HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2020-012441 - 0901a06880cdbe85AN C SAM J 44,1w
SAN JUAN
OUN f
UNTY COM
Kenneth Maryboy
Willie Grayeyes
Bruce Adams
Mack McDonald
Mr. Ty L. Howard, Director
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
195 North 1950 West
PO Box 144880
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
ISSION
Chairman
Vice-Chair
Commissioner
Administrator
July 2, 2020
Div of Waste Management and Radiation Control
JUL 1 5 2020
DRC-ZO20 - o i 2+4-1
To Whom It May Concern:
Mr. Howard, we appreciate the additional time for public comment regarding the Energy Fuels
Resources (USA) Inc.:.Amendment #10 of the 11e.(2) Byproduct License No. UT1900479 and
Modification to Groundwater Quality Discharge Permit No. UGW370004. The San Juan Board of
County Commission respectfully requests the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) deny the proposed Licensing Action
to amend the Energy Fuels Resources Inc. 11e.(2) Byproduct Radioactive Material License and the
Groundwater Quality Discharge Pennit for the White Mesa Uranium Mill site in San Juan County, near
Blanding and White Mesa Ute Communities.
The San Juan Board of County Commissioners understands and respects that fact that Energy Fuels has
provided and continues to provide family wage earning jobs for our citizens, and we continue to hope
for their success as an employer here in San Juan County.
However, we are also concerned about the long-term effects of such an operation which requires tight
regulatory controls and constrains. The long-delayed, limited and unfinished cleanup of the mines, mill
tailings, ponds and other contaminated areas continues throughout the County today, decades after the
uranium companies left their toxic wastes in San Juan and Grand Counties. Many areas of the County
remain contaminated and toxic to humans, domestic livestock and wildlife. Drinking water sources
contaminated by the uranium and oil extraction industries are currently unfit for human and animal
consumption requiring residents in the areas to travel miles away in order to obtain fresh
uncontaminated drinking water and hauling that water miles back in order to sustain life and proper
hygiene. Due to the unregulated contamination of the past, this way of life will continue but there is no
reason to continue to add more or affect more of our citizens' water sources.
This decades-long uranium-based issue has led to immense suffering and dire consequences across the
full spectrum of San Juan County residents. Premature deaths, cancers, chronic illnesses and other
significant health impacts have plagued indigenous and non-indigenous residents alike.
Based on per capita income, San Juan County is the poorest of the 29 counties in Utah. It has a majority
Native American population. San Juan County's Native Americans and non-indigenous population have
suffered a disproportionate burden of costs while others have profited from the uranium industries
activities.
PO BOX 9- 117 South Main Street - Monticello, Utah 84535-0009 - 435-587-3225 - Fax 435-587-2447
We understand that Energy Fuels currently imports alternate feed material (Uranium Material) into San
Juan County from outside sources, even as far away as Canada. However, the current proposal to import
Uranium Material into San Juan County from another Country, Silmet, Estonia and from the Pacific
Railroad Moffat Tunnel in Colorado is too much. The 10-year proposal to import 2,200 tons of Uranium
Material, just from Estonia, will have a longer-lasting negative effect on our County. It should not be the
responsibility of Energy Fuels to assist other Country's or other State's extraction companies with
disposing of their used radioactive waste here in our County at any level of radioactivity, large or small.
Clearly, the regulations in those areas do not allow for the long-term storage of byproduct from
extraction, so why should we? No one else is willing to take this radioactive waste, so the applicant is
requesting that the State of Utah allow it to use San Juan County as a dumping ground for world. This is
a long-term commitment which will only add to the long-term effects associated with this waste.
The historical environmental injustice endured by the County's indigenous and low-income populations
will be exacerbated if the State allows the importation of radioactive wastes to be deposited at the White
Mesa Uranium Mill, adjacent to the White Mesa Ute community. Throughout the years, you have heard
from our White Mesa Ute Tribe as well as other citizens of our County express concerns with their
drinking water, we appreciate your willingness to work with us and all of our residents, but please
understand that our concerns stem from the fact that history has not addressed current and future
concerns for our limited resources which sustain and preserve our health, safety and general welfare for
not only now, but also for the future.
It's time the State of Utah treat areas near Native American communities, or any other City and Town
within San Juan County with equal consideration as you would a metropolitan area and deny the
amendments and modifications to the permit proposal. The residents of San Juan County deserve
nothing less and certainly do not need to continue to be the world's dumping ground for hazardous
materials at any level.
We also request an independent review of the Mill Tailings Management System. Our citizens continue
to express concern that these existing cells continue to leak. Our greater concern is the long-term
stability and viability of these cells and cell life cycles and the ability to avoid or prevent contamination
of our resources throughout time.
For the reasons discussed above, the San Juan County Commission opposes the proposed amendments
and modifications for the License Condition 10.10 and Condition 10.12, which would authorize Energy
Fuels Resources to receive radioactive Uranium Material from Silmet, Estonia and from the Pacific
Railroad Moffat Tunnel in Colorado at the White Mesa Uranium Mill site in San Juan County.
Kenneth Maryboy
San Juan County Commission Chairman
PO BOX 9- 117 South Main Street - Monticello, Utah 84535-0009 - 435-587-3225 - Fax 435-587-2447
San Juan County
117 South Main Sh:eet
PO Box 9
Monticello, Utah 84535-0009
j.
PROVO UT -Neopoeyr
7 131 JUL 2020 PM
ZIP 84535 Ati 294605
Mr. Ty L. Howard, Director
Division of Waste Management and Radiation
Control
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
195 North 1950 West
PO Box 144880
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
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