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(last updated 23 Jul 2010)
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On May 14, 2010, the Uranium Café in Grants reopened as Nana's Café. (Cibola Beacon May 17, 2010)
The Uranium Cafe, a Route 66 landmark in Grants, N.M., with a classic neon sign, closed about a month ago, according to a Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman. (Route 66 News, April 23, 2007)
The Uranium Cafe, a well-known landmark restaurant that has existed through the uranium mining boom and bust in Grants will be reopening soon with new management. (Gallup Independent Nov. 9, 2005)
If granted these subsidies threaten to renew uranium mining in the Navajo
Reservation's Eastern Agency in New Mexico by jump-starting Hydro Resource
Inc.'s proposed Crownpoint Uranium Project. This project has been met with
vigorous opposition from the Navajo community who are still suffering from
the enormously destructive effects of previous uranium mining. Hundreds of
abandoned uranium mines still exist on Native American lands in New Mexico
and elsewhere in the four-corners region. The cleanup of these sites and the
compensation of radiation victims from previous uranium mining continue to
be neglected and delayed. On August 15th Navajo President Kelsey Begaye and
Vice President Taylor McKenzie sent Sen. Bingaman a strongly worded letter
opposing renewed uranium mining on Navajo land. [...]"
(NIRS release Oct. 3, 2001)
(Energy Advancement and Conservation Act) would grant a total of US$ 30 million to the U.S. uranium industry to improve the in-situ leach technology. On July 25, 2001, the bill passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with amendments.
"SEC. 315. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR THE URANIUM MINING INDUSTRY.(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004 for--
(1) cooperative, cost-shared, agreements between the Department of Energy and domestic uranium producers to identify, test, and develop improved in situ leaching mining technologies, including low-cost environmental restoration technologies that may be applied to sites after completion of in situ leaching operations; and
(2) funding for competitively selected demonstration projects with domestic uranium producers relating to--
(A) enhanced production with minimal environmental impacts;
(B) restoration of well fields; and
(C) decommissioning and decontamination activities.(b) DOMESTIC URANIUM PRODUCER- For purposes of this section, the term `domestic uranium producer' has the meaning given that term in section 1018(4) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 2296b-7(4)), except that the term shall not include any producer that has not produced uranium from domestic reserves on or after July 30, 1998."
The corresponding Senate bill is S.472 (Nuclear Energy Electricity Supply Assurance Act of 2001 - Sec. 127. Cooperative research and development and special demonstration projects for the uranium mining industry)
These provisions could directly affect Navajo communities in northwestern New Mexico by facilitating development of the Crownpoint Uranium Project, a proposal by Hydro Resources, Inc. (HRI), to construct and operate four uranium ISL mines in Church Rock and Crownpoint in the Eastern Navajo Agency.
Numerous local, regional and national groups including Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM), Concerned Citizens of Crownpoint, SRIC, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, New Mexico and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups, Mineral Policy Center and Taxpayers for Common Sense have blasted the bill's provisions as another environmental injustice on the Navajo people, as corporate welfare for the the uranium industry, and as bad fiscal policy.
> See also SRIC: Uranium Bailout Bill
> See also NIRS: Uranium Alert
) recommended that the U.S. consider participating in international research on extracting uranium from seawater:
"One possibility for maintaining fission as a major option without reprocessing is low-cost extraction of uranium from seawater. The uranium concentration of sea water is low (approximately 3 ppb) but the quantity of contained uranium is vast - some 4 billion tonnes (about 700 times more than known terrestrial resources recoverable at a price of up to $130 per kg). If half of this resource could ultimately be recovered, it could support for 6,500 years 3,000 GW of nuclear capacity (75 percent capacity factor) based on next-generation reactors (e.g., high-temperature gas-cooled reactors) operated on once-through fuel cycles. Research on a process being developed in Japan suggests that it might be feasible to recover uranium from seawater at a cost of $120 per lb of U3O8.40 Although this is more than 10 times the current uranium price, it would contribute just 0.5¢ per kWh to the cost of electricity for a next-generation reactor operated on a once-through fuel cycle-equivalent to the fuel cost for an oil-fired power plant burning $3-a-barrel oil." [emphasis added]
40 Nobukawa 1994: H. Nobukawa "Development of a Floating Type System for Uranium Extraction from Sea Water Using Sea Current and Wave Power," in Proceedings of the 4th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (Osaka, Japan: 10-15 April 1994), pp. 294-300.Source: Powerful Partnerships: The Federal Role In International Cooperation On Energy Innovation. A Report From The President's Committee Of Advisors On Science And Technology Panel On International Cooperation In Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, And Deployment. Washington, DC, June 1999, p. 5-26 - 5-27 (download full text
is investigating the potential of mining and milling uranium from breccia pipes in northern Arizona.) [emphasis added]
> View BLM release Mar. 8 2010
> Download Northern Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Report , U.S. BLM, March 2010 (5.4MB PDF)
> Download BLM Newsletter #1 - March 2010 (492kB PDF)
> View USGS release Feb. 18, 2010
> Download Hydrological, geological, and biological site characterization of breccia pipe uranium deposits in northern Arizona , Alpine, Andrea E. (ed.), Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5025, U.S. Geological Survey 2010, 353 p.
sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for illegally withholding public records relating to uranium mines immediately north of Grand Canyon National Park. The suit asserts that the Bureau violated the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to disclose records pursuant to a July 30, 2009 request submitted by the Center. The Bureau is withholding the vast majority of eight linear feet of responsive records despite directives from the Obama administration requiring the agency to respond to information requests "promptly and in a spirit of cooperation" and to adopt a "presumption of disclosure."
(Center for Biological Diversity Feb. 11, 2010)
today urged Congress to support legislation that would permanently ban new mining claims on public lands surrounding the park. Under the antiquated mining law of 1872, more than one thousand uranium mining claims have been staked just outside park boundaries., authored by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), chair of the House National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, would protect approximately one million acres of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park from new mining claims. The bill would make permanent a moratorium on claim staking called for in July by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Nov. 5, 2009)
) to conduct uranium mine exploration operations across five separate projects on public lands north of Grand Canyon National Park. The authorization violates a June 2008 congressional resolution prohibiting new uranium claims and exploration across 1 million acres of public lands surrounding the Park.
released a Draft Environmental Assessment on a program of drilling exploration of uranium prospects located within the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. (26.5MB PDF)
On March 11, 2009, the Kaibab National Forest issued the following advisory:
"The Forest Service is not currently seeking public comments on a proposal from DIR Exploration, Inc. to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. A document currently being circulated by DIR Exploration is not a Forest Service document and was produced outside of the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
The Kaibab National Forest will begin evaluating DIR Exploration's proposal through the formal NEPA process at a later date. At that time, an official scoping period will be held for members of the public to review information and provide comments." (emphasis added)
The Hualapai Tribal Council has voted to ban uranium mining on its Tribal lands which are located near the Grand Canyon in Arizona. (Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. Dec. 1, 2008)
Federal Register: October 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 198) p. 60233-60234 (download full text )
is to protect the park from the disruption of uranium drilling and mining near the rim and potential further contamination of groundwater. Supporters say it is needed to protect the Grand Canyon's seeps, springs, streams, river, and the people, plants and wildlife that survive on those waters.
Uranium in the Grand Canyon region is found in sedimentary layers that serve as significant regional aquifers. Mining disturbs and mobilizes uranium and other elements that have been mineralized and encased in these rocks for millions of years.
(The Spectrum June 20, 2008)
> The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources: Joint Subcommittee Oversight Field Hearing on "Community Impacts of Proposed Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park", March 28, 2008
> Navajo's won't allow uranium mining, President tells subcommittee, March 30, 2008 (184k PDF, Navajo Nation)
and the Center for Biological Diversity requested that the Kaibab National Forest withdraw approval of up to 39 new uranium-exploration drilling sites immediately south of Grand Canyon National Park. The Forest Service had claimed that the proposed drilling was exempt from detailed environmental review because it would have no effect on the environment.
has approved drilling for uranium at as many as 39 sites near the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This action marks what may be the beginning of extensive uranium mining operations in close proximity to the national park., a British uranium mining corporation. believes that the current uranium boom poses one of the greatest threats to Grand Canyon National Park in its history," said Dave Gowdey, Grand Canyon Program Director for the Trust. "Uranium development at the borders of the park threatens to contaminate Park waters with radioactive waste, poses public health problems for those downstream communities dependent upon Colorado River water, and disrupts the Park's unique natural areas. [...]", January 29, 2008)
Employees working for Denison Mines began removing high-grade ore at the Arizona 1 mine north of the Grand Canyon in late December [2009], according to the company's president, and trucking it to a mill near Blanding, Utah. The mine is about 45 miles southwest of Fredonia in Mohave County, and about 10 miles from the boundary for Grand Canyon National Park. (Arizona Daily Sun Jan. 13, 2010)
On Nov. 10, 2009, Denison Mines Corp. announced that it has made a production decision for its Arizona 1 uranium deposit located in north central Arizona.
The mine will be an underground operation utilizing the existing 1,252 foot deep, 2-compartment shaft and employing a combination of long hole and shrinkage stoping methods at a mining rate of 335 tons per day, four days per week.
Ore will be hauled by truck approximately 315 miles to Denison's White Mesa mill located near Blanding, Utah. The ore will be batch treated in the mill when 17,000 tonnes are available for processing with U3O8 recovery expected to be 95%.
Production is expected to total approximately 857,000 pounds U3O8 [330 t U].
Environmental groups have given notice that they'll sue the federal Bureau of Land Management over its decision to allow a uranium mine to reopen near the Grand Canyon.
The BLM says Denison has an approved mine plan and should be allowed to resume operations after closing the site about 20 years ago.
But the Center for Biological Diversity, the Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club argue that the BLM is relying on an old environmental analysis and isn't considering potential impacts on endangered species.
(AP Sep. 8, 2009)
> View Center for Biological Diversity release Sep. 8, 2009
The groups actually filed the lawsuit on Nov. 16, 2009.
> View Center for Biological Diversity release Nov. 16, 2009
On June 17, 2010, Denison Mines Corp. reported that the United States District Court for the District of Arizona has denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, and Havasupai Tribe to halt operations at Denison's Arizona 1 mine.
Conservation groups and Native American tribes today (July 12) appealed a federal court decision that denied a request to halt uranium mining just six miles north of Grand Canyon National Park. The appeal filed with the Ninth District Court of Appeals challenges a lower court's June 17 decision on the groups' request for a preliminary injunction at the Arizona 1 uranium mine. The appeal was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Kaibab Paiute Tribe and Havasupai Tribe.
> View Center for Biological Diversity release July 12, 2010
On Sep. 1, 2009, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued an air-quality permit to Denison Mines for the Arizona 1 mine. Denison Mines now has all the necessary environmental permits to begin operations.
When operational, the Arizona I mine is expected to extract 109,500 tons per year (tpy) of uranium ore. The extracted uranium ore is removed via haul trucks and transported for further processing at the White Mesa mill in Blanding, Utah.
> View details (AZDEQ)
On June 19, 2009, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued a public notice opening the public comment period on the Air Quality Permit No. 46700 for Denison Mines Corp.'s Arizona I mine.
Comment period ends July 22, 2009.
> Download ADEQ notice and documents (select "Public Notices, Meetings and Hearings")
While the Technical Support Document presents some minimum assessment of the hazards from radon release from the mine (106 mrem/year! [1.06 mSv/year]) and from direct radiation from ore transport, it simply disregards the dust emissions with this remarkable justification:
"Radiation exposure from dust associated with the mining operation is dependent on the concentrations of dust in the air and the activity of the compounds in the dust. Since these values are variable, it is not feasible to estimate the radiation impact from the dust."This ignorance is particularly disturbing, as the Arizona 1 mine is to exploit a uranium deposit with one of the highest ore grades found in the U.S.
Denison Mines Corp. is planning on restarting operations at Arizona 1 in 2007 to complete the shaft and begin mining in 2008. (Denison March 20, 2007)
On June 14, 2006, International Uranium Corp. announced it will review and revise the engineering estimates for the fully permitted Arizona 1 Mine in the Arizona Strip district with development scheduled to begin early 2007 and production beginning in late summer 2007.
On March 3, 2009, Concentric Energy Corporation resubmitted its letter of intent to submit an application to the NRC to construct and operate a uranium recovery facility in Yavapai County, AZ. The expected timeframe for the submittal of the application is the third quarter of 2010.
On March 20, 2008, Concentric Energy Corporation provided notice to the NRC that it intends to submit an application to construct and operate a uranium recovery facility in Yavapai County, AZ.
On August 9, 2007, NRC is holding a teleconference to discuss regulatory issues related to a potential conventional uranium mill near the Anderson Mine in Western Arizona.
> Download Meeting Notice, July 25, 2007 (ADAMS ML072050014)
Anderson Mining Company of Wickenburg, AZ, is proposing a conventional uranium mill near the Anderson Mine in Western Arizona. On July 17, 2007, NRC is holding a teleconference to discuss related regulatory issues.
> Download NRC Meeting Notice, July 17, 2007 (ADAMS ML071980098)
Concentric Energy Corp. is planning to develop the Anderson mine and build a uranium mill on site.
A pre-licensing meeting was held by the NRC on June 6, 2006.
> Download NRC Meeting Notice, May 23, 2007 (ADAMS ML061430096)
> Download Report of Meeting, July 18, 2006 (ADAMS ML061940482)
According to Concentric Energy Corp., former site owner Unocal was planning a huge open pit mine with 38-to-1 strip ratio. They intended to mine 500 million tons of waste rock and leave a huge hole. Such an operation would be most difficult to permit now. However, the property were well suited to be mined by use of conventional coal mining techniques and in-situ leaching of pillars and low-grade material.
On Sept. 1, 2009, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued a Discharge Authorization for the 3.04 General Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) 100333 for the Canyon Mine to Denison Mines (USA) Corp.
> View details (AZDEQ)
On June 19, 2009, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued a public notice opening the public comment period on the Water Quality General Aquifer Protection Permit for Denison Mines Corp.'s Canyon mine.
Comment period ends July 22, 2009.
> Download ADEQ notice and documents (select "Public Notices, Meetings and Hearings")
Denison Mines has been denied a state permit for the Canyon mine:
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality said Denison Mines proposed using outdated, 20-year-old liners and impoundment ponds to capture uranium mine-related runoff. In addition, ADEQ said Denison wasn't specific enough in describing pollution-control measures at the proposed mines.
The Canyon Mine was the site of a long legal battle, opposed for mining by the Havasupai Tribe.
The tribe lost that court battle, but owner International Uranium Corporation put mining on hold until uranium prices rebounded. There is equipment on the site, but it has never been mined.
(Arizona Daily Sun May 14, 2008)
announced that Cameco invests up to US$ 16.5 million for the continued development and commercialisation of the PhosEnergy Process for the extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid.
, Plymouth, MN, and CF Industries Holdings Inc. , Long Grove, Ill., the two largest U.S. producers of phosphate fertilizer, said they are considering projects to extract and sell uranium amid surging prices for nuclear fuel. Mosaic may decide in six months whether to build a facility in Florida for extracting uranium from phosphate rock, a spokesman said. CF Industries also is reviewing plans for a possible uranium-extraction project, said a spokesman.
(Star Tribune Apr. 16, 2007)
is reported to be looking into restarting by-product uranium production (from phosphates) from its New Wales, Florida, facility early next year. [UI News Briefing 96/23]
said that it will explore the feasibility of building a uranium recovery facility at its Plant City Phosphate Complex, with production possible within three to four years.
Illinois-based CF Industries, which operates a phosphate mine in Hardee County that ships material to its Plant City operation about 12 miles north of the city, jointly agreed to the feasibility project with Connecticut-based Nukem Inc. , a global trader of uranium.
The two companies are seeking long-term contracts with U.S. electric utilities to supply about 900,000 pounds of a uranium compound [346 t U] annually, CF Industries said in a news release.
If the uranium extraction project were economically feasible, the two companies would obtain financing and permits and proceed with engineering plans, the release stated.
Uranium shows up in 50 to 200 parts per million in phosphate-laden earth, and rising uranium prices in recent months have created the additional market to extract uranium from phosphate, which generally is used for fertilizer.
(The Tampa Tribune July 31, 2007)
Ranger Ralph Rau signed a decision memo January 28, 2008, giving Magnum Minerals U.S.A. Corp. the green light for a two-stage project to drill test holes in the old Stanley Uranium District.
The project will have no significant impact on the environment because uranium historically was mined in nearby deposits, according to the decision.
was approved by a state election board. The group would have to collect more than 300,000 valid signatures of Michigan voters to get its proposal on the statewide November 2010 ballot.
notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its intent to file a license application to conduct in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery operations at one to three project sites in southeastern Montana.
Bayswater anticipates that it will not be submitting its application prior to late 2010.
On Sep. 27, 2008, Uranium King Corporation and Uranium Company of Nevada, LLC (both 100%-owned subisdiaries of Uranium King Ltd) provided notice to the NRC that they intend to submit an application to construct and operate a uranium recovery facility in Lander County, Nevada at the site of the former Apex Uranium Mine.
, based in West Perth, Australia, was granted a state permit last year to drill test holes for uranium in parts of Billings and Slope counties. The company said it also found molybdenum and germanium.
and ACTion for the Environment.
(N.A.E.G.) from the Pine Ridge reservation, declaring that the company has been trespassing on tribal lands. The finding gave NAEG 30 days to vacate the reservation.
(NRC)
On July 8, 2010, Powertech announced the receipt of positive results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment for its Dewey-Burdock Project.
An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel will hear oral argument June 8-9, 2010, in Custer, S.D., regarding requests from the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a group termed the Consolidated Petitioners for a hearing on the Powertech USA uranium recovery license application for sites near Custer.
> View NRC release June 2, 2010
On April 19, 2010, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) determined that Powertech's revised application (submitted on Feb. 5, 2010) for a South Dakota Class III Underground Injection Control Permit (UIC) is still incomplete.
Permit application filed for deep well injection at Dewey-Burdock ISL project: On April 1, 2010, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that its subsidiary, Powertech (USA) Inc., has submitted the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V permit application for its Dewey-Burdock Project to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 8. The permit, upon issuance, would allow Powertech to dispose of its brine waste water down a deep well after removal of radionuclides. The permit is one of several required in order to construct and operate the Company's proposed uranium in situ operation in southwestern South Dakota.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Powertech (USA), Inc.; Establishment of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board
Federal Register: March 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 52) p. 13141 (download full text )
On Feb. 5, 2010, Powertech submitted a revised application for a Class III UIC Permit to the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
> Download revised permit application files (SD DENR)
NRC issues Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Dewey-Burdock In Situ Uranium Recovery Facility.
Federal Register: January 20, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 12) p. 3261-3262 (download full text )
NRC issues Notice of Opportunity for Hearing, License Application Request of
Powertech (USA) Inc. Dewey-Burdock In Situ Uranium Recovery Facility.
A request for a hearing must be filed by March 8, 2010.
Federal Register: January 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 2) p. 467-471 (download full text )
On Nov. 19, 2009, EPA Region 8 released a draft Underground Injection Control Permit for comment. The Class V injection well will be used to reinject groundwater pumped from the Upper Fox Hills Formation back into the same formation from which it was pumped.
The public comment period ends on December 24, 2009.
> Download second draft permit documents (FTP - EPA Region 8)
On Oct. 26, 2009, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that it has submitted the required Plan of Operation to the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for its Dewey-Burdock uranium in situ project.
On Aug. 12, 2009, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that it has resubmitted its in situ leach application to the NRC for a uranium recovery license for its Dewey-Burdock Project.
> Download resubmitted license application documents (NRC ADAMS Acc. No. ML092870160)
On Aug. 6, 2009, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) determined that Powertech's application (submitted on April 22, 2009) for a South Dakota Class III Underground Injection Control Permit (UIC) is incomplete: "In general terms, the application lacks sufficient detail to address fundamental questions related to whether the project can be conducted in a controlled manner to protect ground water resources." (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092310624 )
On June 16, 2009, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that it is voluntarily withdrawing its application from the NRC in order to provide additional information. The Company expects that it will be able to resubmit the amended license application within the next 30 days as no additional field data collection is required.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the developer of a proposed uranium mine in southwest South Dakota near Edgemont must fix several deficiencies in its application. An NRC spokesman says Powertech Uranium Corp. will indicate within a week if it plans to withdraw the application, fix the deficiencies and resubmit it, or wait for the NRC to reject its current request. The spokesman says it's not a fatal blow, but does delay the project. (AP June 12, 2009)
On Feb. 25, 2009, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary Powertech (USA) Inc., it has submitted the comprehensive Uranium Recovery License application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). On Apr. 29, 2009, NRC made the license application available for download in image scan format from its ADAMS system (Acc. No. ML091200014 ).
The application is also available for download in the original PDF format from the South Dakota DENR homepage.
On Jan. 15, 2009, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary Powertech (USA) Inc., it has submitted its first major permit application for the Dewey-Burdock Project to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA issues one of three major permits that will allow development of the Company's Dewey-Burdock Project in the Edgemont Uranium District of southwestern South Dakota. The application filed with the EPA is for an Underground Injection Control Permit.
> Download Permit Application (EPA Region 8)
Two groups and an individual have filed nomination petitions with the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources to have lands west of Edgemont declared special, exceptional, critical or unique. The petitions were filed Dec. 28, 2008, in Pierre. Oglala Sioux tribal member Debra White Plume, Defenders of the Black Hills and the Oglala Sioux Tribe have all filed the petitions with the DENR's Minerals and Mining program to ask that the determinations be made. The lands are within an area that has been leased by Powertech Uranium for exploration and possible mining of the mineral. "There are over 100 archaeological sites that date from pre-history, before white men came to this area," White Plume said. "They include camp sites, burial grounds, and places where we have ceremonies now." (Black Hills Pioneer Jan. 6, 2009)
Powertech Uranium Corp. apparently plans to mine the Dewey/Burdock uranium deposit by the acid in-situ leach technique (see ADAMS ML072920192 ). This would be the first commercial ISL site to be mined with acid in the United States. Groundwater restoration after acidic in-situ leaching is even more challenging than after carbonate in-situ leaching.
On August 22, 2007, NRC held a public hearing with Powertech Uranium Corp. to discuss the Pre-operational Environmental Baseline Program at the Dewey-Burdock ISL Project.
> Download Meeting Notice Aug. 8, 2007 (ADAMS ML072200166)
A request by two environmental groups to temporarily stop uranium exploration in Fall River County has been denied.
Circuit Judge Jack Delaney says the opponents have not shown how continued drilling will cause environmental harm. Powertech Uranium Corporation is drilling 155 exploratory holes north of Edgemont. About 40 holes have been drilled already.
(AP June 20, 2007)
A state-issued permit allowing exploratory drilling for uranium in the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota is being challenged in court.
An Indian treaty rights group called Defenders of the Black Hills says the state Board of Minerals and Environment improperly granted the exploration permit to Powertech Uranium Corp.
Powertech plans to drill 155 exploration holes northwest of Edgemont, which is about 10 miles from the Wyoming border.
(Casper Star-Tribune March 29, 2007)
(project dropped by IUC in fiscal 2000)
,
Southside Concerned Citizens (SCC),
The Alliance,
League of Individuals for the Environment (L.I.F.E.), Inc. .
Virginia panel OKs uranium mining study: A Virginia coal and energy panel on Thursday (May 21, 2009) approved the framework of a scientific study on proposed uranium mining in the state, saying they want to make safety their top priority. A subcommittee of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy amended a list of recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences on what to include in the study. It would range from market trends to technical practices to health risks, but would not take a position for or against the mining. (The News & Observer May 21, 2009)
Virginia state panel subcommittee approves first phase of uranium study:
On March 24, 2009, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission's Uranium Mining Subcommittee took a critical step toward a study to determine whether uranium can be mined and milled safely in the commonwealth.
The subcommittee unanimously approved a draft of the study's first phase outlining the technical and scientific aspects of the analysis that Michael Karmis, director of the Center for Coal and Energy Research at Virginia Tech, said would take about 18 months.
However, the second portion of the study that would address the socioeconomic aspects of uranium mining and milling will be decided upon at a later date, Delegate Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, said after the meeting held in the General Assembly Building.
(Danville Register March 24, 2009)
Virginia state panel votes for uranium study: The Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy voted 12-0 today to study whether uranium can be safely mined in Virginia. (Richmond Times-Dispatch Nov. 6, 2008)
Virginia House Panel rejects study of uranium mining:
Lawmakers concerned about land, air and drinking water contamination killed a proposal on March 3, 2008, that would have allowed a study of whether uranium can be safely mined on 200 acres in south-central Virginia, eliminating any chance that the controversial bill could pass this year.
After more than an hour of debate, the House Rules Committee defeated a bill that opponents argued would be the first step toward lifting a 25-year-old state ban on uranium mining.
The bill would have created a 17-member commission to oversee a National Academy of Sciences study. The company would have picked up the cost of the report, which had been estimated at $1 million or more. If the study had shown that mining could be done safely, Virginia Uranium could have used it as leverage in asking the General Assembly to lift the ban on uranium mining.
(Washington Post Mar. 4, 2008)
Senate of Virginia approves uranium mining study: The Senate of Virginia has passed legislation establishing a two-year study on the safety of uranium mining. The study eventually could result in lifting the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia. (Daily Press, Feb. 12, 2008)
(SELC) in Charlottesville.
(Richmond Times-Dispatch Aug. 31, 2007)
> Download Virginia Energy Plan 2007 (Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy)
> View Uranium Mining in Virginia (SELC)
· SEDAR Documents · SEDAR Documents
Pittsylvania County wants mining banned in industrial mega park: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wants to forbid mining and milling in the Berry Hill Road industrial mega park site. The board unanimously voted Monday night (June 7) to pass a resolution recommending that the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority board consider enacting covenants for the mega park that would include prohibition of mining and milling of any kind. (Danville Register & Bee June 9, 2010)
Tobacco Commission OKs funds for uranium study: The Virginia Tobacco Commission approved up to $200,000 for a socioeconomic study of uranium mining and milling during its meeting Thursday (Apr. 29) at the Hotel Roanoke. The commission followed that up with a vote to require Danville and Pittsylvania County to pay back $13.1 million in commission funding for the Berry Hill Road mega park - if uranium is ever mined there. (Danville Register & Bee April 29, 2010)
Scoping study underway for Coles Hill uranium mine project: On March 5, 2010, Virginia Uranium Inc. announced that an updated scoping study on the Coles Hill uranium project is now underway. The study will provide a current analysis of the fundamental project economics. The results are anticipated within the first half of 2010.
Uranium Mining Symposium , Richmond, VA, March 11, 2010:
Sponsoring Organizations: Dan River Basin Association; Friends of the Earth, Piedmont Environmental Council; Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter; Southern Environmental Law Center; Virginia Conservation Network, and Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
City of Virginia Beach conducting study of its own on possible impacts from proposed uranium mining in Chatham: A $437,000 study being conducted by the city of Virginia Beach, Va. will examine what might happen to the water quality in Lake Gaston and Kerr Lake if a proposed uranium mine in Chatham, Va. were struck by a Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) storm. Virginia Beach Director of Public Works Thomas Leahy said the study being conducted by Virginia Beach is designed to supplement the work of the National Academy of Science by looking at what would happen if a major storm flooded the proposed uranium mining site and washed radioactive materials downstream. (The Warren Record Jan. 20, 2010)
Danville Regional Foundation pursues independent regional analysis of the socioeconomic impacts of uranium mining and milling:
While the state anticipates approval of a statewide uranium-mining study conducted by the National Research Council, the Danville Regional Foundation (DRF) is pursuing its own separate, regional analysis of the socioeconomic impacts of uranium mining and milling.
The foundation announced Thursday (Oct 1) its request for qualifications seeking proposals from interested firms, nonprofits and academic programs.
"DRF is considering sponsoring an independent and rigorous socioeconomic examination of the effects the proposed mine, mill, and long-term waste management upon the people and institutions, including the economy, limited to the region served by DRF," foundation President and CEO Karl Stauber said in a statement Thursday.
(Danville Register & Bee October 1, 2009)
DRF is requesting letters of interest, with qualifications by December 1, 2009.
> Download Request for Qualifications - Regional Socioeconomic Study of Impact of Uranium Mining and Milling , Oct. 1, 2009 (PDF - Danville Regional Foundation)
On July 23, 2009, Santoy Resources Limited announced the completion of its business combination with privately held Virginia Uranium Ltd. Post-closing, the company has changed its name to Virginia Energy Resources Inc.
Company says test drilling not cause of well contamination: In a statement released on March 24, 2009, Virginia Uranium Inc. said it is not responsible for high lead levels in some wells near the Coles Hill uranium deposit. Concerns about well testing around the uranium deposit, about six miles northeast of Chatham, were raised at a meeting two weeks ago sponsored by the Pittsylvania County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Deborah Lovelace of Gretna repeated her concerns at last week's Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting, showing board members jugs of water, including one from a well with high levels of lead. "This well was fine before the drilling started," she said. "I wonder how many other people are in that same situation?" (Star-Tribune March 25, 2009)
The City Council of Virginia Beach took a stand against uranium mining Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2008) night, adopting a resolution opposing a mine proposed for south central Virginia. City officials fear uranium mining in Pittsylvania County - about 200 miles away - could contaminate Lake Gaston, the city's water source. (The Virginian-Pilot, December 3, 2008)
Virginia Beach City officials are gearing up to oppose a uranium mine about 200 miles west in Pittsylvania County, arguing it could threaten the city's water supply. The City Council was told Tuesday (Nov. 25, 2008) that under a worst-case scenario, a hurricane or tropical storm could destroy the landfill-like containers that would hold radioactive mining waste. Thomas Leahy, director of public utilities, said that also would contaminate downstream waterways, including Lake Gaston, the city's water source, which lies about halfway between Pittsylvania County and Virginia Beach. (The Virginian-Pilot, November 26, 2008)
On Feb. 7, 2008, Halifax Town Council unanimously approved a Corporate Mining and Chemical and Radioactive Bodily Trespass ordinance. A proposed uranium mining and milling operation near Chatham triggered council's adoption of the ordinance. Through the ordinance, corporations and governing officials permitting those corporations will be held liable to the people of Halifax for chemical trespass. (The Gazette-Virginian Feb. 8, 2008)
On Dec. 18, 2007, exploration drilling on the Coles Hill deposit has started, in spite of the moratorium against uranium mining in Virginia still being in place. (Danville Register & Bee Dec. 19, 2007)
On Nov. 27, 2007, the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) issued an exploration permit to Virginia Uranium Inc.
> View related documents (DMME)
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