Critics of a proposed in-situ uranium-mine operation in northwest Weld County are leery of a plan to allow a test well to be drilled at the site.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued an injection-well permit to Powertech Inc. to let the company reinject groundwater from an aquifer-pump test at the project site.
The EPA says the Underground Injection Control Class V permit does not allow any uranium-recovery activity at the site. Powertech is limited solely to the reinjection of aquifer-pump test water and will be subject to several conditions that ensure the protection of groundwater resources, EPA officials said.
“EPA is issuing this permit after an extensive, year-long public process and the consideration of all relevant technical data,” said Steve Tuber, EPA’s assistant regional administrator in Denver.
Attorney Jeff Parsons, who represents several communities opposing Powertech, is sifting through Powertech’s proposal for the pump test. Parsons worries that the company — which is suing the state over strict new rules aimed at groundwater extraction — will ignore environmental safeguards.
“We’ve got some serious concerns about how Powertech will comply with these rules,” Parsons said.
Jay Davis, who lives adjacent to the Powertech site near the town of Nunn, said he is happy that the EPA clamped several restrictions onto the permit.
“We’re looking for a maximum amount of protection out here, and I think the EPA accomplished that,” Davis said.
Davis heads up Citizens Against Resource Destruction, which has fought Powertech’s extraction plans. He and other residents fear the company will contaminate groundwater and cause other health problems.
The Canadian company wants to use the in-situ method of mining, which it claims is safer and causes less environmental damage. In-situ involves pumping a fluid into the ground to loosen uranium and then pumping the fluid out of the ground to bring the uranium up to the surface.
The aquifer-pump test will remove about 43,000 gallons of groundwater from a sandstone aquifer within the Fox Hills formation. The water will be stored in tanks until it is reinjected, the EPA said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
