SOURCE: RIVERTON RANGER

DATE: MAY 1, 1996

JACKPOT MINE HAS BLM NOD

Jackpot mine has BLM nod

By Chad Baldwin

Ranger Editor

The proposed Jackpot uranium mine on Green Mountain has cleared a major regulatory hurdle, but backers of the project aren't yet ready to begin mining.

The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday afternoon the signing of the record of decision on the enviromnental impact statement for the mine proposed south of Jeffrey City, concluding a permitting process that has lasted more than five years.

But Kennecott Energy spokesman Mike Gibson said there aren't yet any specific plans to start up the mine.

"The permitting is a significant milestone for us to get through, and we will continue to evaluate the project going forward," Gibson said Wednesday. "We continue to be encouraged by the progressive increase in uranium prices, and we will continue to evaluate the timing of any future development.''

Kennecott and Riverton-based U.S. Energy are partners in the Green Mountain Mining Venture, which proposes to mine uranium ore under Green Mountain and process it at the Sweetwater Mill about 27 miles south of the mine. The mine is expected to produce about 3,000 tons of uranium ore per day and employ about 250 people.

Gibson said the BLM's record of decision-expected to be followed soon by issuance of a mining permit by Wyoming's Department of Environmental QualityÄ culminates five years of work by his company and nearly 10 years by U.S. Energy.

The record of decision was signed by BLM Rawlins District Manager Kurt Kotter, who said the action was based on "consideration of a number of factors, including... consistency with land use and resource management plans; public involvement, scoping issues and EIS comments; relevant resource and economic considerations; agency statutory requirements; national policy; and measures to avoid or minimize enviromnental harm."

The mine plan calls for disposal of mine waste rock in the nearby Big Eagle Mine pits and the upgrading of existing roads and some other road improvements.

The record of decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals by filing a notice of appeal with the BLM's Wyoming State Office by June 1.

Gibson doesn't anticipate any appeals.

``We believe there has been ample opportunity for public input, and we believe the BLM has addressed the concerns and issues raised by third parties in the final EIS documentation," he said.

The proposed mine at one time was opposed by the Wyoming Outdoor Council, but that group dropped its objections after Kennecott committed to enhance about 20 acres of wetlands on Green Mountain and gave other assurances.

"The applicant has promised to implement a variety of measures to evaluate and reduce environmental effects, Including discharging waste rock in the Big Eagle pit, netting settling ponds to prevent wildlife impacts, riparian and wetlands enhancements, and rigorous water quality monitoring and pollution control," wrote WOC's Dan Heilig in comments on the final EIS.

"We believe the likelihood of significant environmental degradation from the mine has been reduced as a result of the attention and public scrutiny the project has received, and by Kennecott's commitment to operating the mine in an environmentally sound and responsible manner," Heilig added.

According to a BLM release, before mining were to begin, GMMV proposes further underground exploration of the area; if this exploration fails to identify uranium resources with future development potential, the project will not proceed.

If uranium resources with development potential are discovered, GMMV proposes to begin mining in the mid- to late- 1990s."

Gibson said more exploratory work underground is needed "to further delineate the resource and determine detailed mining methods and mine planning."