Action Alert! EPA Public Comments Needed for Dewey-Burdock Uranium Mining
Dear Interested Party:
The EPA Region 8 Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program has issued Draft Permits and a proposed Aquifer Exemption Record of Decision for the proposed Dewey-Burdock Uranium In-Situ Recovery Site located near Edgemont, South Dakota. Public notices are being published this week in local newspapers.
The EPA has scheduled four public hearings at the dates, times and locations listed below.
The Administrative Record for these UIC Program proposed actions is available for review at the EPA website shown below.
The public comment period begins today, March 6, 2017. The EPA is seeking comments through May 19, 2017.
How to Comment:
You may comment on the proposed actions in writing, using email, fax or mail.
Please submit comments to: Valois Shea (shea.valois@epa.gov) Fax: 303-312-6741 U.S. EPA Region 8 Mail Code: 8WP-SUI 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, Colorado 80202-1129
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 is requesting public comment by May 19, 2017, on two Underground Injection Control (UIC) Draft Area Permits and one associated proposed aquifer exemption decision for the Dewey-Burdock uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) site located near Edgemont, South Dakota, under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act and UIC program regulations. The Dewey-Burdock site is located in southwestern Custer County and northwestern Fall River County, on the Wyoming/South Dakota border.
The EPA Region 8 UIC Program is issuing two Draft UIC Area Permits to Powertech (USA) Inc., Suite #140, 5575 Denver Technical Center Parkway, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, for injection activities related to uranium recovery. One is a UIC Class III Area Permit for injection wells for the ISR of uranium; the second is a UIC Class V Area Permit for deep injection wells that will be used to dispose of ISR process waste fluids into the Minnelusa Formation after treatment to meet radioactive waste and hazardous waste standards. The EPA is also proposing an aquifer exemption approval in connection with the Class III Area Permit to exempt the uranium-bearing portions of the Inyan Kara Group aquifers.
Written comments must be received by midnight Mountain Time on May 19, 2017.
The EPA will hold the following public hearings:
The public may also provide written and/or verbal comments during the EPA public hearings listed below.
Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(with a break from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
Niobrara Lodge 803 US Highway 20 Valentine, Nebraska 69201
Monday-Tuesday, May 8-9, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(with a break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
The Best Western Ramkota Hotel 2111 North Lacrosse Street Rapid City, South Dakota 57701
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(with a break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
The Mueller Center 801 South 6th Street Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747
Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(with a break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
St. James Catholic Church 310 3rd Avenue Edgemont, South Dakota 57735
Information Available for Review: All information submitted by the applicant and generated by the EPA during permit application review is available for public review as part of the administrative record and will be available on the EPA Region 8 UIC Program website:
https://www.epa.gov/uic/administrative-record-dewey-burdock-class-iii-and-class-v-injection-well-draft-area-permits
Available documents include the permit applications, draft permits, fact sheet documents and other supporting documents. A paper version of the administrative record will be available for public viewing in the EPA Region 8 Library located at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, excluding federal holidays. All visitors to the Region 8 office must show a picture ID such as a current driver's license. Visitors must also register at the guard desk in the lobby before proceeding to the Library. The administrative record will be available for public review as of March 6, 2017.
In addition to seeking comments on the Class III and V draft area permits, the EPA is seeking public comment on the identification of traditional cultural properties at the Dewey-Burdock Project Site Area of Potential Effects, on the potential adverse effects of the proposed project, and on measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate potential adverse effects on historic and traditional cultural properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and 36 CFR § 800.2(d) and § 800.6(a)(4).
The EPA is also seeking comment on two options for approval of the aquifer exemption that Powertech requested related to the Class III permit application. The two options are discussed in the Aquifer Exemption Draft Record of Decision available on the EPA Region 8 UIC Program website.
The EPA has performed an Environmental Justice (EJ) analysis for the Dewey-Burdock UIC permitting actions and is seeking comment on the Draft EJ analysis document.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email.
Valois
_________________________
Valois Shea
U.S. EPA Region 8
MailCode: 8WP-SUI
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
Phone: (303) 312-6276
Fax: (303) 312-6741
Email: shea.valois@epa.gov