NRC: News Release - 2007-164 - Application for Uranium Recovery Operation in Sweetwater County, Wyo., Available for Public Review

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 07-164

December 7, 2007

APPLICATION FOR URANIUM RECOVERY OPERATION
IN SWEETWATER COUNTY, WYO., AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced today that an application from Lost Creek ISR, LLC, to construct and operate an in-situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery facility at the Lost Creek site in Sweetwater County, Wyo., is available on the agency’s Web site for public review.

The application is available at this address: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing-license-applications.html.

The NRC staff is currently reviewing the application, submitted Oct. 30, to determine whether it contains sufficient information to begin detailed environmental and safety reviews. If the application is deemed acceptable, the agency will formally docket it and publish a notice of opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing.

Lost Creek ISR, LLC, is a subsidiary of Ur-Energy USA, Inc., based in Ken Caryl Ranch, Colo. Lost Creek has offices in Littleton, Colo., and Casper, Wyo.

In-situ recovery of uranium involves injecting a leaching solution, typically water mixed with oxygen and sodium bicarbonate, through wells into underground ore to dissolve the uranium. The leach solution is pumped back to the surface and sent to a processing plant, where ion exchange is used to separate the uranium from the solution.

Before operations begin at Lost Creek, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with the assistance of the state of Wyoming, must exempt the groundwater aquifer from Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. After uranium recovery ceases, Lost Creek ISR, LLC, will be required to return the groundwater affected by operations to pre-operational baseline concentrations.

The Lost Creek application is the second application the NRC has received for a new in-situ leach uranium recovery application. The first, received Oct. 4 from Energy Metals Corp. US, is for a proposed facility at Moore Ranch in Campbell County, Wyo.

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