Environmental Review and Permitting

An environmental and radiation protection program is required at uranium mills by the Radiation Control Program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The agency’s regulations are as strict as or stricter than the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). An objective of these regulations is to prevent environmental contamination and to keep radiation doses on and off site to levels that are as low as reasonably achievable.

At a very early stage, regulatory licensing standards require that environmental studies begin on the specific site and surrounding areas. The data collected establishes a baseline condition for the site and surrounding area and provides Energy Fuels, the regulatory agencies and the public with a basis to which they can compare data collected during operation of the mill. Energy Fuels has collected extensive baseline information on groundwater, surface water, geology, soils, vegetation, wildlife, radiation, climate and air quality.

The baseline data, engineering designs, and health and safety plans were submitted as part of the license application for the mill to the CDPHE in November, 2009. The Piñon Ridge Mill plans and an assessment of the project impacts are summarized in the Environmental Report (ER) that was submitted with the license application. The license application, ER and related documents are posted on the CDPHE's website (see link below). After consideration of comments from the public, Montrose County, and other Colorado state agencies, the CDPHE issued a license to Energy Fuels on March 7, 2011 conditionally approving the construction and operation of the Piñon Ridge Mill.

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/rad/rml/energyfuels/