DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020 – MIDNIGHT (MST).
NOTE: Updated with Items to Use for Comment
The Dewey-Burdock uranium mining project in the southwestern Black Hills is trying to take a step forward. We have only a few weeks to generate and write comments on the latest effort to destroy the water and land in that area. This is the area that is under lawsuit by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which is challenging the inadequate effort to protect cultural resources on the proposed mine site.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a Plan of Operations (POO) for the BLM land that is involved in the proposed mining project. The POO, a place to comment, and the BLM’s press release can be found here — https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bureau-land-management-seeks-public-comments-uranium-project-plan-operations
Note that this project is being “fast tracked” under the new, weaker environmental laws.
Please comment now, if you can. We have provide some topics below that you can use to help you write your own comment. You can comment more than once. It’s important that as many people comment as possible. Please notify other people right away and ask them to comment, too.
If you are having problems with the BLM’s comment site, e-mail your comments directly to lkimball@blm.gov (Chip Kimball). Save a copy of your comments for sure, and ask her for an e-mail saying she received your comments. If you still don’t get through, call her at 605-892-7000.
Items you can use to comment on.
Here are some items that people can comment on related to Powertech/Azarga’s Plan of Operations for the Bureau of Land Management for the proposed Dewey-Burdock uranium mine. Do not just copy this list. Start by saying why you are commenting about this project. Then pick a few of these ideas and add your own comments.
- There has been NO cultural resources survey of the proposed uranium mining site.
- There has been NO government to government consultation by BLM with affected Tribes that have cultural resources, including burials and ceremonial sites, at the site.
- The BLM has NOT addressed the fact that no in-situ leach uranium mine has ever restored the impacted aquifers to pre-mining conditions.
- The BLM has NOT located or analyzed the thousands of unconfined historic bole holes on the site that can lead to cross contamination of aquifers.
- The BLM has NOT located or analyzed the geologic faults and fissures that can lead to cross contamination of the aquifers.
- The BLM has NOT analyzed the radioactive waste disposal plans for the mine.
- The BLM’s process for this application does NOT satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act.
YOUR COMMENT MUST BE SENT TO: BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, VIA THEIR ON-LINE PORTAL
OR MAIL YOUR COMMENT TO: Bureau of Land Management, South Dakota Field Office, Attn: Ms. Chip Kimball, 309 Bonanza Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717.
DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, AUG. 28TH AT MIDNIGHT (MST)
Project Description
Powertech (USA) Inc. (henceforth, Powertech (USA)) submits this Plan of Operations (POO) as applicable to subparts of 43 CFR § 3809 of the federal requirements to develop and operate the Dewey-Burdock Project (“Proposed Action” or “PA”) using in situ leach (ISL) methods to recover uranium.
Click here to review the POO —- or—– download the PDF here.
To see the list of documents on this project: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1505486/570
DEADLINE: The BLM is making the complete Plan of Operations available for a 30-day public comment period before issuing its final approval decision. The deadline for comment is EXTENDED TO AUG. 28 AT MIDNIGHT (MST)
Public Comment – Participate Now at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1505486/595/8001598/comment
Comments may also be mailed to BLM South Dakota Field Office, Attn: Ms. Chip Kimball, 309 Bonanza Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717.
MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AT https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/materials/uranium/licensed-facilities/dewey-burdock/section-106-project-docs.html
Black Hills Clean Water Alliance 