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• The mine plan calls for the disturbance of about 24 acres (22.6 acres in Colorado and 1.4 <br />acres in Utah), much of which was previously disturbed and reclaimed by the former mine <br />operators. The largest single surface disturbance is the mine waste rock pile which <br />encompasses approximately 10 acres and is designed for the life of the mine. This pile <br />will extend eastward from the Whirlwind portal (formerly the Urantah Decline portal) <br />within the gently sloping area between County Road 5/10 to the north and the natural <br />hillside to the south. The north facing side of the waste dump will be graded, topsoiled, <br />and revegetated concurrently as the pile expands to minimize visual impacts and sediment <br />loading of surface water runoff. <br />Surface water will be routed around the waste pile and other surface facilities via <br />permanent diversion channels. Surface drainage within the disturbed area, with the <br />exception of the ore pad, will be routed to a sediment pond via ditches and culverts. <br />Drainage from the ore pad area will be routed to a concrete sump that will overflow to a <br />double-lined tank. The tank will also be used to store excess ground water pumped from <br />the underground workings. This water will be treated using a portable trailer-mounted <br />system prior to discharge to an ephemeral drainage that flows into Lumsden Canyon. <br />• <br />Pumping and discharge of mine water will only occur intermittently at the Whirlwind <br />Mine. Previous studies by Umetco demonstrated that the Salt Wash sandstone contains <br />very little water due to a limited recharge area. Most of the mine water originates from <br />underground seeps into the ore zone from small aquifers located above the mine in the <br />Burro Canyon Formation and the Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation. <br />Historic and more recently collected water quality data indicate that the mine water will <br />require treatment for radionuclides prior to discharge. Leach testing of the ore also <br />indicates a potential for generating elevated levels of radionuclides in surface water runoff <br />from stockpiled ore. As an added environmental precaution, the ore pad will be lined and <br />graded to drain to the treatment plant tank. All stockpiled ore will also be removed from <br />the mine surface area prior to future reclamation. <br />Energy Fuels is submitting a 112d permit for a Designated Mining Operation (DMO) <br />based on the need to treat ground water prior to discharge. An Environmental Protection <br /> <br />Whirlwind Mine 07 (rev. April 08) i-3 <br />