NRC: News Release - 2008-128 - NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing on License Application for Uranium Recovery Operation in Wyoming

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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. 08-128

July 10, 2008

NRC ANNOUNCES OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST HEARING ON LICENSE
APPLICATION FOR URANIUM RECOVERY OPERATION IN WYOMING
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced an opportunity to request a hearing on the license application by Lost Creek ISR, LLC, to construct and operate an in-situ leach uranium recovery operation at the Lost Creek site in Sweetwater County, Wyo.

Lost Creek initially submitted the application Oct. 30, 2007, but withdrew it Feb. 29 in order to revise its radiation protection program. The company resubmitted the application March 31. The NRC staff has completed its initial review and determined that the application is sufficiently complete for the staff to docket the application and begin its detailed environmental and safety reviews. Docketing the application does not indicate approval of the proposed operation, nor does it preclude NRC from requesting additional information from the applicant to aid in performing the review.

In-situ recovery of uranium involves injecting a leaching solution, typically water mixed with oxygen and sodium bicarbonate, through wells into an underground ore deposit 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.

A notice of opportunity to request a hearing was published July 10 in the FederalRegister. The notice provides detailed instructions on how to file a request using the NRC’s new E-Filing system. The deadline to request a hearing is September 8. The notice and the license application are available on NRC’s Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing-license-applications.html#2.

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