Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Radiation Program
Energy Fuels Pinon Ridge Uranium Mill Licensing
State approves Energy Fuels request to defer
financial assurance payments
Air Pollution Control Permit Information
Radioactive
Materials License
Decision
Post-License
Decision Correspondence and Reports
2012
Documents
2011 Documents
Post-Application
Correspondence and Reports
2010 Documents
2009
Documents
Application and
Reports
Pre-Application
Correspondence and Reports
2009 Documents
2008 Documents
2007 Documents
License Approval Process
Summary - Regulation of Uranium
Recovery in Colorado
For More Information
Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
Introduction
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is the
sole regulator and licensing authority for certain radioactive
materials uses in the state under the Colorado Radiation Control Act
(25-11-101 et seq. C.R.S.) and an
agreement between the Governor and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC). The federal government is not actively
involved in regulating these materials in Colorado, but does review
the state's Radiation Program to ensure that it meets or exceeds NRC
standards. The review process required by Colorado statute is
designed to ensure protection of both public health and the
environment. It is at least as stringent as the NRC process,
and encompasses a wide range of regulatory, technical, scientific
and socioeconomic factors.
On November 18, 2009, Energy Fuels Resources Corp. submitted an
application for a radioactive materials license that is required
before the company can begin construction on a proposed uranium mill
in Montrose County. The proposed site for the mill
is
approximately 12 miles west of Naturita in the Paradox Valley.
The proposed mill would process up to 500 tons of ore per day, and
would be the first uranium/vanadium mill built in the United States
in more than 25 years.
License Approval Process
The state process for reviewing the Energy Fuels license
application and providing appropriate public participation
opportunities follows:
- November 18, 2009: Energy Fuels submitted its
application package, including the Environmental Report, to the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the
Department), Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division,
Radiation Program.
- December 18, 2009: The Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment determined the application package
is complete. (NOTE: This step simply confirms that
all of the pieces of the application package are included.
There is no public comment on the completeness of the
application package, nor does completeness imply technical
adequacy.)
- Technical adequacy evaluation and public comment: The
determination that the application package is complete triggers
a comprehensive evaluation of the technical adequacy of the
application. Public comments on the project are now
accepted. The Department will issue formal Requests for
Information (RFIs) to applicants throughout the technical
evaluation to clarify items and answer evolving questions about
the project.
- January 21, 2010: Energy Fuels first public
meeting in Nucla, Colorado.
- February 17, 2010: Second public meeting
in Montrose, Colorado
- Within 90 days of first public meeting:
Montrose County Commissioners' comments on the Environmental
Report must be received by the Department.
- April 19, 2010: The Montrose County
Commissioners provided comments on the Environmental Report to
the Department. Since the Commissioners responded, the
Department has 270 days to determine whether a license is
rejected, issued as requested, or issued with conditions.
- If the Montrose County Commissioners had not responded:
The Department would have had 360 days after the second
public meeting to determine whether a license is rejected,
issued as requested, or issued with conditions.
The Department consulted other regulatory agencies as part of
the review. As described in the regulations, the Department
prepared a written analysis of the project and a justification
of its decision. The Department issued a
Decision Document on January 5, 2011, 12 days prior to the statutory
deadline of January 17, 2011. Because the application was
approved, the Department also issued a preliminary license on that
date. The decision document, which includes an environmental
impact analysis, provides the rationale for the
Department's decision and responds to public comments received
throughout the technical review process. The Radiation Control
Act specifies that the Department will follow the appeal process in
the Colorado
Administrative Procedures Act (24-4-101 et. seq. C.R.S.),
which
provides for appeal of the decision within 60 days of approval.
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For More Information
The application and related documents are available to the public
on this web page and at public repositories located at:
Nucla Public Library
544 Main Street
Nucla, CO 81424
970-864-2166
Montrose County Planning and Development
317 S. 2nd Street
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-6688
Questions can be sent to
cdphe.hmenergyfuels@state.co.us
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