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(last updated 16 Apr 2008)
Uranium exploration in Park County is opposed by Save Our South Park Water 2008
The Centennial mine project is opposed by Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction .
On Apr. 15, 2008, the Greeley City Council joined the Fort Collins City Council and the boards of trustees for Timnath and Wellington in passing resolutions opposed to the mine -- which would be located between Nunn and Wellington. (Greeley Tribune Apr. 16, 2008)
On Dec. 4, 2007, Fort Collins City Council adopted a resolution that declares council's opposition to a proposed uranium mine northeast of the city and close to Nunn. The resolution is not binding and urges various agencies to deny all Powertech's permit applications for extracting the uranium. (Greeley Tribune Dec. 5, 2007)
On May 2, 2007, Nunn residents held a meeting about Powertech Uranium Corp.'s plans to begin uranium drilling in the area. Water and health hazards were the top concerns voiced. (Greeley Tribune May 3, 2007)
On Apr. 19, 2007, Powertech Uranium Corp. announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Powertech (USA) Inc., it has entered into a contractual arrangement with R Squared Incorporated (R2) for the purpose of permitting Powertech's Centennial Project located in Weld County, Colorado. The agreement with R2 covers baseline data collection, environmental impact analysis, cost/benefit analysis and preparation of permit/license applications.
On June 8, 1999, IUC announced the immediate suspension of mining operations at the Sunday Mine for weak commodity prices.
On June 14, 2006, IUC announced the immediate resumption of mining operations at the Sunday Mine.
On February 21, 2008, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety approved the 112d Hard Rock Reclamation Permit for the Whirlwind Mine located near Gateway, Colorado. (Energy Fuels Feb. 27, 2008)
On Dec. 18, 2007, the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously voted in favor of granting Energy Fuels Resources Corp. a conditional-use permit to reopen the Packrat Mine and the Urantah Decline, known collectively as the Whirlwind Mine, about five miles west of Gateway. (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Dec. 19, 2007)
The Whirlwind Mine is a former Union Carbide operation, which is now undergoing mine rehabilitation. Energy Fuels Vice President-Corporate Marketing, Gary R. Steele, said planned 200 tpd production could begin in 2008. The estimated resource at the mine is 657,000 pounds of uranium [253 t U] and 2.17 million pounds of vanadium. (Mineweb Dec. 17, 2007)
(BLM, Colorado)
On Sep. 7, 2006, Energy Fuels Inc. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Energy Fuels Resources Corporation, has executed an option agreement to acquire the Whirlwind uranium and vanadium mine.
Little Maverick Mining Company is planning to mine approximately 500 tons of uranium [?] per month from the Whirlwind Claim near Lumsden Canyon. The company recently submitted a plan to the Bureau of Land Management for a new operation that would employ less than a dozen workers and use an existing mine shaft. The claim was last mined approximately 20 years ago. (Grand Junction Sentinel, March 8, 2005)
Located near Gateway, Colorado, Energy Fuels' Tenderfoot Mesa is undergoing $1 million in mine rehabilitation with a planned 100 tpd operation, which could begin as early as mid-2008. (Mineweb Dec. 17, 2007)
In a recent presentation to the Northwest Mining Association Convention, Energy Fuels Vice President-Corporate Marketing, Gary R. Steele, said the rapid development of the Piñon Ridge Mill site can be attributed to licensing authority of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), instead of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission [Colorado is an Agreement State , to which NRC relinquishes the authority to license uranium mills].
By working with the regulators, Energy Fuels is confident of mill start up in 2010. Located in the uranium mining-friendly environment of Montrose County, Colorado, the 1,000 tpd mill will have both uranium and vanadium recovery circuits. It is located on 880 acres [3.56 km2] of private land owned by Energy Fuels, which Steele estimated is large enough for more than 30 years of tailings disposal [resulting in more than 10 million tons (or 9 million t) of tailings].
(Mineweb Dec. 17, 2007, emphasis added)
On July 18, 2007, Energy Fuels Inc. announced that it has acquired approximately 1,000 acres of property located west of Naturita, Colorado, in the Paradox Valley of western Montrose County, where it intends to construct its Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill.
Initial engineering studies indicate the Piñon Ridge Mill will be designed with a capacity of 1,000 tons per day of ore throughput. At historical U3O8 grades typical for the region, this mill will be designed to produce between 1.6 million and 2.0 million pounds of U3O8 (yellowcake) [615 to 769 t U] per year.
In addition, the mines in the local region (the Uravan Mining District) produce vanadium (V2O5) as an associated mineral with uranium. The presence of vanadium in these deposits effectively lowers the cost of uranium extraction. At historical V2O5 grades for this region, the Piñon Ridge Mill will also produce 5 million to 8 million pounds of V2O5 per year. The current spot price for V2O5 is in the $7.50 to $8.00 per pound range.
Mill license review and approval are expected to require about 16 months from the time of application submittal. The company plans to submit the mill license application in approximately 12 months. Mill operations are expected to commence in 2010.
(Energy Fuels Inc. July 18, 2007)
Energy Fuels Resources Corp. is planning to build a uranium mill west of Naturita that could start operating within three years.
Company President George Glasier said the new mill may be built about six miles west of Naturita adjacent to a U.S. Department of Energy site in the Paradox Valley.
The mill, he said, could employ about 100 people and process uranium and vanadium from mines all over the Western Slope.
Nucla-based Energy Fuels owns two uranium mines near Gateway and several others in Utah between Moab and Blanding.
Other small mines in the region could be on the way, he said.
It will take about two years for the state to license the mill, and nine months for Energy Fuels to build it, he said.
Environmental concerns include the mill's potential impact on area air quality and how the uranium ore is stored and transported, Colorado Environmental Coalition organizer Lee-Ann Hill said.
(Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, October 7, 2006)
Uranium exploration at Taylor Ranch is opposed by Tallahassee Area Community, Inc.
Black Range Minerals of Australia wants to resume exploration for uranium on Taylor Ranch properties off County Road 2 northwest of Cañon City. Black Range previously started uranium exploration on the ranch, but stopped several weeks ago when the company learned it needed a county permit for exploration, according to Ed Norden, Fremont County commissioner. (The Pueblo Chieftain Apr. 1, 2008)
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