Notification of excursion at Monitor Well IM-8, Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium operation, Glenrock, Wyoming - Cameco Resources - April 21, 2009 (PDF 193 KB) Note: An excursion is an escape of leaching fluid from the mining zone. There have been four reported excursions at the Smith Ranch-Highland in-situ uranium mine since November 2008 (well numbers: CM-15, IM-10, IM-14, and IM-8). Since there is no secondary monitor well system, there is no way to determine how far the leaching fluid may have migrated. It is unknown if these monitor wells are still on excursion status or if the releases have been corrected.

Notification of excursion at Monitor Well IM-14, Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium operation, Glenrock, Wyoming - Cameco Resources - April 3, 2009 (PDF 181 KB) Note: An excursion is an escape of leaching fluid from the ore zone.

Letter notifying the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the SKY in-situ leach uranium project in Fremont County, Wyoming has been placed on indefinite hold - Strathmore Minerals Corp. - March 18, 2009 (PDF 31 KB)

Notification of excursion at Monitor Well 2MW89, Christensen Ranch ISL uranium mine, Mills, WY - Areva NC Inc. - March 12, 2009 (PDF 122 KB)

Settlement Agreement - concerning violations by Cameco Resources for failure to notify the state of a potential excursion, failure to conduct confirmation sampling, and failure to submit a report detailing procedures for mitigating or controlling the potential excursion at the Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium mine, Glenrock, WY - Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality - March 9, 2009 (PDF 616 KB)

Notification of leak in the East Storage Pond at the Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium operation, Glenrock, Wyoming (263 ppm uranium; federal drinking water standard is 0.03 ppm) - Cameco Resources - February 27, 2009 (PDF 44 KB) Note: Date on letter is incorrect.

Notification of excursion at Monitor Well IM-10, Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium mine, Glenrock, WY - Cameco Resources - February 18, 2009 (PDF 1,726 KB)

Notification of 14,600 gallon mining solution spill (7 ppm uranium) at the Smith Ranch-Highland in-situ leach uranium mining operation, Glenrock, WY - Cameco Resources - February 13, 2009 (PDF 1,384 KB) Notes: The federal maximum contaminant level for drinking water is 0.03 ppm uranium. Smith Ranch-Highland is touted as a model ISL facility by Powertech officials.

Notice of Violation Issued to Cameco Resources, Smith Ranch-Highland Operation - Glenrock, Wyoming - Re: Insitu Uranium Operation, Permit #603 - Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality - January 23, 2009 (PDF 329 KB)

Notification of spill at Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium mine, Glenrock, WY - Cameco Resources - January 16, 2009 (PDF 121 KB)

NRC Inspection Report and Notice of Violation - Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium operation, Glenrock, WY - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - November 25, 2008 (PDF 192 KB)

Notification of excursion at Monitor Well CM-15, Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium mine, Glenrock, WY - Cameco Resources - November 24, 2008 (PDF 1,537 KB)

Notice of Violation - Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium operation - Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality - July 17, 2008 (PDF 466 KB)

Questions about uranium - Dustin Bleizeffer - Casper Star-Tribune - May 13, 2008

DEC accuses uranium mine of violations - Associated Press - Billings Gazette - April 5, 2008

Probe finds uranium mine violations - Dustin Bleizeffer - Casper Star-Tribune - April 4, 2008

Yearning for yellowcake - Tom Mast - Casper Star-Tribune - February 3, 2008

Texas In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines

Uranium mining fight continues - Tara Bozick - Victoria Advocate (Texas) - February 25, 2009

Stir It Up: Mining Texas aquifers for uranium has risks - Greg Harman - San Antonio Current - February 5, 2009

Report on Findings Related to the Restoration of In-Situ Uranium Mines in South Texas - Bruce K. Darling, Ph.D., P.G. - SOUTHWEST GROUNDWATER CONSULTING, LLC - September 29, 2008 (PDF 982 KB) Note: This is the "official" signed and sealed version. See related posting (updated March 30, 2009.)

New battle heats up in Goliad - Robert Elder - Austin American-Statesman - March 30, 2008

Goliad County: 'Leave us alone' - County, residents file suit against uranium company - Gabe Semenza - Victoria Advocate - March 18, 2008

Goliad Co. threatens to sue uranium company - Tara Bozick - Victoria Advocate - March 1, 2008

Power Struggle - Rebecca Boyle - Fort Collins Now - February 6, 2008

Undermining South Texas - Greg Harman - San Antonio Current - October 3, 2007

Texans: Say no to uranium mining - Gallup Independent - July 24, 2007

As uranium mines closed, state altered cleanup goals - Dan Kelley - Corpus-Christi Caller-Times - November 5, 2006

Texas Family Fights Uranium Mining - Lynn Brezosky - Associated Press - July 31, 2005

Lawsuit by Manuel Longoria, owner of the Longoria Ranch in Duval County, Texas, against Uranium Resources, Inc., alleging gross negligence for contaminating the soil, aquifer, and vegetation with toxic and radioactive materials from in-situ leach uranium mining - August 28, 1995 (PDF 1,004 KB) Note: During much of the time URI mined the Longoria Ranch, Richard Clement was Senior Vice President of the mining company. Clement is currently the CEO of Powertech Uranium Corp. Clement now cites the Longoria Ranch mine as an example of a successful ISL mine closure.

Nebraska In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines

Internal email among staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding failure of a well casing joint in production well I-3720-P at the Crow Butte in-situ leach uranium mine, operated by Canadian firm Cameco Resources Inc. - April 17, 2009 (PDF 48 KB) Note: This well casing failure was detected during a 5-year mechanical integrity test that measures the well's ability to prevent vertical excursions of leaching fluids into overlying or underlying aquifers.

Panel says foreign ownership an issue in mine's expansion - George Ledbetter - The Chadron Record - February 11, 2009

MEMORANDUM and ORDER - Ruling on Foreign Ownership and Arsenic Contentions and Other Pending Matters - In the Matter of CROW BUTTE RESOURCES, INC. (License Amendment for the North Trend Expansion Project) - US NRC, ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD PANEL - January 27, 2009 (PDF 192 KB)

Opponents challenge uranium mine expansion - George Ledbetter

Rapid City Journal - January 18, 2008

Crow Butte Resources, Inc. - Application for 2007 License Renewal of Source Materials License SUA-1534

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - November 2007 (pdf - 294 pages)

New Mexico Uranium Mining

The Uranium Legacy: A Congressional Briefing Book - New Mexico Uranium Mining and Tailings Task Force - May 5-8, 2009 (PDF 3,963 KB)

"Navajo celebrates HRI ruling" - Kathy Helms, Gallup Independent - April 22, 2009 (HTML) (PDF 72 KB) Note: This article is about the recent ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming that the Churchrock Section 8 ISL uranium mine site is located in Navajo Indian Country and thus under US EPA jurisdiction for purposes of underground injection permitting. The Dine Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005 bans uranium mining throughout Navajo Indian Country. Hydro Resources, Inc. has been working to secure the necessary mining permits since 1988. Powertech CEO Richard Clement was president of HRI from 1996-1999.

Letter from Doug Brugge, PhD, Associate Professor - Tufts University School of Medicine, to R. Lee Ware, Jr., Member - Virginia House of Delegates, regarding potential uranium mining in Virginia, including discussion of 1979 Church Rock tailings dam failure and release into the Puerco River - November 25, 2008 (PDF 108 KB)

A big, dirty mess - Trip Jennings - The New Mexico Independent - June 27, 2008

Appeals court hears challenge to uranium mine - Ben Neary - Associated Press - May 12, 2008

As Uranium Firms Eye N.M., Navajos Are Wary - Kari Lydersen - Washington Post - March 28, 2008

Our view: After irresponsibility U-lobby creeping back (opinion) - Santa Fe New Mexican - February 17, 2008

Yellowcake Blues - Laura Paskus - Santa Fe Reporter - October 11, 2006

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 8

Letter from Jeffrey Parsons - Western Mining Action Project, Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction, Environment Colorado, Environment America, and Natural Resources Defense Council to Administrator Lisa Jackson - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, raising concerns about the lack of public notice and comment regarding the development of regulations by EPA Region 8 to facilitate the review of Class III Underground Injection Control permit applications from Powertech Uranium Corp. for in-situ leach uranium projects in South Dakota and Colorado, and calling for the EPA to suspend processing of currently filed applications for ISL uranium mining and initiate a Tier 1 rulemaking - December 17, 2009 (PDF 255 KB including attachments, 12 pages)

Letter from U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Betsy Markey to Carol Rushin - Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urging the EPA to apply the public notice and comment provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act to any formal rulemaking or informal promulgation of guidance undertaken by the agency as part of its review of Underground Injection Control permit applications submitted for in-situ leach uranium projects - November 23, 2009 (PDF 652 KB, 1 page) The EPA had never received an application for a Class III UIC permit and aquifer exemption determination for an ISL uranium mine before Powertech submitted its application for the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota. Region 8 staff has had to scramble to figure out how to process and review the application. Rather than conduct a public rulemaking process, the EPA chose to exclude the public and instead develop "guidance" documents with the participation of EPA staff and Powertech officials and consultants.

Suggested Operating Procedures for Aquifer Pumping Tests - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - February 1993 (PDF 224 KB) Note: Powertech has conducted aquifer pump testing on the Centennial Project site. Detailed information regarding this testing has not been released to the public by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as seemingly required by law (C.R.S. 34-32-112.5(5)(c)). Powertech proposes to conduct another pump test but has not yet obtained the necessary regulatory approvals (see May 16, 2009 blog entry).

In-Situ Uranium Leaching-Related Activities by OPRA's Underground Injection Control Program - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 - October 28, 2008 (PDF 15 KB) This internal EPA document obtained under the Freedom of Information Act discusses how Region 8 staff have been preparing for the expected submission by Powertech of Class III Underground Injection Control/Aquifer Exemption permit applications for the Dewey Burdock and Centennial ISL uranium mining projects. The EPA has never issued an ISL permit or directly regulated an ISL mine. Because there are few specific federal regulations addressing ISL permits and aquifer exemption determinations, Region 8 staff have recently developed permit application guidance documents and policy statements regarding criteria and processes used for permit application review. In addition to meeting with co-regulating agencies in Colorado and South Dakota, Region 8 staff have repeatedly met with and had extensive consultations with officials from Powertech Uranium Corp. There has been no consultation with the public or any affected communities within Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY, and 27 Tribal Nations.)

Discussion of Zone of Influence, Area of Review, and the Aquifer Exemption Boundary for Class III Injection Wells used for the In-Situ Leaching (ISL) of Uranium (DRAFT) - US Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 - June 20, 2008, released March 2009 (PDF 177 KB) Note: This paper was prepared in response to Powertech's plans to submit Underground Injection Control/Aquifer Exemption permit applications to the EPA for the Centennial (CO) and Dewey-Burdock (SD) projects.

Letter from Robert Roberts, Regional Administrator - USEPA Region 8, to Colorado Senator Ken Salazar in response to concerns about Powertech's proposed Centennial Project and request for information regarding environmental impacts from aquifer excursions and other site contamination resulting from historical in-situ leach uranium mining - January 24, 2008 (PDF 3,468 KB)

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials From Uranium Mining - Appendix III. Occupational and Public Risks Associated with In-Situ Leaching

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - August 2007 (pdf)

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials From Uranium Mining - Volume 1: Mining and Reclamation Background

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - June 2007 (pdf)

TECHNICAL RESOURCE DOCUMENT - EXTRACTION AND BENEFICIATION OF ORES AND MINERALS - VOLUME 5 - URANIUM

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - January 1995 (pdf)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Comments on the NRC's Proposal to Issue a Regulatory Issue Summary on Pre-Licensing Construction Activities at Proposed Uranium
Recovery Facilities - Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. - May 11, 2009 (PDF 450 KB) Note: Powertech and other uranium companies are pressing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow the construction of in-situ leach mining facilities prior to obtaining a permit to mine. As the NRDC argues in its comment letter, "If the NRC Staff were to have concurred with the industry's assertions, entire ISR facilities could (and would) be constructed and essentially be ready to go before the imposition of any meaningful licensing and associated environmental review....the NRC staff may feel pressure not to require a company to do things differently if the company has spent several million dollars on construction already." Powertech has not publicly explained why it is pushing for this change, which is currently opposed by NRC staff. It is not clear how such a change would affect the Centennial Project since Colorado issues this permit under a program approved by the NRC.

"White Paper" by Powertech and other uranium companies presented to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission arguing that, under federal regulations, they should be allowed to drill injection wells, install piping, and construct uranium processing plants prior to NRC approval of a license to conduct in-situ leach mining - November 2008 (PDF 73 KB)

Notice of proposed Regulatory Issue Summary in response to "White Paper" by Powertech and other uranium companies arguing that they should be allowed to drill injection wells, install piping, and construct uranium processing plants prior to US NRC approval of a license to conduct in-situ leach mining, countering that Powertech, et al. have misinterpreted federal regulations - US Nuclear Regulatory Commission - March 20, 2009 (PDF 121 KB)

Consideration of Geochemical Issues in Groundwater Restoration at Uranium In-Situ Leach Mining Facilities (NUREG/CR-6870)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Geological Survey - January 2007 (pdf)

Standard Review Plan for In Situ Leach Uranium Extraction License Applications (NUREG-1569)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - June 2003 (pdf)

A Baseline Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Approach for In Situ Leach Uranium Extraction Licensees - Mackin, et al.

U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission - September 2001 (pdf)

An Analysis of Excursions at Selected In Situ Uranium Mines in Wyoming and Texas (NUREG/CR-3967, 296 pages including appendices with detailed reports on eight ISL mines including Irigaray, Bison Basin, Nine Mile Lake, Highland, Leuenberger, Reno Creek, Collins Draw, and Bruni) - W. P. Staub, et al. - Prepared for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Idaho - July 1986 (PDF 10,892 KB)

U.S. Department of Energy

Uranium Marketing Annual Report - Data for 2009 - U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy - August 18, 2010

U.S. production of uranium concentrate - 4th Quarter 2008 - Energy Information Administration, U.S. Dept. Of Energy February 11, 2009 (PDF 43 KB)