◊ NEWS ARCHIVE - 2009
◊ NEWS ARCHIVE - 2008February 11 , 2010
Center for Biological Diversity Sues BLM
for Release of Arizona 1 Mine RecordsThe Center for Biological Diversity has sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for withholding pertinent records related to uranium mines on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The suit asserts that the BLM violated the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to disclose records pursuant to a July 30, 2009, request submitted by the Center. Denison Mines Corporation has commenced operation of the mine, shipping ore to their uranium mill on White Mesa in San Juan County, Utah.
Some of the records withheld records pertaine to the Arizona 1 mine. In November, the CBD and other plaintiffs sued the BLM for their failure to undertake new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act review prior to allowing Denison Mines to resume mining. Instead the BLM is relying on 1988 NEPA reviews.
• CBD Press Release
• Complaint
February 8 , 2010Living Rivers and Red Rock Forests Challenge
Use of Colorado Water for Piñon Ridge Uranium MillLiving Rivers and Red Rock Forests, Utah conservation groups, filed a challenge to the use of Dolores River Water for the operation of the proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill in the Paradox Valley in South West Colorado. Harold Shepherd, acting director of Red Rock Forests in concerned about the speculative nature of the mill and the impacts to the water users and river environment. The Dolores River is under consideration for designation as a federally protected Wild and Scenic River, which could be threatened if the applications are granted.
Energy Fuels Resources has submitted an Application to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which is under review. There will be a public hearing on February 17 at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose, Colorado, to take comments on the Application.
• Deseret News Article - Feburary 3, 2010
• Colorado Department of Public Health - Piñon Ridge Mill DocumentJanuary 20, 2010
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Suit Demanding
DOE Open Records on Uranium Leasing ProgramU.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel ruled that a coalition of conservation groups could question officials and obtain the records from the Department of Energy (DOE) on the uranium mine leasing program in southwestern Colorado. The suit was filed by the Energy Minerals Law Center on behalf of Colorado Environmental Coalition, Information Network for Responsible Mining, Center for Native Ecosystems, and Center for Biological Diversity. The objective was the protection of the water quality and wildlife habitat near the Dolores and San Miguel Rivers. Mines in the DOE leasing program would be one of the sources of uranium ore for the proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill in the Paradox Valley, which threatens the air and quality and the economic resources of the Paradox Valley area.
• News Articles
~ Telluride Daily Planet
~ Colorado Independent
• DOE Uranium Leasing ProgramJanuary 15, 2010
Citizens Provide Testimony at Protest Hearings on Water for Nuclear Reactor in Green River
Citizens of Green River and Grand County, Utah, along with representatives of state and national organizations provided testimony at the Division of Water Right's all-day hearings in Green River on January 12. The Kane County and San Juan County Water Conservancy Districts' legal representative, John Mabey, Blue Castle Holdings Inc. CEO Aaron Tilton, and their experts gave a lengthy presentation in support of the proposed transfer of water rights from the Colorado River and San Juan Rivers to the Green River for Blue Castle Project.
The Applicant's testimony was short on specifics about the impacts of the withdrawal of the water, the economic feasibility of the project; who would license, construct and operate the power plant; the structures that would be used to divert and transport the water to the proposed reactor site; and what would happen to the high level nuclear waste produced by the reactor. Aaron Tilton claimed that Blue Castle Holdings had an agreement to purchase the site for the reactor, which is not true. BCH has not purchased the site and does not have a purchase agreement with Emery County.
Protesters presented testimony on the impacts of the withdrawal of
74 cubic feet per second (53,600 acre feet) on the Green River environment, the lack of available water over time due to other water use commitments and climate change, agreements that must be met in support of endangered fish species, the physical and economic feasibility of the project, lack of specific information and data, and adverse impacts to local agricultural and recreational uses and the community.The State Engineer has held the record open until March 1 to receive additional testimony from all the parties.
• Hearings Transcript
• Hearing Presentations and Testimony
• Audio Recording of Hearings
• Hearing Documents
• Information About the Blue Castle Generation Project
• News Articles
~ Moab Times Independent
~ Salt Lake Tribune
~ Grand Junction Sentinel
~ High Country NewsJanuary 6, 2010
Protest Hearings on Water for Nuclear Reactor to be Held January 12 in Green River, Utah
On January 12, 2010, the Utah Division of Water Rights will hold hearings on the protests of the Kane County and San Juan County Water Conservancy Districts' change applications for the provision of water from the Green River for a proposed nuclear power plant. The hearings on the requests to change the point of diversion, place of use, and nature of use for 29,600 acre-feet of water from the Colorado River and 24,000 acre-feet of water from the San Juan River. The water has been leased to Blue Castle Holdings Inc. (BCH, formerly Transition Power Development LLC) for the nuclear reactor that BCH wants to site a few miles west of Green River.
The public is urged to attend and may have an opportunity to voice their concerns. The hearings start at 9:00 a.m. and will likely continue throughout the day. For more information, contact Uranium Watch via e-mail or 435-210-0166.
• Notice
• Information About the Blue Castle Generation Project
• Hearing Location -
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 East Main
Green River, Utah
• Time - 9:00 a.mJanuary 4, 2010
Report: Nuclear Power: The Critical Question
The Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), World Information Service on Energy (WISE), and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) have issued Nuclear Power: The Critical Question: First hand reports from the frontlines of the nuclear fuel chain. The 40-page booklet provides first-hand reports about citizens directly impacted by the nuclear fuel cycle world wide. From the open pit mining of uranium in New Mexico, to Chernobyl, to reactor operations in France, to reprocessing at Sellafield, the stories the show the real life impacts of the nuclear fuel cycle.
• Report Cover
• Nuclear Power: The Critical Question
January 2, 2010Utah Division of Radiation Control Proposes Rule
for the Disposal of Depleted Uranium -
Comments Due February 2, 2010The Utah Division of Radiation Control (DRC) is accepting public comment on a proposed change to its rules regarding land disposal of depleted uranium (DU). The Utah Radiation Control Rule R313-25-8 proposed change involves “License Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste – Technical Analysis.” The proposed rule incorporates language regarding a site-specific performance assessment for facilities that accept depleted uranium for land disposal, prior to the disposal of significant quantities of depleted uranium. The EnergySolutions site in Tooele County has received shipments of DU from the Department of Energy, and plans to receive more.
The DRC will hold a public meeting on January 26 at 6 p.m. in Room 101, Airport East Business Building (Bldg #2), 168 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City.
Mail comments to:
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Radiation Control
Room 212, Airport East Business Building (Bldg #2)
168 North 1950 West.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4850• Public Notice
• Proposed Rule
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Updated March 10, 2010