And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Source: <A HREF="http://www.sltrib.com/01211999/business/76533.htm"> http://www.sltrib.com/01211999/business/76533.htm ========================================================= January 21, 1999 Uranium Mill A Permit Away From Opening BY JIM WOOLF THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The last major permit needed to re-start the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill near Lake Powell in Garfield County could be issued within the next several weeks by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. But don't expect the mill to open anytime soon. World demand for uranium is so low that the mill cannot operate profitably today. ``We are trying to get our ducks in order for when the market turns,'' said Hal Herron, vice president, U.S. Energy Corp., a small, publicly traded company in the Riverton, Wyo., that owns the mill. Shootaring Canyon is about 10 miles north of Lake Powell's Bullfrog Marina near the tiny community of Ticaboo. A uranium mine is near the mill. Shootaring Canyon was the last uranium mill built in the United States and operated for only two months before the price of uranium collapsed in 1982. It has been maintained in a ``stand by'' condition ever since. U.S. Energy purchased the mill and mine in 1993, and slowly has been refurbishing and updating the equipment ever since. One of the last steps to resumption of operations is obtaining a new ground water protection permit. The state in December proposed to issue the permit with the condition that U.S. Energy upgrade the clay and synthetic liners in its tailings pond and install additional ground water monitoring wells, said Bill Sinclair, director of the Utah Division of Radiation Control. Written comment on the proposed permit approval will be accepted until Jan. 27. Herron is optimistic about the future of uranium, noting ``we are producing half of what we are consuming.'' Someday soon, he says, there will be a shortage, prices will rise, and the mill will be ready to help fill the demand. ``The market is coming,'' he said. ``Trust me.'' Not everyone is so optimistic. ``The market just plain isn't there for another uranium mill in Utah, or anyplace else,'' said Preston Truman, head of the Downwinders citizen-watchdog group and a former member of the Utah Board of Radiation Control. He contends Russia and some of the other former republics of the Soviet Union have stockpiled huge supplies of uranium. ``If prices go up, they will flood the market,'' said Truman, leaving no room for uranium from Utah. With no demand for its uranium, Truman fears U.S. Energy will shift to ``alternate feeds'' -- certain radioactive wastes that can be processed to extract uranium. Processing this material at a uranium mill is less expensive than sending it to a disposal facility. Another Utah uranium mill, the White Mesa facility near Blanding, has remained in operation by processing these alternate feeds. That shift from traditional uranium ores has led to accusations from environmentalists and even state regulators that the Blanding mill is slowly being transformed into a waste-disposal facility rather than a uranium mill. Shootaring Canyon could follow the same path at the White Mesa mill, said Truman. Herron acknowledged that alternative feeds are a possibility at Shootaring Canyon, but stressed that the company's primary objective is to mine and mill uranium ore. ``If the market doesn't turn in time, we may have to look at other methods to keep that mill open,'' he said. ``That's not our intent right now.'' ========================================================= ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DOEWatch List --- Subscribe online: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/doewatch Quote from Truman's diary July 25, 1945: "We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesized in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark. Anyway we think we have found the way to cause the disintegration of the atom." "The Doctor of the future will give No Medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." -Attributed to Thomas Alva Edison <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER=-=-=>>>> If you think you are too small to make a difference; try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.... African Proverb <<<<=-=http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." Please Check it before you send it at: http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm
