30-Day Review for Completeness Underway

TELLURIDE – The corporation hoping to build the nation’s first uranium mill in nearly three decades in Paradox Valley filed an application for a radioactive materials license with the radiation program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last week.

The filing by Energy Fuels Resources Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Toronto-based Energy Fuels Inc., has triggered the start of a State of Colorado comprehensive technical review of the proposed Piñon Ridge Mill, to be located about 12 miles west of Naturita and seven miles east of Bedrock along State Highway 90.

The CDPHE now has 30 days from its receipt of the application – until December 18 – to determine whether it is complete.

“I am confident that the Energy Fuels technical team has prepared a thorough and accurate license application that meets all regulations administered by CDPHE,” said company CEO George Glasier, in a press release.

The operating life of the mill, which Energy Fuels expects will employ up to 85 people and operate 24 hours a day, 350 days a year, is 40 years at a projected milling rate of 500 tons of ore per day, according to the environmental report included with the application.

However, with proper regulatory approval, that operating life could be extended, the report states.

If the application is deemed complete, the CDPHE will launch a comprehensive technical evaluation, and begin accepting public comments.

If any part of the application is determined to be missing, “We would identify the deficiency and ask them to resubmit” the missing portion, said CDPHE Community Involvement Manager Warren Smith, indicating that the 30-day review period would them recommence.

Energy Fuels must hold a first public meeting within 45 days of a completeness determination, and a second public meeting must be held within 30 days of that.

In the meantime 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 CDPHE must approve or deny the application within 270 days after receipt of the BOCC’s comments, or within 360 days after the second public meeting, if the BOCC does not respond.

“Colorado has the most stakeholder-focused review process for uranium licensing in the United States,” said Steve Tarlton, the CDPHE’s radiation program manager, in a press release.

“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,” he continued.

In addition to the mandatory public meetings hosted by Energy Fuels, the CDPHE will will hold public meetings in affected communities during the review process, its press release stated.

In September, the Montrose BOCC unanimously approved a special permit allowing the construction and operation of the Piñon Ridge Mill on 880 acres in Paradox Valley zoned for agricultural use.

In late October the conservation group Sheep Mountain Alliance brought suit against the Montrose BOCC alleging that Chairman David White, Vice Chairman Gary Ellis, and Commissioner Ron Henderson violated county zoning rules and abused their discretion in doing so.

The suit also charged that Montrose County Planning and Development Director Steve White abused his discretion and acted beyond his authority when making decisions regarding the special use permit application filed in July 2008.

“Now it’s going to get a serious review on the technical side,” said SMA attorney Travis Stills, of the Durango-based Energy Minerals Law Center of the application.

“I think the state is going to give it a lot more scrutiny than did the Montrose county commissioners.”

Documents related to the Energy Fuels Piñon Ridge Mill are available at www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/rad/rml/energyfuels/index.htm and at the Nucla Public Library at 544 Main Street in Nucla, 970/864-2166, and Montrose County Planning and Development at 317 S. Second St. in Montrose, 970/249-6688.

Public comment on the application will be taken at public meetings (dates to be announced), via email at 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.