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Environment: <br />Uranium mining threatens water, fish, wildlife and the general condition of public lands <br />in Western Colorado. Apart from the specific impacts associated with the hauling and <br />milling, significant environmental degradation can result from increased surface <br />disturbance for uranium mining. <br />Major environmental threats to public lands posed by uranium mining include: <br />Impacts to water resources <br />o Recent State of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) leach <br />tests conducted on active DOE uranium leases with mines operated by <br />Cotter Corp. confirmed toxic releases at the mine sites. DMG found <br />waste-rock dumps and ore stockpiles with the potential to leach each of <br />the following chemicals in concentrations that exceeded either Chronic <br />Aquatic Life, agricultural standazds or both; aluminum, lead, selenium, <br />arsenic, uranium and zinc. The SPLP tests for the Whirlwind Mine <br />demonstrate similaz potential for water quality impacts. <br />Impact to air quality <br />o particulate matter (dust) will rise into the air when vegetation is removed <br />for topsoil collection, and any construction activities <br />o Blowing and fugitive dust from haul trucks to and from mine site <br />o Air quality would be lowered by exhaust emissions from vehicles and dust <br />from waste rock stockpile. (Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide from <br />vehicle exhausts and radon from waste rock and ore stockpiles as well as <br />ventilation exhaust fans) <br />o Dust resulting from mining operations would generate particulate matter <br />o Impacts to wildlife associated with blowinglfugitive radioactive dust. <br />long-term contamination due to a lack of permanent disposal options <br />• visual impacts from waste rock piles <br />Bonding: <br />We ask that the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DBMS) adequately <br />analyze proposed operations at the Whirlwind mine site in order to identify an adequate <br />bond required from the operator, Energy Fuels Resources Corporation, including the need <br />for long-term, even perpetual, water treatment at the site. <br />Temporary cessation limitations: <br />It appears that the proposed actions within the Whirlwind Mine application package <br />involve the reopening of two previously mined underground uranium mine sites (Packrat <br />Mine and Urantah Decline), thus, there may be an issue with regazd to temporary <br />cessation as it may apply here. <br />13.9 Ten Yeaz Limitation for Temporary Cessation <br />