Group items tagged

Desalination might become increasingly necessary if severe drought continues in the United States. This process of removing salt from seawater will require an abundant, clean energy source with a secure domestic supply that avoids the emission of greenhouse gases. Nuclear energy is that source, and the good news is that the technology for nuclear desalination is proven and available. The Lewis and Clark project demonstrates that easily accessible water resources cannot fully support the anticipated future demand for crops, livestock, industry and people. In fact, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, many water resources across North America already are heavily used by industry and agriculture in addition to drinking water and electricity production. The fresh-water supply in Western states is susceptible to an extended drought that would reduce rainfall and the Rocky Mountain snowpack, both of which feed the Missouri River.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will require more detailed environmental studies of proposed new in-situ uranium mines in the western United States. The in-situ technique involves pumping chemicals into groundwater to free uranium from the surrounding ore so it can be pumped to the surface and refined. The agency announced Thursday that is has released its final environmental study of the mining method after conducting public meetings in Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and New Mexico. Wyoming is the leading producer of uranium at about 2 million pounds a year.

"Special, unique:" Group says area is historic burial grounds A group formed to protect places in and around the Black Hills will on Monday ask a state mining board to reconsider its approval of the site for a proposed uranium mine near Edgemont. Charmaine White Face of Rapid City, coordinator for Defenders of the Black Hills, in a news release said the group's archaeological and Lakota cultural experts verified findings by Augustana College researchers that the area is an old burial grounds. The state is to consider historic and culturally important resources in deciding whether a site qualifies as "special, exceptional, critical, or unique." The state Board of Minerals and Environment will hear White Face's appeal at 10 a.m. CDT Monday, April 20, in the Matthew Environmental Education and Training Center, 523 East Capitol Ave., in Pierre.

A proposed uranium mine north of Edgemont could add 200 construction jobs before mining ever begins, residents were told Wednesday. Representatives of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Southwest Research Institute, a nonprofit research and development organization, met with business, community and government representatives to gauge the effects of granting a license to PowerTech USA to mine uranium in the Dewey-Burdock area north of Edgemont and to discuss the status of the application. The NRC is reviewing PowerTech's licensing application and is gathering data that will go into a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

A proposed uranium mine north of Edgemont could add 200 construction jobs before mining ever begins, residents were told Wednesday. Representatives of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Southwest Research Institute, a nonprofit research and development organization, met with business, community and government representatives to gauge the effects of granting a license to PowerTech USA to mine uranium in the Dewey-Burdock area north of Edgemont and to discuss the status of the application. The NRC is reviewing PowerTech's licensing application and is gathering data that will go into a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.