Press Release-14-004, NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement on Dewey-Burdock Uranium Recovery Project
| ML14030A402 | |
| Person / Time | |
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| Site: | 04009075 |
| Issue date: | 01/30/2014 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
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| Press Release-14-004 | |
| Download: ML14030A402 (1) | |
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No: 14-004 January 30, 2014 CONTACT: Maureen Conley, 301-415-8200 NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement on Dewey-Burdock Uranium Recovery Project The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the proposed Dewey-Burdock in-situ uranium recovery project in Custer and Fall River counties in South Dakota. The report concludes there are no environmental impacts that would preclude licensing the facility.
Powertech (USA) Inc. submitted a license application for the facility on Aug. 10, 2009. The license would authorize Powertech to construct, operate and ultimately decommission the facility. The facility would use the in-situ recovery process to extract uranium from underground ore and convert the recovered uranium into yellowcake for use in the production of nuclear fuel.
The NRC report analyzes environmental impacts specific to the Dewey-Burdock site and mitigation strategies to reduce or avoid adverse effects on the surrounding environment. The staff completed its analysis in March 2013 of the safety aspects of the application in a separate technical review. That review concluded that Powertechs application complies with NRC regulations. The NRC is also reviewing the projects potential impacts on historic and cultural resources and would only issue a license after that process is completed. Later this year, an NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral arguments from interveners that raised concerns about the project.
The SEIS for the proposed Dewey-Burdock uranium recovery project is available on the NRC website as Supplement 4 to NUREG-1910, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities. More information on the application and the staffs review is also available on the NRC website.