another ablation user in Africa?, page-19

Colorado Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC)

October 8, 2015 Meeting Minutes

II. Program Updates

A. Radiation Program update

Jennifer Opila provided updates on the Radiation Program.

Included in the update was:

- Information pertaining to the uranium “ablation”
technique proposed by Black Range Minerals (a
subsidiary of Western Minerals Corporation). The
company is proposing to use a process that will take
uranium bearing materials and then process the
materials using an “ablation” technique to reduce
waste materials prior to further (offsite) processing.
In July the company submitted a white paper on the
process for review by the Department. The
Department reviewed the paper and subsequently
sent a letter to the company requesting further
information. The Department is awaiting a response
from the company on the request for information.
Western Minerals Corporation recently issued a press
release indicating that they had performed
successful pilot testing of their ablation process.
The Department subsequently issued a notice
directing the company to stop any further testing of
the process involving greater than generally licensed
amounts until the information requested is provided
and a proper regulatory framework is determined.

RAC Member Tom Johnson expressed concerns over how the
Department’s decision will be made to ensure that they are
well laid out. The various technical/regulatory definitions
and terms will require comparison.

Jennifer Opila affirmed that any decisions of the Department
on the topic will need to be carefully considered with a well
founded technical basis. Technical information provided by
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has helped to​

reinforce the Department’s current position.