DURANGO – The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on the environmental assessment for a proposal to expand uranium and vanadium mining at the Sunday Mines in San Miguel County, southwest of Naturita. The complex includes five mines: the Sunday, West Sunday, Carnation, St. Jude, and Topaz mines. These underground mines are located within a two-mile area in Big Gypsum Valley.

Denison Mines Corporation has proposed to expand the existing waste-rock area at the Topaz Mine. Seven new vent holes and exploration drilling are proposed for the mines, as well, along with associated access roads. Approximately 77 acres of lands would be disturbed by the activity, as well as approximately 18 additional acres of BLM lands.

The mining complex is located within the Uravan Mineral Belt of western Colorado, one of the country’s leading producer of uranium.

Exploration in the area of the Topaz Mine began in 1977, with most development occurring through the mid-1980s, as Topaz went through a series of different ownerships. In 1990, Denison acquired all five mines and is conducting activities as a single operation.

The environmental assessment can be viewed at the Dolores Public Lands Office or the San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango. CDs are also available upon request. In addition, the EA will be available online at: HYPERLINK "http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/sjplc.html"www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/sjplc.html. Scroll down to a yellow star announcing “NEW” activity.

Public comment on the proposal will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 5; directed to Helen Mary Johnson, it can be mailed either to the San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO, 81301, or Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 84, Dolores, CO 81328. Electronic comments can be emailed to: HYPERLINK "mailto:CO_San_Juan_Resources@blm.gov"CO_San_Juan_Resources@blm.gov; Johnson can be reached at 970/385-1359.