Two Southwest tribes raise concerns over uranium storage

by Elizabeth Theus Sat May 14, 2022 1:00 pm

In White Mesa, Utah, at America’s last uranium mill, a pool of toxic waste is emitting dangerous amounts of radon to the surrounding communities, among them the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. This isn’t news: In November 2021, High Country News reported on the improperly stored waste and its impacts on the community, and in December — thanks to EcoFlight’s aerial photography and a proactive tribal government — the Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice to Energy Fuels Resources, ordering it to address the issue. Five months later, however, the improper storage practices persist.

In March, follow-up aerial shots from EcoFlight revealed a noticeable difference between the photograph taken in August 2021; the tailings cells, which consist of radioactive waste typically submerged in liquid from the uranium processing, have since decreased even further, increasing the amount of exposed toxic compounds. The visual evidence arrived two months after EPA representatives visited the site on Jan. 13. At the time, it was estimated that 60% of Cell 4B was uncovered. In a March letter from the EPA, the agency reported that Energy Fuels' explanation of this decline is due to water conservation practices and extracting vanadium from the liquid, a rare earth mineral, for profit.

While efforts are currently underway to hold the mill accountable, Scott Clow, the Ute Mountain’s Environmental Programs director, says that the company wants to be in business until it is no longer profitable.

“There is a lot of uncertainty. We do know that when, eventually, the owners of that mill find it is no longer profitable to operate, and they will close it, they will be required to spend what they have set aside in a bond to do as much as they can for reclaiming it safely,” Clow said. “And then it’ll be the responsibility of the Department of Energy under their legacy program — and our tax dollars — to pay for it.”

continued:
https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-pollution-two-southwest-tribes-raise-concerns-over-uranium-storage

by HawkTheSlayer Sat May 14, 2022 1:44 pm

But.... but.... nuclear energy is clean energy. (Sarc)

When in fact , it's the most dangerous form of energy production, with negative effects that last for thousands of years.

by jirqoadai Sat May 14, 2022 2:01 pm

its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh

by HawkTheSlayer Sat May 14, 2022 2:19 pm

jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh

Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated, energy factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh!

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.

by jirqoadai Sat May 14, 2022 2:23 pm

HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated, energy factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh!

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.

you might not like my idea, but coal bed methane will last for ever if you can keep it dewatered. and my idea is to ship the water west, and force them to clean it, then use it.

by HawkTheSlayer Sat May 14, 2022 2:24 pm

HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated energy, factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh! Not 3.5 cents.

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.

by jirqoadai Sat May 14, 2022 2:26 pm

HawkTheSlayer wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated energy, factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh! Not 3.5 cents.

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.

maine and arizona sell their elect from the nukers at .035 kwh

by HawkTheSlayer Sat May 14, 2022 2:40 pm

jirqoadai wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated energy, factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh! Not 3.5 cents.

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.
maine and arizona sell their elect from the nukers at .035 kwh

That's a pretty fair price in today's economy. My electric charge alone was about 9.5 cents with a fuel adjustment if 3.5 cents. That's 13 cents per KwH plus about another 1cent per fees and charges for a total of about 14 cents.

by jirqoadai Sat May 14, 2022 2:44 pm

HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated energy, factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh! Not 3.5 cents.

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.
maine and arizona sell their elect from the nukers at .035 kwh
That's a pretty fair price in today's economy. My electric charge alone was about 9.5 cents with a fuel adjustment if 3.5 cents. That's 13 cents per KwH plus about another 1cent per fees and charges for a total of about 14 cents.

mine is 40% nuke and 60% coal. .095kwh day, nights free.

by HawkTheSlayer Sat May 14, 2022 3:12 pm

jirqoadai wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
HawkTheSlayer wrote:
jirqoadai wrote:its also the least expensive energy, if you are allowed to set your used fuel rods in lead, inside a dry salt mine. from what i recall, its about .035 a kwh
Coal and natural gas fire was cheaper than that at 2.5. But I haven't checked in a while.
Why would I want to bury this material at all. Let alone generate it, when we have more than enough clean natural gas that goes to waste.

I have to support the nuclear generated energy, factored into my bill from ENTERGY'S Riverbend Nuclear Facility which is less than ten miles from my house.

It's way more than 3.5 wholesale.

But have no fear!
They might just shut it down when the new, 1200Acre solar farm goes online into their transmission lines in a cupla years.
Wholesale cost at 25cents(.25/ lol no zero) KWh! Not 3.5 cents.

Too much government regulation and fines on these nuclear plants .

Not to mention a Fukishima event is destined for the US. Prolly in California.
maine and arizona sell their elect from the nukers at .035 kwh
That's a pretty fair price in today's economy. My electric charge alone was about 9.5 cents with a fuel adjustment if 3.5 cents. That's 13 cents per KwH plus about another 1cent per fees and charges for a total of about 14 cents.
mine is 40% nuke and 60% coal. .095kwh day, nights free.

I'm an ENTERGY customer now. I know ENTERGY has lines in your neck of the woods . I think to just west of Beaumont. Not sure about Harris county.

When I moved here four years ago, my electric charge was 5.5 cents. Fuel adjustment was 2.5 cents , max! Misc fees about .5 -1 cent.

It all amounted to 9-9.5 cents. Which was way cheaper than I was paying in town. I was satisfied.

But now the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) has allowed them to really rape us after 4 or 5 hurricanes in a year.

And the cost is passed along to all customers through the 4 state system in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. But mostly in Louisiana as our 100 year old PSC and it's commissioners are the most corrupt in the nation.

We lead the nation in high "everything" , like auto insurance, all insurance, anything regulated by the state PSC.

Huey Long got his political start on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Think about it.

I often wonder who would have been worse. FDR or Huey Long?

"A chicken in every pot!"

I remember my grandmother extolling the social virtues of HPL!

Folks here at the turn of the century to the early 30s grew up dirt poor. They were rich in many ways but cash money was just not available to regular citizens. Trade , barter, self -sufficient was the norm.

But you know, people want to thrive in a republic ! Not just survive!

There were no republicans in this area back in the day.

But my grandparents went on to establish a 73 year old business. From 1931 to 2004!

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Two Southwest tribes raise concerns over uranium storage

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