Uranium Mining in Uranium Mining in Roanoke River BasinRoanoke River Basin

Presentation to Virginia Beach Presentation to Virginia Beach City CouncilCity Council

November 25, 2008November 25, 2008

Uranium Mining in VirginiaUranium Mining in Virginia

1973-78: Uranium prices create push to 1973-78: Uranium prices create push to mine uranium in the Piedmont of Virginiamine uranium in the Piedmont of Virginia

1979-82: Three Mile Island and UMTRCA 1979-82: Three Mile Island and UMTRCA sensitize public to radiological pollution sensitize public to radiological pollution

1983: VA General Assembly enacts 1983: VA General Assembly enacts moratorium on uranium miningmoratorium on uranium mining

1985: VCEC (US/UAG) recommends lifting 1985: VCEC (US/UAG) recommends lifting moratorium. VA Beach and other localities moratorium. VA Beach and other localities adopt resolutions in opposition. The adopt resolutions in opposition. The moratorium remains in effect today.moratorium remains in effect today.

Uranium Mining in VA: 2007-08Uranium Mining in VA: 2007-08 Skyrocketing uranium prices renew interest Skyrocketing uranium prices renew interest

in uranium mining in Virginiain uranium mining in Virginia Deposits in Pittsylvania County may be very Deposits in Pittsylvania County may be very

large, worth as much as $7-10 billionlarge, worth as much as $7-10 billion A Canadian Company doing business as A Canadian Company doing business as

Virginia Uranium Ltd. is created to Virginia Uranium Ltd. is created to “invest “invest and to actively participate in the and to actively participate in the management, business and operations of management, business and operations of Virginia Uranium Inc.”Virginia Uranium Inc.” through its through its representation on the board and its shared representation on the board and its shared management with Virginia Uranium, Inc. management with Virginia Uranium, Inc.

Uranium Mining in VA: 2007-08Uranium Mining in VA: 2007-08 Virginia Uranium is conducting a PR Virginia Uranium is conducting a PR

and lobbying campaign to have the and lobbying campaign to have the uranium mining moratorium lifted uranium mining moratorium lifted

In the 2008 GA, SB525 proposed the In the 2008 GA, SB525 proposed the VA Mining Commission and a study of VA Mining Commission and a study of uranium mining impacts. It did not uranium mining impacts. It did not become law.become law.

Earlier this month, the VCEC formed a Earlier this month, the VCEC formed a subcommittee and asked the VCCER to subcommittee and asked the VCCER to contract for a studycontract for a study

Historical Spot Price of UraniumHistorical Spot Price of Uranium

Uranium Mining – The ProcessUranium Mining – The Process Open-pit mine: Uranium ore is Open-pit mine: Uranium ore is

excavatedexcavated Pulverizing mill: Uranium ore is ground Pulverizing mill: Uranium ore is ground

into sand & clay-like particlesinto sand & clay-like particles Chemical Plant: Uranium is leached Chemical Plant: Uranium is leached

out of the pulverized ore out of the pulverized ore 1,000 pounds of ore produces 1 pound 1,000 pounds of ore produces 1 pound

of uranium and 999 pounds of mill of uranium and 999 pounds of mill tailings tailings

Mill tailings retain 85% of the original Mill tailings retain 85% of the original radioactivity for >> 300,000 yearsradioactivity for >> 300,000 years

Uranium Mining TailingsUranium Mining Tailings

Tailings are highly susceptible Tailings are highly susceptible to transport by air and waterto transport by air and water

Tailings are stored as slurries and Tailings are stored as slurries and sludge, then ultimately as dewatered sludge, then ultimately as dewatered pilespiles

Non-radioactive overburden, clay, Non-radioactive overburden, clay, and liners are used to construct and liners are used to construct confinement cells and caps to confinement cells and caps to confine and immobilize the tailingsconfine and immobilize the tailings

Virginia Uranium ProposalVirginia Uranium Proposal 100 million pounds of yellowcake at 4 100 million pounds of yellowcake at 4

million pounds per year (2,000 tons million pounds per year (2,000 tons per year) for 25 yearsper year) for 25 years

Current U.S. production (all in the Current U.S. production (all in the west) is 1,700 tons/yearwest) is 1,700 tons/year

Current U.S. capacity (all in the west) Current U.S. capacity (all in the west) is 2,900 tons/yearis 2,900 tons/year

Current U.S. reactor demand is 23,000 Current U.S. reactor demand is 23,000 tons/year tons/year

Uranium Mill TailingsUranium Mill Tailings 100 million pounds of uranium 100 million pounds of uranium

yellowcake will result in 50 million tons yellowcake will result in 50 million tons (30 million cubic yards) of mill tailings (30 million cubic yards) of mill tailings

12 confinement cells, each 40 acres 12 confinement cells, each 40 acres and 2.5 million cubic yardsand 2.5 million cubic yards

Mount Trashmore = 20 acres and 1.3 Mount Trashmore = 20 acres and 1.3 million cubic yardsmillion cubic yards

Depending upon groundwater, much Depending upon groundwater, much of the cell may be below groundof the cell may be below ground

Uranium Tailings LegacyUranium Tailings Legacy Historically, tailings were not properly Historically, tailings were not properly

confined resulting in radioactive confined resulting in radioactive contamination of ground and surface contamination of ground and surface waterswaters

Legacy of human and environmental Legacy of human and environmental tragedy: 1950’s to early 1980’stragedy: 1950’s to early 1980’s

1978: Federal government stepped in 1978: Federal government stepped in to remediate – UMTRCA (DOE, NRC)to remediate – UMTRCA (DOE, NRC)

Clean up has cost billions over three Clean up has cost billions over three decades – work and costs ongoing decades – work and costs ongoing

Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (Title 1 & 2)Control Act (Title 1 & 2)

24 abandoned sites under jurisdiction 24 abandoned sites under jurisdiction of DOE, 26 Licensed by NRC (or NRC of DOE, 26 Licensed by NRC (or NRC Agreement States)Agreement States)

All sites but Canonsburg, PA located in All sites but Canonsburg, PA located in the west – virtually all in the arid west the west – virtually all in the arid west

Total of 250 million tons of tailingsTotal of 250 million tons of tailings• Sites ranging from 2 to 33 million tons Sites ranging from 2 to 33 million tons

(except PA site which is very small)(except PA site which is very small) Cole’s Hill tailings: 50 million tonsCole’s Hill tailings: 50 million tons

UMTRCA Sites – DOE and NRC UMTRCA Sites – DOE and NRC

Source - USEPA

The Past vs the Present The Past vs the Present Virginia Uranium does not dispute past Virginia Uranium does not dispute past

issues with uranium tailingsissues with uranium tailings They indicate that modern confinement They indicate that modern confinement

cell design and NRC regs will protect cell design and NRC regs will protect surface waterssurface waters

NRC regs require that confinement NRC regs require that confinement cells be designed for at least 200 yr life cells be designed for at least 200 yr life or 1,000 yrs if “reasonably achievable”or 1,000 yrs if “reasonably achievable”

Hurricane Camille was estimated to Hurricane Camille was estimated to have caused 2,000 years of erosion in a have caused 2,000 years of erosion in a single night single night

Tailings Piles in VirginiaTailings Piles in Virginia Unlike the west, precipitation is high and Unlike the west, precipitation is high and

evaporation is lowevaporation is low Water management is far more complexWater management is far more complex Many historical confinement structure Many historical confinement structure

failures caused by inability to manage failures caused by inability to manage waterwater

In Virginia, storms have generated near In Virginia, storms have generated near probable maximum precipitation (PMP)probable maximum precipitation (PMP)

PMP can erode and fragment virtually any PMP can erode and fragment virtually any earthen structure (man-made or natural)earthen structure (man-made or natural)

PMP will transport sediments great PMP will transport sediments great distances downstream very quicklydistances downstream very quickly

All USGS Stream GagesAll USGS Stream Gages

Stream Gages with Extreme FloodsStream Gages with Extreme Floods

Maximum Probable PrecipitationMaximum Probable Precipitation In Virginia, about 29 inches in six In Virginia, about 29 inches in six

hourshours 1969 - Hurricane Camille – 27 to 31 1969 - Hurricane Camille – 27 to 31

inches (unofficial estimates higher)inches (unofficial estimates higher) Like standing under a waterfall Like standing under a waterfall 2,000 years of erosion in one night2,000 years of erosion in one night Mountainsides stripped cleanMountainsides stripped clean 1995 – Madison County - similar 1995 – Madison County - similar

intensity but over a smaller areaintensity but over a smaller area

Maximum Probable PrecipitationMaximum Probable Precipitation

Current Radiological LevelsCurrent Radiological LevelsVA Beach-Norfolk Water SystemsVA Beach-Norfolk Water Systems

  Level MCL MCLG Unit

Gross Alpha Activity 0.4 15 0 pCi/L

Gross Beta Activity 3.1 50 0 pCi/L

Radium 226/228 0.6 5 0 pCi/L

Worst Case ScenarioWorst Case Scenario A storm similar to Nelson County fragments A storm similar to Nelson County fragments

confinement cells and transports confinement cells and transports radioactive sediments to Lake Gastonradioactive sediments to Lake Gaston

Radiation levels rise to SDWA levelsRadiation levels rise to SDWA levels VA Beach defaults on services contractVA Beach defaults on services contract Ultimately, contract is terminated, VA Ultimately, contract is terminated, VA

Beach liable for stranded costsBeach liable for stranded costs VA Beach abandons Lake Gaston VA Beach abandons Lake Gaston

Project and builds desalting plantProject and builds desalting plant Cost to VA Beach > $500 millionCost to VA Beach > $500 million Unlikely but not InconceivableUnlikely but not Inconceivable

VCEC StudyVCEC Study VCEC subcommittee has no VCEC subcommittee has no

representation from Roanoke Basinrepresentation from Roanoke Basin VCCER is heavily weighted by coal, VCCER is heavily weighted by coal,

energy and transportation interestsenergy and transportation interests No environmental, public health, or No environmental, public health, or

water supply agency involvement water supply agency involvement No funding has been identifiedNo funding has been identified The 1985 US/UAG recommendation to The 1985 US/UAG recommendation to

move forward is perplexing given what move forward is perplexing given what was going on at the time was going on at the time

Staff RecommendationStaff Recommendation Oppose uranium mining in Virginia, Oppose uranium mining in Virginia,

oppose lifting of the moratorium on oppose lifting of the moratorium on uranium mining, and oppose any uranium mining, and oppose any attempt to develop a regulatory attempt to develop a regulatory framework for uranium mining until it framework for uranium mining until it can be demonstrated to the City’s can be demonstrated to the City’s satisfaction that there will be no satisfaction that there will be no significant release of radioactive significant release of radioactive sediments downstream sediments downstream

Uranium Mining Impact StudyUranium Mining Impact Study Completely open to public scrutinyCompletely open to public scrutiny Independent experts who are provided Independent experts who are provided

adequate time and resourcesadequate time and resources Include modeling and simulation of Include modeling and simulation of

PMP storms and tailings cell failurePMP storms and tailings cell failure Include a peer review group that is Include a peer review group that is

independent of the VCEC/VCCER and independent of the VCEC/VCCER and includes public health, environmental, includes public health, environmental, water supply and water resource water supply and water resource agencies, including the USACEagencies, including the USACE

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?