Energy fuels: take it slow

Last November, the Daily Press published a special enterprise reporting project on the Energy Fuels Pinon Ridge mill, uranium mining and human health. It led us to the conclusion that there is much to be mulled over when considering the permitting of a uranium mill. We suggested two appropriate moves by Montrose County. One, declare a moratorium of a year; and two, at least wait until the State of Colorado defines through a state permit what type of beast the mill would be before issuing a special use permit. 

The Press’ report, “Uranium & Health, the Pinon Ridge Mill,” adopted the methodology of an environmental impact statement, at least in regard to human health. We treated the mill as a part of mining processing, or development as the county defines it. We then examined what the impacts of the mill would be on the health of miners, transporters, mill workers and neighbors. The mining occupational health analysis indicated definite risks beyond normal occupations. The milling occupational health was a bit of a mystery. One revelation from the special section: according to Phil Egidi of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment’s (CDPHE), the state leaves room for creativity in permits based on community and regional requests. (The entire report is on our Web site: montrosepress.com under the link ‘special sections.’)

What seems to be clear is that the whole picture is not in front of the Montrose County Planning Commission, Steve White, the county planning director, or the planning department. The potential process feed for the mill has been a moveable feast with different visions of ore, plus municipal uranium filter wastes with the possibility of processing in-situ mining feedstock thrown into discussions. 

Energy Fuels CEO George Glasier said last week he was not looking to process the in-situ mining concentrates. That should help in narrowing down potential feed. But keep in mind, we do not know exactly how the mill yellowcake circuit will work and what alterations are needed simply to deal with municipal water waste. Nor whether there should be a geographic limit to where these municipal water wastes will come from, nor how they will be transported.   

A major 1999 uranium spill en route to the Canon City mill was carrying low level wastes and not ore from a nearby mine. EF will have their work cut out for them to ensure the safety of their ore trucks coming from the Whirlwind and Energy Fuel mines in the winter or during summer monsoonal rains, much less dealing with long-range traffic from out of the region of other sources of feed.

Seismic issues were also not really answered in the hearings in spite of the great assurance from one of EF’s consultants to the planning commission how the geologic fault on the mill site is not active.  

A number of mill skeptics in their testimony have suggested waiting until the state issues a permit and then considering a county special use permit, since there is no state requirement that the county go first. As Egidi said, “We take as much time as needed to ensure that the mill is not a vehicle for contamination.”   

A special use permit issued quickly will make it easier for Glasier and EF to raise money. One fundamental question: Can we be ensured that this site and this facility will not leave the Paradox Valley with leaking and radioactive tailing cells in a 100 years? If Glasier can build and operate the first environmentally sound uranium mill in the United States, he will have achieved something. But can he? 

Mill opponents, lead by Durango-based Energy Minerals Law Center, have claimed that there are legal problems with special permitting a uranium mill that could also be a radioactive and hazardous waste facility in an agricultural zone. Whether or not this proves to have legal legs, it appears that Montrose County could face litigation over this permitting process.

We have not changed our minds that Montrose County and the Planning Commission would be wise to go slow. It would be wise for the Planning Commission to defer a decision and continue to gather information in consultation with the state and with neutral experts, not selected by EF but by the county, who can help answer questions on the long-range impacts of this mill and the West End of the county. Once EF has defined, with CDPHE, what the mill will be and Montrose County can be assured they know what they would potentially permit, they can make their decision.

If it is positive, then George Glasier and Energy Fuels, with two permits in hand, will have the opportunity to raise his funding quickly. If not, so be it.