BLM seeks public comments on plans to expand uranium mine

MONTICELLO — The Bureau of Land Management Monticello field office is seeking public comments on an environmental assessment for a proposal to modify a mine plan for the Daneros uranium mine in San Juan County.

In response to several requests, the BLM is extending the comment period two additional weeks. Comments will be accepted through close of business, Aug. 1.

The proposed modification would expand facilities at the Daneros Portal Area, add new facilities at two historic mine sites – the Bullseye and South Portal Areas – and construct additional vent holes and associated access roads to support future mining.

The mine surface area would be expanded from 4 1/2 acres to 46 acres.

Under the modified plan, total production of uranium ore is expected to increase from 100,000 tons over seven years to 500,000 tons over 20 years.

The environmental assessment analyzes potential impacts of proposed changes to Energy Fuels’ operating plan. The proposed modification would allow the company to continue mining a uranium deposit while ensuring that operations are conducted in an environmentally sound manner and with a focus on human health and safety.

To minimize the amount of surface disturbance at any one time, much of the construction and mining would be completed in phases. Concurrent reclamation would be completed on areas no longer needed for operations. At the end of the project, all disturbed acres would be reclaimed.

The environmental assessment provides in-depth analysis of several issues identified during scoping including air quality, water quality and human health and safety. The environmental assessment and specific project information, including maps, are available at the BLM ePlanning website.

Comments may be submitted electronically through the ePlanning website or submitted by mail to: Attn: Daneros EA Comment, BLM Monticello Field Office, P.O. Box 7, Monticello, UT 84535.

Commenters should be aware that their entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can ask the BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. The BLM will not consider anonymous comments.

All submissions from organizations and businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

For further information, contact Ted McDougall at (435)587-1500. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf – or TDD – may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact McDougall during normal business hours. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The BLM will reply during normal business hours.

About the BLM

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.

According to the BLM’s website, the BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.

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3 Comments

  • Accountable July 9, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    Who owns the rights? Who’s profiting? Where is our uranium going?

    –Bill and Hillary Clinton had helped a Canadian financier named Frank Giustra and a small Canadian company obtain a lucrative uranium mining concession from the dictator in Kazakhstan;
    –The same Canadian company, renamed Uranium One, bought uranium concessions in the United States;
    –The Russian government came calling and sought to buy that Canadian company for a price that would mean big profits for the Canadian investors;
    –For the Russians to buy that Canadian company, it would require the approval of the Obama administration, including Hillary’s State Department, because uranium is a strategically important commodity;
    –Nine shareholders in Uranium One just happened to provide more than $145 million in donations to the Clinton Foundation in the run-up to State Department approval;
    –Some of the donations, including those from the Chairman of Uranium One, Ian Teler, were kept secret, even though the Clintons promised to disclose all donations;
    –Hillary’s State Department approved the deal;
    –The Russian government now owns 20 percent of U.S. uranium assets.

    • Real Life July 10, 2016 at 11:51 pm

      Very interesting. If true, the left will simply disregard it as propaganda from the right though.

      • RealMcCoy July 11, 2016 at 1:24 pm

        It’s true, and easily verifiable.
        The problem is, Hillary can simply say “what difference does it make now?” and it will all go away.
        Have you noticed that whenever Hillary gets extra scrutiny in the news, there is suddenly another false flag bringing national tragedy?
        Remember- her voting base doesn’t care about her criminal records anyways.

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