URANIUM WATCH

A Uranium Mining
and Milling
Information
and Action Project

Moab, Utah

UTAH
Uranium Mills
Uranium Mines
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URANIUM MILLS
Conventional and ISL

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URANIUM MINES
New Mexico

RESOURCES
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Data and Info
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AUGUST 11, 2010

NRC TO MEET WITH URANIUM ONE REGARDING CHANGE OF CONTROL OF
ISL FACILITIES TO RUSSIAN COMPANY

On 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 Agenda

To listen to the meeting, contact:
Ron Linton -
(301) 415-7777
ron.linton@nrc.gov

AUGUST 6, 2010

NRC ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD
GRANTS PETITION TO INTERVENE ON
DEWEY-BURDOCK ISL PROJECT

On 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, 2010

BLM 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 Order

JULY 2 , 2010

URANIUM MINER KILLED AT PANDORA MINE -
MINE OPERATOR CITED FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS

On 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: 4200470

NEWS ARTICLES
Moab Times Independent - May 27, 2010
Moab Times-Independent - June 17, 2010

June 28, 2010

UTAH ENERGY PLANS EXPLORATION ON
BLUE JAY AND MARCY-LOOK CLAIMS - COMMENTS DUE JULY 19

On 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 . . . .

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Updated August 25, 2010


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EVENTS


August 26, 2010
Sacred Lands, Poisoned Peoples -
Uranium Mining, Health and Indigenous Peoples
University of Basel
Basel, Switzerland
9 am to 6 pm
Flyer
Program

◊◊◊

HEARING and
PROTEST
OPPORTUNITIES


◊◊◊


PUBLIC MEETINGS, HEARINGS and WORKSHOP

MEETING
September 8 , 2010
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Titan Uranium
Sheep Mtn. Heap Leach
Wyoming

Notice and Agenda


MEETING
September 9 , 2010
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm EDT

Strata Energy
Ross In Situ Leach Project
Docket No. 40-9091
Wyoming

Docket No. 40-8502
Notice and Agenda


NOTE: NRC Meetings Can Usually be Attended Via
Free Conference Call Line-
See Meeting Notice for
Contact Person

◊◊◊

PUBLIC COMMENT
OPPORTUNITIES


Colorado Dept. of Public
Health and Environment -
Piñon Ridge Mill
Application

Comment Period Open
Public Notice
Application and Related Documents

URANIUM WATCH -
UTAH BULLETIN


April 2010

March 2010

January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
May 2009
March '09
November '08

REGULATORY ISSUES
-

WISE/URANIUM
Current Regulatory
Issues


EPA Review of
Uranium Mill Radon
NESHAP - 40 CFR
Part 61, Subpart W

Background Documents

NRC Generic EIS
for In Situ Leach (ISL)
Uranium Recovery
Notice of Availability
Draft GEIS and Information

NRC ISL GEIS Website
NRC News Release


UTAH

Energy Queen Mine
La Sal, San Juan County


La Sal Mines
La Sal

Pandora Mine
La Sal


Daneros Mine
Bullseye Canyon


Mancos Uranium
Mill Project
Green River
Emery County


Blue Castle Holdings, Inc. (formerly Transition Power
Development) -
Blue Castle
Nuclear Power Project
Green River


Tony M Mine
Ticaboo, Utah


Velvet Mine

Denison Mines Corp.
White Mesa Mill
San Juan County



COLORADO

Last Chance Mine
Montrose County


Piñon Ridge Mill
Paradox Valley

Community:
Paradox Sustainability

Uranium Health:
The Piñon Ridge Mill
Montrose Daily Press
Special Report

Part I
Part II

Whirlwind Mine
Mesa County, CO
NEBRASKA/WYOMING


Crook County, WY -
Ranchers and
Neighbors
Protecting Our Wate
r


Smith Ranch and
Highland ISL
Wyoming

◊◊◊

Thanks to our Sponsor,
Ben and Jerry's
Foundation

 

Uranium Watch • 435-210-0166 • 76 S Main #7 PO • Box 344 • Moab, Utah 84532