BLM opens public review of uranium mining project
— June 25, 2013
(Press release) The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office (BFO) announces the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) on the Hank Unit of the Nichols Ranch uranium in situ recovery (ISR) mining project for public review. The Hank Unit project area is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Gillette, Wyo.
The Hank Unit encompasses approximately 2,250 acres with proposed disturbances of about 155 acres. BLM administered surface lands are approximately 303 acres with 35 acres of proposed disturbance. Proposed facilities within the Hank Unit include well fields for injection, production and monitoring, wellhead houses, a satellite processing facility, an access road network and pipeline system. Final reclamation and abandonment of the site is included in the plan.
Uranerz Energy Corporation filed a Plan of Operations to use BLM surface within the Hank Unit of their Nichols Ranch In-Situ Uranium Mine for which, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Material License in July 2011. The BLM has prepared an EA to analyze the environmental effects of in-situ mining on public lands.
The 30-day public comment period runs from June 24 through July 24, 2013. The EA is available for review at the BLM-Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY and on the project website at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/bfo/nichols-ranch.html. Comments should be addressed to Thomas Bills – NEPA and Environmental Coordinator, BLM – Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY, 82834. Comments may also be emailed to NicholsRanch_Uranium_WY@blm.gov.
For more information, contact Thomas Bills, NEPA and Environmental Coordinator, at (307) 684-1133.