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Uranium RECOVERY in colorado

Jennifer Opila, Radioactive Materials Unit Leader State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Uranium RECOVERY in colorado. Uranium imports. Uranium production in the US today. Uranium in Colorado. Uranium in Colorado.

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Uranium RECOVERY in colorado

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  1. Jennifer Opila, Radioactive Materials Unit Leader State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Uranium RECOVERY in colorado

  2. Uranium imports

  3. Uranium production in the US today

  4. Uranium in Colorado

  5. Uranium in Colorado • Historical operations in various states of license transfer • Cotter Canon City Conventional Uranium Mill • Energy Fuels Conventional Uranium Mill • First one licensed in the US in 25 years! • Potential In-Situ Uranium Operation

  6. Uravan-Then (circa 1950)

  7. Uravan Now- Awaiting license transfer

  8. Uravan-Now

  9. Cotter Canon City Uranium Mill • First licensed by AEC in the 1950s, Colorado took over license in 1968 when we became an Agreement State • Operated intermittently until 2006 • Compliance and environmental issues • Decommissioning begins 2009, estimated completion for buildings 2012 • Continuing decommissioning of facility, impoundments and groundwater remediation • Heap Leach?

  10. CCD Tanks - Before

  11. CCD Tanks Demo

  12. CCD Tanks - After

  13. Energy Fuels Uranium Mill • License application submitted November 2009 • License issued January 2011 • First conventional uranium mill licensed in 25 years • Lawsuit filed against the Department January 2011 • Construction delayed until Spring 2012

  14. Energy Fuels Site, Paradox Valley, Colorado-Utah Border

  15. Site of Energy Fuels Uranium Mill Paradox Valley, CO

  16. regulating a conventionalUranium Mill • Heavy Staff Commitment for a Medium-Sized Program • Radiation Program Manager- ½ time on Uranium Program • Uranium Licensing and Inspections Staff - 2 FTE out of 21 FTE • Annual Inspections require another 2-3 inspectors for at least 3 weeks • Licensing of Energy Fuels Pinon Ridge Mill • 14 months, ~2400 billable hours, $370,000 billed to licensee • 2.5 FTE focused on application review • ~10 other individuals significant time for physical sciences, engineering, legal and community involvement- NOT JUST HEALTH PHYSICISTS • Also requested input from other State Agencies where appropriate

  17. Colorado Regulatory Framework • Environmental Impact Analysis required, not Federal Environmental Impact Statement • Statute requires that transportation, socio-economics factor in decision • Specific Timelines ONLY 14 Months to make decision • 2 public meetings that are transcribed and put into the record. • County Commissioners get $50K from applicant to review EIA

  18. Progress in regulating Uranium mills • Design improvements • Regulatory Improvements

  19. Questions?Jennifer OpilaState of Colorado radiation Programjennifer.opila@state.co.us303-692-3403

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