NRC: News Release - 2008-021 - Uranerz In-situ Leach License Application Available for Public Viewing

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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. 08-021

February 1, 2008

URANERZ IN-SITU LEACH LICENSE APPLICATION AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC VIEWING
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced today that an application from Uranerz Energy Corporation to construct and operate an in-situ leach (ISL) uranium recovery facility at their Nichols Ranch Site in Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyo., is available on the agency’s Web site for public viewing.

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

The NRC staff is currently reviewing the application, submitted Dec. 17, 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.

Uranerz Energy Corporation is a U.S. company based in Nevada. The company’s corporate office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, with an operations office in 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 Nichols Ranch, 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, Uranerz Energy Corp. will be required to return the groundwater affected by operations to its pre-operational condition.

The Uranerz Nichols Ranch application is the third license application the NRC has received for a new ISL uranium recovery facility. If approved, the license would be valid for 10 years.

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