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NRC TO MEET WITH URANIUM ONE REGARDING CHANGE OF CONTROL OF
ISL FACILITIES TO RUSSIAN COMPANYOn August 16 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will meet with Uranium One Inc. to discuss the application to change control of the Irigaray and Christensen Ranch in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery project to JSC Atomredmetzolot (ARMZ).
According to ARMZ:
"ARMZ is the world’s fifth largest uranium producer with operating mines in Russia and Kazakhstan. During 2009, operations in which ARMZ is involved produced 12.1 million pounds of U3O8 (4,624 tons of Uranium). It is wholly-owned by State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom", the Russian State Corporation for Nuclear Energy which consolidates all nuclear assets and controls all nuclear activities of the Russian Federation. In addition to its commercial activities, Rosatom also acts as the Russian government agent responsible for all activities related to the nuclear and atomic industries."
An ARMZ News Release announced that it has purchased a 51% interest in Uranium One. Uranium One also owns the Ticaboo Mill and uranium mining interests in Utah.
Time: 1 pm to 3 pm EDT (11 am to 1 pm MDT)
• Notice and AgendaTo listen to the meeting, contact:
Ron Linton -
(301) 415-7777
ron.linton@nrc.govAUGUST 6, 2010
NRC ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD
GRANTS PETITION TO INTERVENE ON
DEWEY-BURDOCK ISL PROJECTOn August 5, 2010, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (Board) issued a Memorandum and Order ruling on Petitions to Intervene and Requests for Hearing related to the proposed Dewey-Burdock in situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery facility. The petitions to intervene and requests for hearing challenge an application submitted by Powertech (USA), Inc. requesting a license to construct and to operate a proposed ISL facility in Custer and Fall River Counties, South Dakota.
The Board found that three individuals (Susan Henderson, David Frankel, and Dayton Hyde) and two organizations (Clean Water Alliance and Aligning for Responsible Mining) and the Oglala Sioux Tribe have standing to participate in the proceeding. The Board also ruled on the issues that were admissible in the proceeding.
AUGUST 3, 2010
URANIUM WATCH CHALLENGES PANDORA MINE EXPLORATION DRILLING AND RADON VENT HOLES
Uranium Watch, Uranium Watch, Center for Water Advocacy, and Living Rivers, conservation groups located in Moab, Utah, yesterday filed suit in federal district court in Salt Lake City to halt uranium exploration and the construction of radon vent holes on U.S. Forest Service land in the Manti-La Sal National Forest in La Sal, Utah.
The complaint filed with the United States District Court for the District of Utah challenges a decision by the Moab/Monticello Ranger District to permit the drilling of 16 exploration drill holes and 2 radon vent holes as part of the expansion of the Pandora Uranium Mine. The Pandora Mine is owned by Denison Mines (USA) Corporation. Uranium ore from the mine is transported to Denison's uranium mill on White Mesa, a few miles south of Blanding in San Juan County.
The groups also filed a request for a preliminary injunction at the Pandora Mine to stay ground disturbance and construction of the exploration holes and radon vent holes until the case can be fully heard by the federal court.
The citizens groups challenge the granting of a "categorical exclusion" for the projects and requested that the Forest Service develop a full environmental analysis of the projects as part of the proposed expansion of the Pandora Mine and La Sal Complex (Beaver Shaft, La Sal, and Snowball Mines). The "categorical exclusion" process was the same used by the Interior Department in approving the infamous Deepwater Horizon oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. A "categorical exclusion" means that the agency did not conduct any detailed environmental review and provided limited opportunity for public input under the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA").• Press Release and Complaint Documents
• Telluride Daily Plant article - August 3, 2010
AUGUST 2, 2010BLM INTERIOR BOARD OF LAND APPEALS VACATES MOAB OFFICE DECISION TO PERMIT RADON VENTS
In response to a Notice of Appeal and Petition for Stay, the Department of Interior, Interior Board of Land Appeals vacated a decision by the Moab Office of the Bureau of Land Managemen (BLM). A September 2009 decision to authorize the construction of 2 new radon vents for the Pandora Mine on BLM land was remanded back to the BLM office. One of the vents was constructed in December, prior to the required approval by the Utah Division of Air Quality. Additionally, Denison did not construct a diffuser on top of the vent hole, as they committed to in their application to the BLM and DOGM.
• BLM Motion
• Interior Board of Land Appeals OrderJULY 2 , 2010
URANIUM MINER KILLED AT PANDORA MINE -
MINE OPERATOR CITED FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONSOn May 26, 2010, Hunter Diehl, age 28, was killed in an underground accident at the Pandora Uranium Mine in La Sal, Utah. The accident occurred when the miner was breaking off rocks from the ceiling after blasting had taken place the previous day or evening. Mr. Diehl, who had been employed at the mine for about 2 1/2 months, had no previous experience as an underground miner. He had many friends and family members in the Moab and La Sal area.
The Pandora Mine, along with the nearby Beaver Shaft, La Sal, and Snowball Mines are on the south slope of the La Sal Mountains, in northern San Juan County. The mines, which are connected underground, are owned by Denison Mines Corporation and operated by Reliance Resources, LLC, of Moab. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is investigating the accident. Over the past several years, Denison Mines or Reliance Resources has been cited by MSHA for various health and safety violations at their mines in the La Sal/Lisbon Valley area.
MSHA VIOLATIONS
A full accident report is not yet available. Thus far, Reliance Resources LLC has been cited by MSHA for violations associated with the accident and inspection subsequent to the accident:
• Failure to contact MSHA within 15 minutes of the accident (30 CFR § 50.10).
• Examination of ground conditions (30 CFR § 57.3401):Persons experienced in examining and testing for loose ground shall be designated by the mine operator. Appropriate supervisors or other designated persons shall examine and, where applicable, test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed, prior to work commencing, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift. Underground haulageways and travelways and surface area highwalls and banks adjoining travelways shall be examined weekly or more often if changing ground conditions warrant.
• Location for performing scaling (30 CFR § 57.3201):
Scaling shall be performed from a location which will not expose persons to injury from falling material, or other protection from falling material shall be provided.
• Loading, blasting, and security (30 CFR § 57.6306):
(g) Work shall not resume in the blast area until a post-blast examination addressing potential blast-related hazards has been conducted by a person with the ability and experience to perform the examination.
The amount of the penalties for the citations is not yet available.
MSHA INFORMATION
• Accident Site Photo and Information
• MSHA Mine Data Retrieval System
Enter Denison Mines as Mine Operator to bring up list of mines. Or, enter Pandora's MSHA Mine ID: 4200470NEWS ARTICLES
• Moab Times Independent - May 27, 2010
• Moab Times-Independent - June 17, 2010June 28, 2010
UTAH ENERGY PLANS EXPLORATION ON
BLUE JAY AND MARCY-LOOK CLAIMS - COMMENTS DUE JULY 19On June 21, the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Moab/Monticello Ranger District, noticed their intent to permit Utah Energy Corporation to drill exploration holes in western San Juan County. The proposed project is 64 exploration holes for the Blue Jay project and 76 exploration holes for the Marc-Look project. The areas are on Elk Ridge and South Elk Ridge. Public comments are due on July 19, 2010.
Utah Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of White Canyon Uranium, an Australian Company. Utah Energy also owns and operates the Daneros Uranium Mine.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION• Blue Jay Project
• Marcy Look Project
HOW TO LOCATE LICENSING DOCUMENTS IN THE NRC ELECTRONIC READING ROOM (ADAMS):
1. Go to http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html
2. Click on Web-based access / Begin ADAMS search / Advanced Search
3. Enter Docket Number in the Docket Number box.
4. Sort by Document Date in Descending order. Some document packages are undated and are found at of beginning of end of list of documents in Descending order and at beginning of list of documents in Ascending order.
Read more about how to access NRC documents . . . .- NEWS ARCHIVE -
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Updated August 25, 2010
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