Documents
Updated September 10, 2011
POWERTECH URANIUM CORP.
Centennial/Indian Springs Uranium Project - Weld County, Colorado
Dewey-Burdock Uranium Project - Edgemont, South Dakota
- SD DENR Class III Underground Injection Control Permit
COLORADO MINING LAW & REGULATIONS
Powertech's lawsuit against Mike King and the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board
Colorado House Bill 08-1161 & Rulemaking
Colorado Division Of Mining, Reclamation and Safety
FEDERAL MINING LAW, REGULATIONS, & TECHNICAL REPORTS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 8
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
URANIUM MINING & RADIATION
Health Impacts From Exposure to Radionuclides and Heavy Metals
URANIUM MINING IN OTHER STATES
Wyoming In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines
Texas In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines
Nebraska In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines
Dewey-Burdock Uranium Project - Edgemont, South Dakota
Powertech (USA) Inc. - Environmental Permits - South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources Includes links to all state and federal permit applications.
Dewey/Burdock property (ISL), Custer County / Fall River County - WISE Uranium Project
Comments from the Town of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Dewey-Burdock uranium project - Brian Besco, Water Operator - Town of Buffalo Gap - February 3, 2010 (PDF 27 KB, 1 page) The Town of Buffalo Gap is about thirty miles northeast of Edgemont. In this email to the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the town board expresses its opposition to the proposed uranium project.
"Uranium and nuclear experts speaking in Virginia" - Staff report - GoDanRiver.com - September 14, 2010 (PDF 11 KB, 1 page) Dewey-Burdock Project Manager Mark Hollenbeck will be traveling to Virginia later this month to discuss "the future of nuclear power in Virginia." Hollenbeck is described as a "uranium mining expert", but his experience in this field appears to be limited to doing primarily public relations work for Powertech, a company that has never mined uranium. Hollenbeck is a cattle rancher, an engineer, and the former mayor of Edgemont, South Dakota (population 800). His most infamous quote is that in-situ leach uranium mining is "like a water clean up project."
Response by the South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources to Powertech's proposed groundwater discharge monitoring plan - Matt Hicks, Senior Hydrologist - Ground Water Quality Program - August 11, 2010 (PDF 154 KB, 3 pages) Powertech did its usual bang up job drafting a plan to monitor its proposed land application wastewater disposal operations for the Dewey-Burdock project. Hydrologist Hicks points out that the monitoring wells are too deep and too far away from the land application areas, there is no baseline monitoring plan, there is no plan to mitigate possible arsenic and selenium accumulation in vegetation, the submitted map is difficult to correlate to the plan, and Powertech is not correctly reading the relevant regulations.
Underground Injection Control Permit Application for Class V Disposal Wells - Dewey-Burdock Uranium Project - Powertech (USA), Inc. - March 2010 This EPA permit application for deep disposal wells was not publicly available online until the full application was posted on the NRC's ADAMS site on September 13, 2010. Typically, ISL uranium mines use Class I deep disposal wells to inject radioactive wastewater into aquifers that are below any aquifers that are used or may be used for drinking water. South Dakota prohibits Class I injection wells. As a result, Powertech proposes to treat such wastewater to bring levels of radionuclides down to federal standards. The application does not say how Powertech intends to do this. Also, Powertech claims the aquifers targeted for injection are not expected to qualify as underground sources of drinking water (USDW) because of their expected high concentrations of total dissolved solids. The application reveals that, since the proposed disposal wells have not yet been drilled, water quality samples have not been tested to verify this claim.
News story - "Powertech revising uranium mining permit applications" - Steve Miller, Rapid City Journal - October 3, 2009 Note: This article covers the problems Powertech has had with two of their permit applications for the Dewey-Burdock ISL uranium project near Edgemont, South Dakota. Both of the permit applications (to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources) were found to have numerous material deficiencies. Powertech purchased the Dewey-Burdock uranium leases in May 2006. Four months later, the company purchased the uranium mineral rights for the Centennial uranium project near Nunn and Fort Collins, Colorado. In the three years since Powertech announced the projects, the company has had only two permit applications accepted for technical review by permitting agencies, both for the Dewey-Burdock project (no permits have been issued). No permit applications have been filed for the Centennial project, and it is unlikely that any will be submitted before spring 2010. (Updated and corrected December 5, 2009)
Letter from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources notifying Powertech (USA) Inc. that its application for a Class III Underground Injection Control permit for the Dewey-Burdock ISL uranium project has been determined to be incomplete, stating "the application lacks sufficient detail to address fundamental questions related to whether the project can be conducted in a controlled manner to protect ground water resources." August 6, 2009 (PDF 2,451 KB) This 41 page response to Powertech's permit application is a scathing critique of the company's proposed approach to in-situ mining in the Inyan Kara Aquifer Group near Edgemont, South Dakota. As detailed in the SD DENR's response, the permit application is vague and non-specific, omits large amounts of critical data, and contains dozens of typographical, spelling, grammatical, and other errors.
News Release - "Powertech to Submit Updated Technical Reports" - Powertech Uranium Corp. - May 7, 2009 (PDF 139 KB) Note: The British Columbia Securities Commission is reviewing Powertech's securities filings and press releases, and has determined that the company's 2008 Annual Information Form does not comply with regulations regarding disclosure. The BCSC also required Powertech to disclose that it has not conducted independent preliminary feasibility studies for either the Centennial or Dewey-Burdock projects.
Abstract - "In Situ Recovery of Uranium: Regulatory Status and Economic Benefits", a presentation by Mark Hollenbeck - Dewey Burdock Project Manager, Powertech (USA), Inc. to the 2009 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference - April 23, 2009 (PDF 28 KB) Note: This promotional pitch for the Dewey Burdock uranium project was given at a scientific conference partially supported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Hollenbeck claims that the permitting application process for the project is "nearly finished". Permit applications were submitted to the EPA and the NRC in early 2009, and a Large Scale Mine Permit application has yet to be submitted to the South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources.
Powertech (USA) Inc. Dewey-Burdock Project Underground Injection Control Permit Application - Prepared for U.S. EPA Region 8 - December 2008 - Released March 2, 2009
Health Impacts From Exposure to Radionuclides and Heavy Metals
Raymond-Whish S, et al. 2007. Drinking water with uranium below the U.S. EPA water standard causes estrogen receptor-dependent responses in female mice. Environ Health Perspect 115(12):1711-6. (PDF 185 KB) Note: This paper provides evidence that uranium is an endocrine-disrupting chemical and populations exposed to environmental uranium should be followed for increased risk of fertility problems and reproductive cancers.
Uranium - Human Health Fact Sheet
Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division - August 2005 (pdf)
Radium - Human Health Fact Sheet
Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division - August 2005 (pdf)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Last updated November 6, 2007
Uranium - Radiation Protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Last updated November 15, 2007
Radium - Radiation Protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Last updated November 13, 2007
Toxicological Profile for Uranium
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - September 1999 (pdf 6.8MB) (html)
Toxicological Profile for Radium
Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation- BEIR VII Phase 2
Board on Radiation Effects Research, National Research Council of the National Academies - 2006
Grand Rounds: Nephrotoxicity in a Young Child Exposed to Uranium from Contaminated Well Water - Magdo, et al.
Environmental Health Perspectives - August 2007 (pdf) (html)
Radium-226-Contaminated Drinking Water: Hypothesis on an Exposure Pathway in a Population with Elevated Childhood Leukemia - Hoffmann, et al.
Colorado Division Of Mining, Reclamation and Safety
Wyoming In-Situ Leach Uranium Mines
Notification of another leak in the East Storage Pond at the Smith Ranch-Highland ISL uranium mining operation - Glenrock, Wyoming (The initial water sample had 510 ppm of uranium. The federal drinking water standard is 0.03 ppm.) - Cameco Resources - April 28, 2009 (PDF 47 KB) See the February 27, 2009 leak notice here.
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.
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 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.
Questions about uranium - Dustin Bleizeffer -
DEC accuses uranium mine of violations - Associated Press - Billings Gazette - April 5, 2008
Probe finds uranium mine violations - Dustin Bleizeffer -
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
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.
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)
"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.
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
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 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.
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.
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)
DOE Announces Policy for Managing Excess Uranium Inventory - U.S Department of Energy - March 12, 2008
Decommissioning of U.S. Uranium Production Facilities - U.S. Department of Energy - February 1995
"Groundwater Restoration at Uranium In-Situ Recovery Mines, South Texas Coastal Plain" - Susan Hall - Open-File Report 2009–1143, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Central Energy Resources Science Center - 2009 (PDF 3,236 KB, 36 pages) USGS geologist Susan Hall concludes that "Regarding the original question of whether or not groundwater has been restored to baseline in Texas uranium ISR well fields, it was observed that no well field for which final sample results were found in TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) records returned every element to baseline."
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.)
Water: The Key to ISR Uranium Mining - Interview of Glenn Catchpole by James Finch
www.stockinterview.com - April 9, 2007
The water factor in uranium mining - James Finch - May 24, 2007
How to Evaluate an ISL Uranium Company - James Finch
www.stockinterview.com - April 27, 2006
Guidebook on environmental impact assessment for in situ leach mining projects
International Atomic Energy Agency - May 2005 (pdf)
Injection Well Bibliography - Class III Wells - Uranium Solution Wells
Ground Water Protection Council - August 1995
Factors Affecting Efficient Aquifer Restoration at In Situ Uranium Mine Sites - Osiensky & Williams
Ground Water Monitoring Review - Spring 1990
Discussion on aquifer restoration at uranium in situ leach sites - Hancock
International Journal of Mine Water - 1985 (pdf)
Aquifer restoration at uranium in situ leach sites - Anastasi & Williams
International Journal of Mine Water - 1984 (pdf)
Groundwater restoration with in situ uranium leach mining - Charbeneau
Groundwater Contamination - 1984 (pdf)
Effect of Microorganisms on In Situ Uranium Mining - Yates, et al.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology - October 1983 (pdf)
RESTORING GROUND WATER QUALITY FOLLOWING IN SITU LEACHING - Daryl R. Tweeton - 1981 (pdf)
In Situ Mining Research - Proceedings: Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminar, Denver, Colorado, August 5, 1981 (pdf)
Impacts of Uranium In-Situ Leaching - www.wise-uranium.org
In Situ Leaching (ISL) Technical References - www.sea-us.org.au/
ISL - Out of Sight, Out of Mind - www.sea-us.org.au/
ISL's Jivin' Jargon! - www.sea-us.org.au/
WYOMING URANIUM: FUEL OF THE FUTURE! A Description of the Uranium In-Situ Mining Process - Wyoming Mining Association
In Situ Leaching Method - www.uraniumsa.org
Uranium In-Situ Mining - A Brief Description - www.stockinterview.com
Wyoming: The True Birthplace of In Situ
Recovery Mining - www.stockinterview.com
Reversing Mother Nature - The Gurus Explain ISR Mining, Step by Step - www.stockinterview.com
Investigation of aerial dispersion of radioactive dust from an open-pit uranium mine by passive vinyl collectors - Pettersson & Koperski