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(b) Please clam: <br />• Will there be high and low grade ore stockpiles? <br />o No. The ore tends to have a relatively sharp contact with waste rock in this <br />depositional environment. The mining technique of "split- shooting" allows an <br />underground separation of ore from waste rock. <br />• What is the general grade for separation of ore from waste? <br />o Using gamma probes while raining and mucking materials, the miners are <br />generally able to classify any rock containing 0.08 percent eU3O8 or greater as <br />ore. It is mixed with the higher grades to provide a general grade of 0.20 percent <br />ore to be shipped to the mill for processing. <br />• What is the fate of any uranium bearing materials not considered ore? <br />o If mined, those materials will end up in the waste rock pile. The 2007 DOE <br />Programmatic EA determined average uranium concentration in waste rock was <br />0.040 percent uranium oxide (U3O8). These low grade waste rocks are common <br />place and as naturally occurring uranium in the Morrison Formation throughout <br />the Uravan Mineral Belt. <br />• Commitment that no ore will be left on the surface for any period of inactivity or <br />temporary cessation. <br />o As described in the mining plan, whenever two or more 20 -ton loads of <br />uranium/vanadium ore are brought to the surface and placed in the temporary ore <br />stockpile, ore hauling trucks will be called and the ore shipped to a mill. In the <br />event of cessation of mill availability, mining will cease or ore will be stored <br />underground until shipping can occur. Thus the intermittent status of the mining <br />application. <br />• How will the applicant monitor radiation levels on site to ensure that no adverse <br />impacts occur? <br />o MSHA requires radon measurements of the waste rock and temporary ore <br />stockpile areas in addition to within the underground mine for safety of <br />individuals. Other than radon buildups and inhalation of daughter products, the <br />low grades of uranium occurring in this mining district (less than 1 or 2 percent at <br />the highest grade in concentrated locations) are not harmful to individuals in <br />ordinary mining operations. <br />(c) Please see attached "memo from DAMS Geochemist David Bird" regarding SPLP testing <br />review. <br />This is addressed separately beginning on page 19 of this response. <br />(7) Facilities Evaluation: <br />Please see Memo from "DRMS Engineer Allen Sorensen" regarding facilities evaluations <br />Clearly address sections "a through f" of this section. <br />14 <br />