Proposed Dewey-Burdock In-Situ Leach Uranium Mining Project
Updated June 27, 2013
Note: Please see left column of home page for Dewey-Burdock articles and documents from February 2011 through June 2013.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Powertech's Dewey Burdock page
WISE Uranium Project - Dewey/Burdock property (ISL), Custer County / Fall River County
PERMITS - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
NRC Application Review Schedule
PERMITS - U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - REGION 8 - DENVER, COLORADO
Underground Injection Control Class III and Class V Permit Applications
PERMITS - SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES
Powertech (USA) Inc. Consolidated Contested Case page
Powertech (USA) Inc. Environmental Permits page
Ground Water Discharge Permits page
SD DENR Class III Underground Injection Control Permit (no longer required under South Dakota law)
NEWS STORIES AND COMMENTARY
Dewey-Burdock News & Commentary - November 2012 through January 2013
Madville Times' Powertech coverage
OPPOSITION
Facebook: Say No To Uranium Mining In South Dakota
Facebook: Save the Black Hills
POWERTECHEXPOSED.COM STORIES & POSTINGS
(related to Dewey-Burdock and in-situ leach uranium mining)Blast from the Past: Fear of radiation "is all a bunch of BS" - Posted September 24, 2010
Texas uranium mining experts admit that groundwater cannot be returned to baseline after exploration and mining - Uranium Energy Corp. vice president and consultant testify under oath that failure to restore uranium levels in aquifers to baseline is common practice; UEC's chief operating officer concedes that "they've known for a long time that you can't return it back" to baseline - May 4, 2010
REJECTED OR ACCEPTED? Powertech spins problems with Dewey-Burdock - Posted October 10, 2009
U.S NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION: In-situ leach uranium mining affects groundwater quality when leaching solutions travel beyond well field boundaries - Recent NRC document describes horizontal and vertical excursions at ISL mines in Wyoming and Nebraska, some lasting for as long as 8 years - Posted September 13, 2009
WHISTLEBLOWER: Former Texas ISL wellfield operator speaks out - Did Powertech CEO Richard Clement's former employer violate environmental laws and endanger groundwater users? Posted September 8, 2009, Updated September 9, 2009
Nuclear Regulatory Commission identifies deficiencies in Dewey-Burdock license application - Posted June 14, 2009
Report on Powertech's application to the EPA for an underground injection control permit for the Dewey-Burdock Project - Posted February 23, 2009
U.S. Dept. of Energy plans to sell 50 million pounds of excess uranium in next ten years - Yearly sales to exceed total amount of uranium mined in U.S. in 2007; political "full-court press" by uranium mining industry fails to stop DOE action; Powertech backs group opposed to DOE plans, touts U.S energy independence while agreeing to sell uranium to Belgian firm; Powertech chairman contracts to sell uranium to government of India - Posted January 7, 2009
Powertech pays brother-in-law of South Dakota governor to promote Dewey Burdock ISL uranium mine - Governor Mike Rounds claims he didn't know - Posted December 7, 2008
Report by hydrogeologist finds Texas in-situ uranium mines have been unable to restore ground water aquifers to premining water quality - State regulators routinely approve leaving higher uranium levels in ground water; author questions mine operators' scientific understanding of aquifers - Posted October 24, 2008, Updated March 30, 2009
"Most comprehensive report ever compiled" on ISL uranium mine restoration shows water is worse than before mining started at most mines - Texas County sues mining company over threat to ground water; county attorney claims baseline water testing is faulty - Posted September 23, 2008
Texas in-situ leach uranium mines failed to restore ground water to premining condition - Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission agendas from 1990s reveal that relaxing water cleanup standards is routine - Posted September 7, 2008
After in-situ uranium leaching, ground water cannot be returned to the way it was - Nuclear Regulatory Commission official and uranium mining executive acknowledge restoration of aquifer to baseline is unachievable - Posted September 3, 2008
Powertech VP Richard Blubaugh's experience with water contamination from uranium milling - The Atlas tailings pile saga - Updated May 17, 2008 \
Navajo President to U.S. Congress: Navajo Nation will not allow in situ uranium leach mining on tribal land - "The science on this process is, at best, inconclusive, and, at worst, points to increased radioactive contaminants in the groundwater after the mining operations cease." - Posted April 1, 2008
"Model" Wyoming in situ uranium mining operation cited for multiple permit violations - Cameco Corporation, a Canadian company, is world's largest uranium producer; Wyoming regulators note "inordinate number of spills, leaks and other releases", "low level of corporate commitment" to environmental issues, and "groundwater restoration not a high priority" - Posted March 27, 2008, Updated March 29, 2008
South Dakota water regulators move to tighten regulations for in situ leach mining - Revisions are in response to Powertech's plans to mine in Black Hills - Posted March 13, 2008
Texas county intends to sue uranium mining company for contaminating well water - Lawsuit against Uranium Energy Corp. is the result of "a number of water wells that have been rendered undrinkable" according to Goliad County attorney - Posted March 3, 2008
Powertech executive accuses opponents of spreading inaccurate information - Canadian complains that Coloradans are "not playing fairly" - Posted February 9, 2008, Updated May 16, 2008
Aquifer restoration after ISL mining includes injection of hydrogen sulfide gas into groundwater - Highly toxic chemical used to temporarily immobilize uranium and other heavy metals - Posted February 6, 2008
Doctors' advice: No uranium mining in populated area - Colorado Medical Society board unanimously joins Larimer County Medical Society in opposition to Powertech's proposal - Posted November 20, 2007, Updated November 22, 2007
Powertech posts deceptive promotional signs - Signs don't identify company and use fictitious website name - Posted November 15, 2007, Updated November 25, 2007
SALAZAR TO ROBERTS: SAFEGUARD THE GROUNDWATER - Senator urges EPA Region 8 chief to conduct "an accurate and complete analysis of the risks" posed by Powertech's proposal; requests information on "remediation of aquifer excursions and other types of site contamination caused by ISL mines" - Posted November 15, 2007
Researchers document special risk to young children of exposure to uranium in well water - Kidney damage more likely in children who drink uranium-contaminated water - Posted September 17, 2007
Satellite photo of ISL well field shows hundred of wells - Smith Ranch in Wyoming is typical uranium in-situ leaching operation - Posted September 12, 2007
Powertech spokesman Blubaugh relies on intuition to reassure Weld County water well owners - Posted August 20, 2007, Updated November 14, 2007
Ground water restoration after ISL uranium mining difficult to attain by flushing - U.S. Bureau of Mines research paper cites inability to completely restore aquifers at 5 mines in Texas and Wyoming - Posted August 19, 2007
Old and abandoned wells provide pathways for migration of uranium solution into underground sources of drinking water - EPA-commissioned report reveals uncertainties in defining "zone of endangering influence" from ISL wells - Posted August 15, 2007
An Environmental Critique of In Situ Leach Mining: The Case Against Uranium Solution Mining - 1998 - Selected excerpts and full 144-page report)