Energy Fuels Submits Radioactive Materials
License for
Proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill
DENVER—The radiation program of the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment received an
application today for a radioactive materials license from
Energy Fuels Resources Corp. The license is required before the
company can construct its proposed Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill
about 12 miles west of Naturita, Colo., in the Paradox Valley.
If approved, the 500-tons-per-day uranium/vanadium mill would be
the first new uranium mill to be built in the United States in
more than 25 years.
Receipt of the application triggers a
comprehensive technical review process by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment:
-
The Department of Public Health and
Environment has 30 days to determine whether the application
is complete.
-
If the application is determined to be
complete, the radiation program at the department will
launch a comprehensive technical evaluation of the
application and begin accepting public comments. Energy
Fuels must hold its first public meeting within 45 days of
the completeness determination.
-
Energy Fuels must hold its second
public meeting within 30 days of the first meeting.
-
The Montrose Board of County Commissioners
has 90 days from the first public meeting to submit its
review of the environmental report included with the
application.
-
The Department of Public Health and
Environment must approve or deny the application within
-
270 days of the response from the Board
of County Commissioners; or
-
360 days of the second public meeting,
if the Board of County Commissioners does not respond.
State officials will make no public statements
about the technical adequacy of the application during the
review period. The application and related documents will be
available to the public at
www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/rad/rml/energyfuels/index.htm and
at public repositories located at the following locations:
-
Nucla Public Library, 544 Main Street, Nucla,
CO 81424, 970-864-2166
-
Montrose County Planning and Development,
317 S. 2nd St., Montrose, CO 81401, 970-249-668
Interested individuals also may register for
notification of upcoming meetings, new Web postings and other
news at the above Web site.
Public comments will be accepted throughout the
review process. People may comment about the application at
public meetings to be announced, via e-mail to
cdphe.hmenergyfuels@state.co.us or by writing to Steve Tarlton
or Warren Smith at the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment Radiation Program, 4300 Cherry Creek Dr. So.,
Denver, CO 80246-1530. In addition to the mandatory public
meetings hosted by Energy Fuels, the Department of Public Health
and Environment also will hold public meetings in affected
communities during the review process.
“Colorado has the most stakeholder-focused
review process for uranium licensing in the United States,” said
Steve Tarlton, radiation program manager for the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment. “Our job is to
ensure that the license, if approved, will protect public health
and the environment. Our review will consider short- and
long-term impacts of the proposed mill, including radiological
and non-radiological impacts to water, air and wildlife, as well
as economic, social and transportation-related impacts.”
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State of Colorado,
Department
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