May 5, 2000: Tailings capacity at White Mesa mill insufficient for proposed processing of more alternate feed (Utah)

• May 3, 2000: Leak at Ranger mine kept secrect for weeks (Australia)

• April 28, 2000: Spraying of Gore uranium conversion plant wastes as fertilizer results in excess contamination of forage (Oklahoma)

• April 28, 2000: U.S. General Accounting Office releases report on Paducah enrichment plant cleanup

• April 27, 2000: Kentucky State Task Force releases report on Paducah enrichment plant

• April 27, 2000: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit cleanup plan for Atlas Moab tailings (Utah)

• April 27, 2000: Second victim of JCO criticality accident dies (Japan)

• April 26, 2000: Siemens wants to process material with higher transuranics concentrations at its Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant

• April 25, 2000: USACE agrees to request State approval before sending further material for alternate feed processing at White Mesa mill (Utah)

• April 24, 2000: Plateau Resources proposes to relocate Atlas tailings to Shootaring Canyon mill site (Utah)

• April 23, 2000: Heap leaching liquid leaks at Lagoa Real uranium mine (Caetité, Brazil)

• April 21, 2000: U.S. EPA developing new rule for Radionuclides in Drinking Water

• April 20, 2000: Spill at uranium mine in western Romania

• April 19, 2000: Australian Government releases progress report on implication of commitments made re Jabiluka project

• April 17, 2000: Large low-grade uranium deposit discovered in Brazil

• April 17, 2000: Trustee requests revisal of completion dates for Atlas tailings in-place reclamation (Utah)

• April 12, 2000: IUC requests license amendment to process alternate feed material from Chattanooga, TN, at its White Mesa mill, Utah

• April 12, 2000: U.S. NRC developing rule for Control of Solid Materials from Licensed Facilities

• April 10, 2000: Questions raised about quality of White Mesa mill (Utah) alternate feed material from Tonawanda FUSRAP site

• April 6, 2000: U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board to discuss uranium mining TENORM

• April 5, 2000: Citizen group calls for health study and remedial action at Jaduguda uranium mine (India)

• April 4, 2000: Traditional Owners veto Koongarra uranium mine project (Northern Territory, Australia)

• April 4, 2000: New bill introduced to relocate Atlas Moab uranium mill tailings pile (Utah)

• April 4, 2000: Seepage from Atlas Moab uranium mill tailings pile lethal to fish (Utah)

• April 3, 2000: Cleanup of Wismut's uranium mining legacy not to be included in new German Radiation Protection Regulations.

• March 31, 2000: NRC to license decommissioning of Depleted Uranium Study Area at Aberdeen Proving Ground (Maryland)

• March 30, 2000: Decommissioning Project presented for Sillamäe tailings (Estonia) / Dam in extremely poor condition

• March 29, 2000: Romania: Baita Bihor and Banat mines to be shut down

• March 23, 2000: U.S. DOE defers plan to convert depleted uranium hexafluoride to a safer form for possible presence of transuranics.

• March 22, 2000: Plateau Resources requests permission for disposal of off-site byproduct material in its Shootaring Canyon uranium mill tailings facility (Utah)

• March 16, 2000: IUC requests license amendment to process more alternate feed material from Tonawanda, NY, at its White Mesa mill, Utah

• March 9, 2000: U.S. NRC to approve reclamation plan for Shootaring Canyon uranium mill (Utah)

• March 8, 2000: World Wide Minerals exits uranium business

• March 6, 2000: General Atomics acquires Cotter Corp.

• March 5, 2000: Film "Buddha Weeps In Jadugoda" about impacts of uranium mining in India gets best film award at EARTH VISION - The Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival

• February 18, 2000: Falsification at Sellafield MOX fuel facility (United Kingdom)

• February 16, 2000: General Atomics to buy Cañon City Mill (Colorado) for alternate feed processing?

• February 14, 2000: Legal action taken against Honeymoon uranium mine (South Australia)

• February 14, 2000: Cogema stops sale of depleted uranium for use in household items (France)

• February 11, 2000: Government and Ute sign agreement to relocate Atlas tailings (Utah)

• February 11, 2000: Washington State Department of Agriculture Issues Stop-sale Order for Uranium-containing Fertilizer Product

• February 10, 2000: U.S. NRC affirms judge's decision for alternate feed processing at White Mesa Mill (Utah)

• February 10, 2000: U.S. DOE releases second part of independent investigation report on Paducah enrichment plant

• February 8, 2000: WMC no longer interested in Yeelirrie project (West Australia)

• February 7, 2000: NATO discloses details on Depleted Uranium ammunition use in Kosovo.

• February 1, 2000: Bill Hedden receives "Beyond the Headlines Award" for fight for cleanup of Atlas Moab uranium mill tailings pile (Utah)

• February 1, 2000: Update on Impacts of Port Hope fuel facility on environment and residents' health

• January 31, 2000: 119 people exposed to more than 1 mSv from criticality accident at JCO plant (Japan); highest dose received by a resident was 21 mSv

• January 26, 2000: Kazakhstan to upgrade uranium production facilities with Western credit

• January 24, 2000: Siemens' Richland nuclear fuel plant plans to sell waste solutions as fertilizer (Washington State)

• January 20, 2000: U.S. NRC issues Radiological Assessment of Exemptions for Source and Byproduct Materials

• January 19, 2000: Navajo Nation lifts 1983 uranium mining moratorium for in-situ leaching (USA)

• January 19, 2000: Canada/Déline Uranium Table set up for Port Radium cleanup (Northwest Territories)

• January 19, 2000: Construction of enrichment plant in Resende, Brazil, to start soon

• January 14, 2000: U.S. DOE announces plan to relocate Atlas Moab uranium mill tailings (Utah)

• January 14, 2000: U.S. Navy inadvertently fired depleted uranium penetrators on Vieques Island during a 1999 training exercise (Puerto Rico)

• January 11, 2000: Suit against weaker protection standards in former uranium mining area dismissed (Germany)

• January 6, 2000: Eight monitor wells continuously on excursion status at Cogema's Christensen Ranch / Irigaray in-situ leaching site (Wyoming)

• January 4, 2000: NRC to approve White Mesa Mill reclamation plan (Utah)

> For older news, see the 1999 News Archive

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