PERMFILE55583 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

It is stated within the Plan of Operations (POO) that "ore would be transported to the White Mesa Mill or another existing uranium mill in the region." This description is not sufficient. Depending on where the ore is milled may result in major differences in environmental, socio-economic, and transportation impacts associated with the Whirlwind Mine. Indeed, recent reports indicate that the White Mesa Mill operators aze accepting ore only at rates drastically below the current uranium spot price. This could directly affect the profitability of the Whirlwind Mine and the operator's ability to successfully implement required mitigation measures or account for future unanticipated impacts. Thus, DRMS should require the operator to specify mill location to be analyzed so that the environmental analysis performed will adequately represent impacts associated with the mining and transportation of ore. Further, to the extent processing of Whirlwind ore at the White Mesa mill is tenable, as numerous other Western Colorado mines may also utilize Denison Mine Corporafion's White Mesa Mill, cumulative impacts associated with mining and ore transportation are potentially great. Transportation: Impacts associated with the transportation of ore, to mill sites, represents a significant hazard associated with the mining of uranium. Concerns over accidents and truck- overturns aze especially troublesome considering the radioactive nature of the uranium ore in transport and the potential for spills into rivers and streams, azeas within close proximity to businesses and residences, and county roads and highways. Transportation frequency at the rate of 20 roundtrips per week, increasing to 40 roundtrips per week, as defined by the anticipated increase in production, would represent a significant increase in local traffic throughout many of the proposed transportation routes. These impacts would require substantial road and right of way maintenance. It is stated within the POO, that although primary haulage would be via Mesa County roads to Colorado Highway 141, "three secondary routes via Grand County, Utah roads to Utah highways may also be used." We expect DRMS to analyze all transportation alternatives to identify impacts. When analyzing impacts associated with the transportation of uranium ore from the Whirlwind mine site, cumulative analysis associated with the regional uranium mining boom must also be studied and considered. Revived uranium ore production at the Whirlwind Mine would increase mining related air and water impacts, and require a sharp increase in haulage truck traffic to distant processing facilities. The Whirlwind Plan of Operations, as proposed, would result in: • unearthing 200 tons of uranium ore per day, 4000 tons of uranium ore per month • average truck traffic of up to 40 round trips per week to/from White Mesa (Blanding, UT), or other mill • uranium ore haul routes adjacent to major waterways • transport through several Colorado Counties • transport of uranium ore through several Colorado communities