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(last updated 28 Oct 2024)
Uranium mining in Utah is being opposed by Uranium Watch , Sierra Club Glen Canyon Group Nuclear Committee , Red Rock Forests
On Apr. 12, 2022, UVRE Ltd announced that it is to acquire the East Canyon Uranium Vanadium Project from Red Dirt Metals Ltd (formerly TNT Mines Limited).
On Dec. 27, 2018, NX Uranium Inc. announced that it has exited the uranium mining business and switches to cannabis business in southern Oregon.
On Mar. 24, 2014, NX Capital Co. announced it has changed the name of its wholly owned subsidiary from Montrose Entergy Group, Inc. to NX Uranium, Inc.
On Oct. 10, 2013, Montrose Energy Group, Inc. (subsidiary of NX Capital Co.) acquired a 65% interest in the R&R Property in San Juan County, Utah. The R&R Property includes a previously operating mine (which last produced in the 1970's).
Utah sues President Biden over move to restore 2 national monuments:
The state of Utah and two Republican-leaning rural counties sued the Biden administration on Wednesday (Aug. 24) over the president's decision last year to restore two sprawling national monuments on rugged lands sacred to Native Americans that former President Donald Trump had downsized.
The lawsuit over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, the two southeastern Utah monuments, alleges that President Joe Biden's action violates a century-old law that allows presidents to protect sites considered historically, geographically or culturally important and outlines the rules governing when they can do so.
(AP Aug. 24, 2022)
President Biden restores Utah monuments slashed by Donald Trump: President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct. 8) restored two sprawling national monuments in Utah, reversing a decision by President Donald Trump that opened for mining and other development hundreds of thousands of acres of rugged lands sacred to Native Americans and home to ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs. (AP Oct. 8, 2021)
President Biden will restore full protections to three national monuments that had been slashed in size by former president Donald Trump, including Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah known for their stunning desert landscapes and historical treasures of Native American art and settlements as well as a rich fossil record, according to a statement from the White House on Thursday (Oct. 7) evening.
Biden will use an executive order to protect 1.36 million acres in Bears Ears, slightly larger than the original boundary that President Barack Obama established in 2016, while also restoring the 1.78 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante monument. [...]
Biden is expected to sign the proclamations, using his authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act, on Friday (Oct. 8).
(Washington Post Oct. 7, 2021)
Department of the Interior moves to open two Utah monuments for mining and drilling:
The Trump administration on Thursday (Feb. 6) implemented plans to downsize two national monuments in Utah, ensuring the lands previously off-limits to energy development will be open to mining and drilling. The action comes despite lawsuits by by conservation, tribal and paleontology groups seeking to restore the original boundaries.
The lands have generated little interest from energy companies in the two years since President Donald Trump cut the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half, said Casey Hammond, acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management with the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Hammond said the department had a duty to work on the management plans after Trump signed his proclamations in December 2017, despite the pending lawsuits.
"If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved we would never be able to do much of anything around here," he said.
Conservation groups that have called the decision the largest elimination of protected land in American history criticized the administration on Thursday for spending time on management plans they believe will become moot. They contend Trump misused the Antiquities Act to reverse decisions by previous presidents.
A federal judge last year rejected the administration's bid to dismiss the lawsuits. In a recent court filing, tribal groups said the Bears Ears lands are "a living and vital place where ancestors passed from one world to the next, often leaving their mark in petroglyphs or painted handprints, and where modern day tribal members can still visit them."
(Time Magazine Feb. 6, 2020)
Lands cut by Trump from Bears Ears National Monument open for staking of uranium claims:
The window opened Friday (Feb. 2) for oil, gas, uranium and coal companies to make requests or stake claims to lands that were cut from two sprawling Utah national monuments by President Trump in December - but there doesn't appear to be a rush to seize the opportunities.
For anyone interested in the uranium on the lands stripped from the Bears Ears National Monument, all they need to do is stake a few corner posts in the ground, pay a $212 initial fee and send paperwork to the federal government under a law first created in 1872 that harkens back to the days of the Wild West.
They can then keep rights to the hard minerals, including gold and silver, as long as they pay an annual fee of $155.
(Albuquerque Journal Feb. 2, 2018)
Uranium firm urged Trump officials to shrink Bears Ears National Monument:
A uranium company launched a concerted lobbying campaign to scale back Bears Ears National Monument, saying such action would give it easier access to the area's uranium deposits and help it operate a nearby processing mill [White Mesa], according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and top Utah Republicans have said repeatedly that questions of mining or drilling played no role in President Trump's announcement Monday (Dec. 4) that he was cutting the site by more than 1.1 million acres, or 85 percent. Trump also signed a proclamation nearly halving the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is also in southern Utah and has significant coal deposits.
"This is not about energy," Zinke told reporters Tuesday (Dec. 5). "There is no mine within Bears Ears."
But the nation's sole uranium processing mill sits directly next to the boundaries that President Barack Obama designated a year ago when he established Bears Ears. The documents show that Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of a Canadian firm, urged the Trump administration to limit the monument to the smallest size needed to protect key objects and areas, such as archeological sites, to make it easier to access the radioactive ore [namely at Energy Fuels' dormant Daneros mine].
(Washington Post Dec. 8, 2017)
Western Uranium announces agreement to joint venture vanadium development at Sage Plain mine:
On June 8, 2018, Western Uranium Corporation announced that it has signed a Letter Agreement with Battery Mineral Resource Nevada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Battery Mineral Resources Limited to form a joint venture for vanadium development at the Sage Mine Project. Vanadium grades in excess of 1.50% at the Sage Mine represent some of the highest in the world.
The Sage Mine Project is located within the Uravan Mineral Belt and comprised of 94 unpatented mining claims in Utah and Colorado, USA. Sage Mine's last production was in 1990.
However, on Sep. 18, 2018, Western Uranium announced that the parties have mutually agreed to discontinue the transaction.
Energy Fuels plans restart of Sage Plain mines that have never been properly reclaimed:
With the start of the permitting process, some concerns still linger about the mines' impact and condition. Program Director of Moab-based Uranium Watch, Sarah Fields, said the mines have never been properly reclaimed, and reopening them could create issues with surrounding property owners.
Though the Sage mine last produced ore in 1990, the Calliham mine hasn't produced anything since 1981 or 1982. Fields said the Sage mine is currently permitted through the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. While the Calliham mine was fully reclaimed, Fields said she thinks the Sage mine should have seen similar treatment.
"Under regulations [the Sage mine] should have been fully reclaimed," Fields said. "When I visited the site, there are old buildings that have not changed from some of the old photographs from the '80s and '90s. There is also a hole that opened up from an old shaft or vent with a fence around it - I'm sure Energy Fuels knows about it, and it will need to be fixed."
(Telluride Daily Planet Oct. 10, 2012)
Energy Fuels Inc. acquires all of Sage Plain Project:
On Oct. 2, 2012, Energy Fuels Inc. announced the closing of its acquisition of the interests of Aldershot Resources Ltd. in the Sage Plain Project.
In the transaction, Energy Fuels purchased Aldershot's membership interest in Colorado Plateau Partners LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Energy Fuels and Aldershot. As a result of the acquisition, Energy Fuels now owns 100% of the Sage Plain Project, which is located about 15-miles northeast of Monticello, Utah and about 54 road miles from Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill.
Permitting on the Sage Plain Project has been initiated, and the Company anticipates receiving approvals for the project within the next 12-18 months.
On Sep. 19, 2011, BLM issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the restart of mining at the Green River #9 underground uranium mine.
> Download Environmental Assessment, Kimmerle Green River #9, August 2011 (10MB PDF - BLM Utah)
This proposal is to mine uranium from an existing mine using underground techniques. The mine is located in the Buckmaster Draw Uranium District which is approximately 10-miles west of Green River, Utah. The proposed surface disturbance is approximately 2.0
acres.
> Download Green River #9 mine, Mining Plan of Operations, December 2010 (422k PDF - BLM Utah)
Carnotite LLC., has proposed to re-open a uranium mine in the Buckmaster Draw Mining District. The proposal estimates the disturbance to be approximately 2 acres. The project is located approximately 3 miles north of I-70 on Emery County Road EM1029. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was started on April 16, 2009.
Ore from La Sal II uranium mine project to be processed at White Mesa uranium mill (Utah): On Jan. 18, 2013, Laramide Resources Ltd. and Energy Fuels Inc. announced that they have entered into a toll milling agreement, whereby Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill will process all material produced from Laramide's 100% owned and operated La Sal II Uranium Mine Project in Utah.
Laramide files for operating permits for reopening of its La Sal #2 uranium mine in Utah:
On Jan. 6, 2011, Laramide Resources announced that in late October of 2010, Laramide submitted a Notice of Intent to the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reopen its La Sal II mine located in San Juan County, Utah. This action followed the closing of the acquisition of the La Sal Project in September 2010 from Homestake Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation.
Concurrent with the BLM application, Laramide also submitted a Notice of Intent to the State of Utah, Division of Oil and Gas and Mining, for a Small Mine Permit (applicable where the surface disturbance area is less than 5 acres).
The La Sal Project was previously permitted and developed by Homestake in the late 1970s and an existing 1,200 meter access drive should facilitate a rapid startup scenario once permits are granted; the site is 60 miles from Denison Mines' White Mesa mill at Blanding, Utah - one of only four permitted mills in the USA.
La Sal #2 mine to be reopened for ore "sampling":
On April 15, 2011, BLM Utah announced that Laramide La Sal Inc. proposes to reopen the La Sal #2 Mine to conduct an uranium sampling project under a mining plan of operations.
The La Sal #2 mine was reclaimed in the 1980s. The underground sampling project is proposed to confirm the geologic and metallurgic character of the mineral resource.
The sampling program calls for the removal of approximately 10,000 to 20,000 tons of presumed ore that would be transported and processed at the White Mesa mill. [emphasis added]
The mine plan will be made available to the public for 30-day comment and scoping. The comment and scoping period will end on June 6, 2011.
The EA once written, will be made available for public review and comment.
> View BLM Utah announcement Apr. 27, 2011
> Download Exploration Mine Plan (BLM Utah)
> View BLM Utah project page
The Environmental Assessment on the LaSal No. 2 Uranium Sampling Project is available for public comment. The comment period ends November 7, 2011.
> View BLM announcement Oct. 3, 2011
> View BLM Utah project page
> Download Environmental Assessment, La Sal No. 2 Uranium Sampling Project, September 2011 (5.8MB PDF - BLM Utah)
On June 7, 2012, BLM signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR) for the La Sal No.2 Uranium Sampling Project. The FONSI, DR, and Final EIA were released on June 14, 2012.
> Download Final Environmental Impact Assessment, FONSI, and DR
> View more recent issues
On June 28, 2011, BLM issued a revised Decision Record, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Environmental Assessment for the Daneros Mine Project, including additional
environmental analysis of indirect impacts from processing Daneros ore at the White Mesa Mill:
"The processing of Daneros ore at the White Mesa Mill would have negligible indirect impacts to human health from radiation exposure".
> Download revised documents (BLM ENBB)
Uranium producer Denison Mines has secured 58% of White Canyon Uranium Ltd, after making a friendly offer for the company in February, valuing it at C$56,6-million. (Mining Weekly May 4, 2011)
First uranium from Daneros mine milled at White Mesa mill: On Jan. 24, 2011, White Canyon Uranium Limited announced that 39,289 tons (35,635 tonnes) of ore was milled at the White Mesa Mill over the period Nov. 1, 2010 to Dec. 10, 2010. The ore with an average grade of 0.28% U3O8 (0.24% U) yielded 204,450 pounds of U3O8 (78.6 t U) at a recovery rate of 94.06%.
On Oct. 14, 2010, White Canyon Uranium Limited announced that it has entered into a "Sales Agency Agreement" with Canadian based Denison Mines Corp., to handle the sale of White Canyon's concentrate from its 100% owned Daneros Mine. It is anticipated that sales could commence as early as December 2010.
On Jan. 18, 2010, White Canyon Uranium Limited announced that based on the conditions in the toll agreement with Denison the Daneros mine is viable even at current spot market prices (of US$ 44.50 per lb U3O8). White Canyon will transport up to 55,000 tons per annum to Denison's White Mesa mill, located at a distance of approx. 100 km from the mine. First processing of Daneros ore is expected in the first half of 2011.
On Dec. 7, 2009, White Canyon Uranium Limited announced that uranium ore production has started at the Daneros mine. The ore arises during the development of the ore panels and will be processed at Denison's White Mesa mill.
On Oct. 20, 2009, White Canyon Uranium Limited announced that it has reached agreement with Denison Mines Corp. to sell to Denison's White Mesa mill all material produced during the development stage of the Daneros uranium mine through Denison's Ore Buying Program.
Two environmental groups are trying to block Utah's first new uranium mine in three decades. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) and Uranium Watch want the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to rethink its approval of the Daneros Mine, located about 10 miles from Natural Bridges National Monument. The groups also want the federal agency to stop Australia-based White Canyon Uranium from mining its Daneros claim until BLM's Utah director, Selma Sierra, determines whether her agency studied the environmental consequences sufficiently. "There are a lot of issues associated with uranium mining that were not adequately assessed before the permits were issued," Liz Thomas, an attorney for SUWA, said Friday (July 31). (Salt Lake Tribune July 31, 2009)
The Daneros Mine Project Decision Record was signed on May 26, 2009, approving the Plan of Operations with conditions.
> Download Daneros Mine - Decision Record and Final Environmental Assessment, May 2009 (BLM)
On April 30, 2009, White Canyon Uranium Ltd announced that the BLM's Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed Daneros uranium mine was completed with a Finding of No Significant Impact. Execution of final Environmental Assessment is expected on or about 20 May 2009, allowing mining operations to commence immediately.
The Daneros Mine Project Environmental Assessment is available for public comment beginning March 13, 2009.
Written comments are accepted no later than April 13, 2009.
> Download Daneros Mine - Environmental Assessment (BLM)
The Bureau of Laud Management, Monticello Field Office has opened the public scoping review process for a proposed mine operation on public lands located approximately 35 miles east of Blanding, Utah. Utah Energy Corporation (a subsidiary of White Canyon Uranium Ltd) has submitted a Plan of Operations to develop a new underground uranium mine called the Daneros Mine. The proposed mine operation, totaling approximately 4.5 acres, is located on unpatented claims is Bullseye Canyon, San Juan County, Utah.
An environmental assessment is being prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As part of the required NEPA process, public involvement is an essential component. The public is encouraged to participate by reviewing the plan and providing written comments concerning the project.
Written comments will be accepted until December 15, 2008.
Emery county officials have signed an agreement with a Canadian company to build a $100 million uranium mill just west of Green River. The mill would be the first tenant in a new industrial park made possible through a lease of 2,547 acres west of Green River with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. (Salt Lake Tribune June 26, 2008)
Mancos Resources Inc. presented the Utah Radiation Control Board in its meeting on May 2, 2008, with a uranium mill proposal for an "isolated" location six miles northwest of the Green River area in Emery County. Mancos is owned by Canadian-based Bluerock Resources Ltd. , which has one operating mine, one nearing production and twelve "uranium properties" in Utah and Colorado. Its proposal, which was an information-only item for the board, is to mine 1,200 tons per day at a "conventional" uranium mill, using a wet crushing and solvent extraction technique. Waste from the mill would involve a dry tailings disposal method and a composite cap over the tailings. The Mancos Resources Uranium Mill would employ over 40, last for about 50 years and result in a $125 million investment in Utah. An "optimistic" start-up date for the mill would be about three years away. Part of Mancos' proposal included an assurance that it would have a comprehensive plan developed for radon sequestration for its operations. (Deseret News May 5, 2008)
[Entrepreneur George Glasier] has purchased private land in the Green River Industrial Park to site the mill, which would process ore from the Colorado mines he controls. Western also plans to develop a new mine on federal claims several miles west of Green River. (Salt Lake Tribune Jan. 25, 2023)
Utah Division of Water Quality invites public comment on license renewal for discharge treatment system of the Energy Queen mine:
Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on December 13, 2023 (comment period extended).
> Access Public Notice Oct. 16, 2023 (UT DEQ WQD)
Utah Division of Water Quality invites public comment on license renewal for discharge treatment system of the Energy Queen mine:
Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on August 30, 2013.
> Download Utah DEQ DWQ Public Notice, July 31, 2013 (PDF)
> Download DEQ Draft Fact Sheet Statement of Basis (PDF)
> Download Wasteload Analysis (PDF)
> Download DEQ Draft Permit (PDF)
Utah DEQ invites comment on proposed additional effluent discharge points for Energy Queen uranium mine:
Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on May 11, 2011.
> Download DEQ public notice Apr. 1, 2011 (PDF)
> Download DEQ Fact Sheet Statement of Basis (PDF)
> Download DEQ Draft Permit (PDF)
Utah DEQ invites comment on proposed groundwater permit for restart of Energy Queen uranium mine:
"Energy Fuels Resources Corporation (Energy Fuels) proposes to reactivate the Energy Queen uranium mine (formerly called the Hecla shaft) near La Sal, Utah. Before mining can commence, ground water will need to be removed from the flooded mine workings and treated to meet effluent discharge limits under a current Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The ground water permit includes a 1.5 million gallon untreated water pond with a double liner system with leak detection, a concrete filter pad, a treatment plant with multimedia filters, and a contingency pond. The permit requires the operator to utilize best available technology in the construction and operation of the treatment system and ground water compliance monitoring of the shallow aquifer to monitor potential impacts of the mine dewatering operation."
Public comments are invited any time prior to March 13, 2009.
> Download Public Notice of Issuance of Ground Water Discharge Permit, Feb. 5, 2009 (PDF - Utah DEQ)
The Energy Queen mine is a former Union Carbide mine, which is undergoing mine rehabilitation with a total capex of US$3 million. The 200-300 tpd operation is scheduled to begin in 2008. Energy Queen's estimated resource includes 766,000 pounds of uranium [295 t U] and 3 million pounds of vanadium. (Minweb Dec. 17, 2007)
Tony M uranium mine to start production in 2025: On Feb. 29, 2024, IsoEnergy Ltd. announced its decision to reopen access to the underground at its Tony M uranium mine in the first half of 2024, with the goal of restarting uranium production operations in 2025, should market conditions continue as expected.
On Nov. 25, 2008, Denison Mines Corp. announced the temporary closure of the Tony M mine located in Ticaboo, Utah due to the current economic situation, including the current uranium market. The mine will be put on care and maintenance and will be maintained in a state to resume mining operations quickly when uranium prices improve or Denison is able to obtain favourable uranium contracts for the Tony M production.
The Bureau of Land Management has granted Denison Mines Corp. an operating permit for the Tony M Mine uranium mine in Ticaboo, Garfield County, the mine company president Ron Hochstein said on Sep. 5, 2007. The Tony M Mine was developed from 1977 to 1984 and, under the new permit will operate for at least 10 years. Denison has been operating the mine since May 2007 with an exploratory permit, Hochstein said. Currently, about 50 percent of the Tony M Mine is flooded, and Denison is working on removing the water. The ore will be transported to Denison's White Mesa mill. (Deseret Morning News, Sep. 6, 2007)
On March 7, 2005, International Uranium Corp. announced the aquisition of the Tony M mine adjacent to its Bullfrog properties. These properties are now collectively addressed as the "Henry Mountains Complex". The Company is beginning the permitting process for the Henry Mountain Complex with the aim to put these mines into production immediately upon receipt of the required permits.
On June 14, 2006, IUC announced that plans are to complete the permitting on the Tony M mine with production slated for late spring 2007.
> View: plant info
> View: Decommissioning Issues
Anfield Energy submits application to restart idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
Anfield Resources Holding Corp. has submitted an amended License Renewal Application for the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill, near Ticaboo, Utah.
> View License Renewal Documents (UT DEQ)
Anfield Energy submits reactivation plan for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
On April 9, 2024, Anfield Energy, Inc. announced it has submitted its production reactivation plan for the Shootaring Canyon mill to the State of Utah's Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ). This major milestone is critical to restarting uranium production at Shootaring. The plan addresses the updating the mill's radioactive materials license from its current standby status to operational status and the increasing of both throughput capacity and the tripling of licensed production capacity. Following approval of the reactivation plan and mill refurbishment, Anfield will be able to both recommence uranium production and start vanadium production in 2026.
The plan outlines an increase in mill throughput capacity to 1,000 [short] tons per day from 750 [short] tons per day and an increase in annual uranium production capacity to 3 million pounds [U3O8] [1154 t U] from 1 million pounds [U3O8] [385 t U].
Capacity increase announced for reactivation of idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill: The acquisition [of additional DOE leases in Colorado] meets Anfield's strategic objective of securing additional uranium and vanadium prospects as the Company prepares for an increase in production capacity throughput at Shootaring to 1,000 [short] tons per day from 750 [short] tons [of ore] per day as part of its mill restart plan. (Anfield Energy Jan. 3, 2024)
Preliminary economic assessment announced for Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock uranium/vanadium mine projects:
> View here
Study for reactivation of idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill commissioned: On Nov. 29, 2022, Anfield Energy Inc. announced that it has commissioned Precision Systems Engineering, a Utah-based engineering firm, to complete a reactivation proposal for the Shootaring Canyon Mill.
Utah DEQ issues Notice of Violation for failures at idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
The DWMRC has issued a Notice of Violation and $5,000 fine to Anfield Resources Holding Corp. in response to Anfield's failure to submit an updated Shootaring Canyon Mill surety report in April 2018. Anfield has also failed to conduct reclamation work and submit some requested documents to the DWMRC.
The Mill operated for a short time in 1982 and is undergoing license renewal. The Mill does not have a license to conduct uranium recovery operations.
(Uranium Watch May 13, 2019)
Vanadium by-product recovery under consideration for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill: On Dec. 5, 2017, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that it will evaluate the feasibility of adding a vanadium processing facility to its Shootaring Canyon uranium mill. This reflects Anfield's intent to capitalize on potential opportunities as vanadium continues to become an even-more relevant commodity in the energy sector. To this end, Anfield has engaged BRS Engineering, Inc. to update Anfield's NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment related to the Velvet-Wood Mine to include a vanadium milling circuit as part of a production scenario.
Operational status sought for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
On July 7, 2016, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that it submitted a plan to the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control on June 30, 2016 to transition the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill located in Garfield County, Utah, from standby to operational status with its application to renew its license for the Shootaring Mill.
> Download: License Renewal Application (284MB PDF)
On June 30, 2017, Anfield Resources Holding Corporation submitted a revised License Renewal Application for the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill Radioactive Materials License No. UT0900480.
> Download: Revised License Renewal Application (278MB PDF)
Utah DEQ issues Scoping Request on license renewal for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
Submit comments by March 25, 2016.
> View Public Notice Feb. 25, 2016
Utah state regulator transfers expired (!) license for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill from Uranium One to Anfield Resources:
On Jan. 29, 2016, DWMRC issued License Amendment #7, transferring the expired (!) license to Anfield Resources Holdings, Corp., with instructions to submit an application for license renewal by June 30, 2016.
> Download Utah DWMRC letter to Anfield Resources, Jan. 29, 2016 (3.5MB PDF)
License of idle Shootaring Canyon mill "is expired but is not terminated":
The last extension of the Radioactive Material License for the idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill expired on Oct. 31, 2014. However, since the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) never notified the licensee that the license is terminated, the new owner now may submit a renewal application by June 30, 2016.
> Download Utah DWMRC letter to Anfield Resources, Dec. 2, 2015 (1.2MB PDF)
Idle Shootaring Canyon mill acquired by Anfield Resources Inc.:
On Aug. 15, 2014, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with Uranium One to acquire the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill located in Garfield County, Utah, and a portfolio of conventional uranium assets containing a historical estimate of U3O8 resource of 6.8 million pounds [2,615 t U]. The properties are located in Utah, Arizona and South Dakota.
On Aug. 21, 2014, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that it has filed an application with the Utah Division of Radiation Control to approve the transfer of ownership of the radioactive materials license for the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill from Uranium One to Anfield and to request an extension of the license to allow Anfield to prepare a license renewal application.
On Oct. 30, 2014, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that the Utah Division of Radiation Control ("UDRC") has granted conditional approval to transfer ownership of the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill radioactive materials license from Uranium One Americas, Inc. to Anfield. In connection with the conditional approval, the UDRC has agreed to extend the date for submitting the license renewal application to October 31, 2015 to allow Anfield to prepare a license renewal application.
> Download DRC letter approving ownership transfer of Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill, Oct. 17, 2014 (1.5MB PDF)
On Sep. 1, 2015, Anfield Resources Inc. announced that it has closed the Uranium One transaction.
On Nov. 9, 2015, the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) requested public comment on a proposed amendment to the Radioactive Material License (RML UT0900480) and the Groundwater Discharge Permit (UGW17003) for the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill to reflect the ownership transfer to Anfield Resources.
Submit comments by December 24, 2015 (comment period extended).
> View DWMRC public notice and related documents
On Dec. 24, 2015, Uranium Watch submitted comments on the transfer of the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill license from Uranium One Inc. to Anfield Resources Holding Inc.: "Anfield has stated that it intends to refurbish the Mill and start processing ore. Uranium Watch expressed concerns that the transfer of the license to another company that will not refurbish and reopen the Mill means that the Mill will not be reclaimed in the near future, nor will it be operated. It looks like the Mill, which has not operated since 1982, will remain on standby indefinetly. Although Anfield has provided the required reclamation surety replacement bond, Anfield has never operated as a profitable company. They currently do not have sufficient captial to refurbish the Mill or permit, develop, and operate mines to supply ore to the Mill. [...]"
Uranium One requests six month license extension and postponement of obligation to begin decommissioning for idle Shootaring Canyon mill: On March 28, 2014, Uranium One requested from Utah DRC a six month extension of the current Shootaring Canyon mill license and the postponement of the initiation of the requirements of timeliness in decommissioning.
On April 15, 2014 the Director of the Utah Division of Radiation Control (DRC) provided a {letter} to Uranium One Americas, Inc.granting a 6 month extension of the current radioactive material license.
Black Range Minerals' plan to acquire idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill fails -- group calls for decommissioning after 30 years of "standby":
On Oct. 30, 2013, Black Range Minerals Limited announced it has entered
into binding agreements to acquire Uranium One Inc's conventional (i) Shootaring Canyon Mill and related assets in the USA; and (ii) exploration and development projects in the USA. Completion of the Acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.
The Mill Acquisition gives Black Range the exclusive right, on Completion, to take 100% ownership of the Shootaring Canyon uranium processing facility in Utah, which is one of only three licensed conventional uranium mills in the USA, together with surface stockpiles of uranium ore, with a historic mineral resource estimate of approximately 250,000 lbs of U3O8 [96 t U] at a grade of 0.13% U3O8 [0.11% U].
On Mar. 17, 2014, however, Black Range Minerals announced that the acquistion of Uranium One Inc's conventional mining assets has failed, since "it has not been possible to obtain several requisite regulatory approvals prior to the Completion Date [March 14, 2014]".
On Mar. 19, 2014, the NGO Uranium Watch demanded the decommissioning of the mill, that has been on "standby" since 1982, when it operated for only a few months. The Mill has a stockpile of about 94,000 short tons of unprocessed uranium ore, a partially reclaimed tailings impoundment, among others.
Sarah Fields, Uranium Watch Program Director, believes that "Uranium One and the DRC [Utah Division of Radiation Control] have a responsibility to see that the Shootaring Canyon Mill is closed for good and reclaimed." "For over 30 years the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and DRC have allowed the Shootaring Canyon Mill to sit there with its contaminated soils and wastes, stockpiled ore, and partially reclaimed mill tailings." "There are no excuses now not to clean up this relic of the uranium industry."
Utah DEQ invites comment on proposed license renewal extension for idle Shootaring Canyon uranium mill:
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Radiation Control (DRC) is soliciting comments on its proposal to grant an extension to the existing Radioactive Material License (License) for the Uranium One America's Inc. Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill Facility located near the town of Ticaboo, Utah.
On June 27, 2011, Uranium One submitted an extension request regarding RML UT090048. Based on DRC's review of this request, the Executive Secretary has preliminarily decided to agree to a two year extension. In addition to this two year extension, the License is required to submit an updated reclamation plan, operating procedures and training records.
The public comment period will end at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 2011.
> Download Public Notice (PDF)
> Download Draft license (PDF)
> Download Statement of Basis (PDF)
On Oct. 29, 2007, U.S. Energy Corp. announced the sale of the Ticaboo Townsite to Uranium One Inc. for approximately $2.7 million in cash. The Ticaboo Townsite is located approximately 5 miles from Uranium One Inc.'s Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill in southeastern Utah, which was purchased from U.S. Energy Corp. on April 30, 2007. The fully developed Ticaboo Townsite includes commercial operations, a 149-unit mobile home park, a single-family residential subdivision with 98 lots and an Recreational Vehicle park. Commercial operations include a 70-unit motel, a restaurant/lounge, convenience store and a boat storage/service facility.
In September 2007, the Utah Division of Radiation Control released the Tailings Management Plan, Revised April 2007 for the Shootaring Canyon mill.
In July 2007, the Utah Division of Radiation Control released the License Application and the Environmental Report submitted for the reopening of the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill by Plateau Resources in 2006.
On April 30, 2007, sxr Uranium One Inc. announced the completion of the purchase from U.S. Energy Corp. of the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill in Utah, as well as a land package comprising approximately 38,763 acres of uranium exploration properties in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado.
On March 17, 2005, U.S. Energy Corp. and Crested Corp. announced that a formal request has been filed with the State of Utah for an operational license to reopen and operate the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill.
On October 24, 2002, Plateau Resources requested a change in its License status from operational to reclamation. > See details
On May 3, 2002, the NRC renewed the Shootaring Canyon mill license for a ten-year term until 2012.
By letter dated Feb. 1, 2001 "Due to uranium market conditions being very soft Plateau Resources Ltd. (PRL) requests that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) terminate active review of the tailings management and 11 e(2) byproduct plans" for its Shootaring Canyon mill site.
U.S. Energy affiliate Plateau Resources has proposed to relocate the Atlas uranium mill tailings from Moab, Utah, over almost 200 miles to the site of its mothballed Shootaring Canyon uranium mill near Ticaboo, Utah. Plateau Resources has requested from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission an amendment to their Shootaring Canyon license that would allow the company to accept the Atlas waste tailings. (Deseret News April 24, 2000)
By letter dated March 22, 2000, Plateau Resources, Ltd. is requesting permission from the U.S. NRC to dispose of offsite 11e.(2) byproduct material in the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill tailings facility. This material "will be similar to mill tailings" but will have been generated at other facilities licensed by the NRC or facilities where the government has classified the material as 11e.(2) byproduct material, as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (U.S. Code Title 42, Sec. 2014):
"(e) The term ''byproduct material'' means (1) any radioactive material (except special nuclear material) yielded in or made radioactive by exposure to the radiation incident to the process of producing or utilizing special nuclear material, and (2) the tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from any ore processed primarily for its source material content."
for any radionuclide of the | Average Concentration | Maximum Concentration |
U-238 series | 500 pCi/g (18.5 Bq/g) | 2,000 pCi/g (74 Bq/g) *) |
Th-232 series | 300 pCi/g (11.1 Bq/g) | 6,000 pCi/g (222 Bq/g) |
A U-238 concentration of 500 pCi/g corresponds to 0.15 wt-%, a conc. of 2,000 pCi/g to 0.6 wt-%.
Currently, the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill tailings facility contains only 20,000 cy (15,300 m3) of tailings and is licensed to contain approximately 2,100,000 cy (1,600,000 m3).
(Plateau Resources' request is available through ADAMS )
In Federal Register May 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 102)] p. 33850-33851, NRC published a notice of receipt of the aforementioned request from Plateau Resources and a notice of opportunity for a hearing: download full text.
On March 9, 2000, the U.S. NRC issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the reclamation plan of US Energy/Plateau Resources' Shootaring Canyon uranium mill near Ticaboo, Utah.
> View Notice in Federal Register March 9, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 47) p. 12593-12594
On March 19, 1999, US Energy/Plateau Resources received final approval from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for its Shootaring Canyon uranium mill.
US Energy/Plateau Resources is seeking a new groundwater protection permit for the restart of its Shootaring Canyon uranium mill near Ticaboo, Utah. The mill has been "on standby" since 1982. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality in December 1998 proposed to issue the permit with the condition that U.S. Energy upgrade the clay and synthetic liners in its tailings pond and install additional ground water monitoring wells. [The Salt Lake Tribune Jan. 21, 1999]
US Energy/Plateau Resources plans to restart its Shootaring Canyon uranium mill near Ticaboo, Utah, in 1997, initially using stockpiled ore [The Salt Lake Tribune Oct 31, 1996, March 27, 1997]. A "Final finding of no significant impact; notice of opportunity for hearing" was issued by U.S. NRC on April 21, 1997, see Federal Register April 28, 1997 (Vol.62, No. 81), p.22977-22978 .
International Uranium Corp.received a renewed license for continued operation of its White Mesa mill, Utah on May 9, 1997.
The ore produced at IUC's Sunday
Mine Complex will be stockpiled at the White Mesa Mill until
mid 1998 when the mill's current alternate feed run will be
completed. The mill has been processing alternate feed sources since June 1997, and by mid 1998 will have produced 725,000
pounds of uranium and several hundred thousand pounds of
tantalum/niobium concentrates. The mill will then switch over to
processing mined ore. (IUC Dec. 8, 1997)
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