From: Bjornsen, Alan Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:44 AM To: Doris A. Minor Cc: StrataRossLA Resource; [email protected] Subject: Danville Uranium meeting Nov 12th Attachments: Danville Uranium meeting Nov 12th.pdf
Interesting.
Hearing Identifier: StrataEnergyRoss_LA_Public Email Number: 2 Mail Envelope Properties (C070F82E831E1C44879BFA258CF960C97E597E23BB) Subject: Danville Uranium meeting Nov 12th Sent Date: 11/15/2011 8:44:24 AM Received Date: 11/15/2011 8:44:26 AM From: Bjornsen, Alan Created By: [email protected] Recipients: "StrataRossLA Resource" Tracking Status: None "[email protected]" Tracking Status: None "Doris A. Minor" Tracking Status: None Post Office: HQCLSTR01.nrc.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 14 11/15/2011 8:44:26 AM Danville Uranium meeting Nov 12th.pdf 64458 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: Recipients Received:
Danville Uranium meeting Nov 12th (Added: November 12, 2011) WSLS's Morgan Donnelly reports on special uranium mining information meeting held in Danville on Saturday, November 12th. Experts offered unbiased, scientific evidence about the controversy to famili (more) 0 Ratings | 42 Video Views Post a Comment or Rate this Video » View More Videos By: TARA BOZICK Published: November 12, 2011 » Comments | Post a Comment Uranium mining and milling, like all activities, entails risk. Residents need to fully understand the risks to public health and safety when coming to a conclusion on whether to allow uranium mining in Virginia. That’s why Virginia Tech hosted a day-long workshop on uranium, radiation, health studies, uranium recovery regulations and nuclear power at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research on Saturday, said Virginia Tech geochemistry professor Robert Bodnar. “Find out what the facts are and make up your own minds,” Ward Whicker, radioecology professor at Colorado State University, told attendees. “That’s the way democracy ought to work.” A grant from Virginia Uranium Inc. to Virginia Tech paid for the symposium, but VUI did not choose the speakers or organize the workshop, said moderator Steve Brown of SENES Consultants. VUI would like to mine and mill a 119-million-pound uranium deposit at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County. Uranium, a naturally occurring element in soil, rocks and water, is radioactive, but natural uranium’s amount of radioactivity per gram is relatively low, said Teresa Coons, the executive director of the John McConnell Math and Science Center of Western Colorado. Radioactive elements get rid of the excess energy in their nuclei by emitting radiation. People get most (88 percent) radiation exposure from natural sources, like from the earth, sun and cosmic rays. Nearly all of artificial exposure comes from medical procedures, like Xrays. About 2,000 cosmic rays pass through the body every second, Whicker said. Natural radiation causes damage to cells’ DNA, but the body quickly repairs a vast majority of that. Radiation is one of many things that contribute to cancer, but it’s hard to know what causes it in any one individual, as many factors are at work, he added. Aside from radiation concerns, uranium is also a toxic heavy metal, Coons said. While epidemiological research results are confusing, animal studies show ingesting high doses of uranium produces damage to the kidneys. But data from humans suggests uranium may not be as toxic to humans, and there are no known deaths from people ingesting uranium, she said. While several studies did not find adverse renal (kidney) effects to humans, one occupational study did. In the past before more stringent regulation, radon gas, a decay product of uranium, was found to cause a higher incidence of lung cancer among miners. Radon gas combined with the dust increased the risk more than either lone, and ventilation of underground mines and dust control now greatly reduces that risk in modern mines. Studies found lung cancer risks increased for underground miners who smoked, she said. Miners in the past also had many times more exposure than allowable today. More recent studies by epidemiologist John Boice and others didn’t find increased cancer mortality in communities around mining or milling operations, aside from the early cases of lung cancer, and found no evidence environment radiation exposures above natural background increased the risk of cancer. Clearly, uranium operations could have been better operated in the past, as mistakes were made, she said. “We have perceived there is a risk. We understand that risk, and from there we need to figure out how to manage it,” Coons said. Radiation exposures and limits » Federal regulations require that ionizing radiation exposure be as low as reasonably achievable — the ALARA principle. » The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires licensees to limit maximum radiation exposure to the general public to 100 millirem per year. » On average in a year, humans would get 25-35 millirem from dental X-rays, 28 millirem from rocks and soil, 200 millirem from radon gas and 8,000 from cigarettes, according to a presentation by Finis Southworth, chief technology officer for Areva NP Inc »A bunch of bananas, because they have a naturally radioactive form of potassium, has about 8,000 pCi of radiation, about the same as a handful or one-third ounce of uranium ore, said Steve Brown, certified health physicist who analyzes radiological aspects of uranium exploration.
StrataRossLAPEm Resource From: Ben Schiffer [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 12:57 PM To: Bjornsen, Alan Cc: Saxton, John; StrataRossLA Resource Subject: Re: PM-PM Discussion Next Week
Alan—
I hope you are doing well and enjoyed your last trip to Wyoming. I was hoping that we might be able to catch up on Tuesday morning (11/15), perhaps at 8:00 am your time (6:00 am here). Let me know if this will work for you. Take care.
Ben
On 11/9/2011 10:57 AM, Saxton, John wrote:
Ben,
I talked with Alan about your request to have PM-PM discussions next week on the status of the 106 Consultation process and the plan that you are preparing as per our 10/18/11 meeting.
He is available and I suggest that you both work out the details. I may not attend as Alan is the PM of the consultation process.
John -- Benjamin J. Schiffer, PG WWC Engineering 1849 Terra Ave. Sheridan, WY 82801 Ph. (307) 672-0761 ext. 148 fax (307) 674-4265
From: [email protected] on behalf of Mahesh Daya [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 10:13 AM To: Saxton, John Subject: RE: Roos Permit
I am currently on annul leave until Tuesday 15th November For all server related matters contact Paul Gatenby on 22694 For all other matters contact Peter Stephens on 21992 Any urgent matters contact Bill Preston on 22545
From: Ben Schiffer [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 12:18 PM To: Saxton, John Cc: Ray Moores Subject: Re: Ross ISR PM to PM Call
John—
6 am works great for us. Conf. Call # 866-730-7514, pin 457201#. Looking forward to talking with you again.
Thanks.
Ben
On 11/7/2011 10:07 AM, Saxton, John wrote:
It is okay with me – 6 AM is my normal time here – I was thinking about you guys
From: Ben Schiffer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 11:26 AM To: Saxton, John Subject: Re: Ross ISR PM to PM Call
John—
Can we do it at 6:00 am MST/8:00 am EST?
Ben
On 11/7/2011 3:48 AM, Saxton, John wrote:
Ben,
We should reschedule the call to a time that you can participate.
John
From: Ben Schiffer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 12:14 PM To: Saxton, John Subject: Re: Ross ISR PM to PM Call
John-- I just learned that I have a conflict on Wed (11/9) in the am. I'd really like you and Ray Moores to talk on the GW model, would that be feasible if I'm only on the line for 30 min at the start?
Ben
On 11/3/2011 3:21 PM, Saxton, John wrote:
Ok
2 From: Ben Schiffer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 5:21 PM To: Saxton, John Cc: Ray Moores Subject: Re: Ross ISR PM to PM Call
John-- Can we do 9:00 EST/7:00 MST? I'll have Ray on the phone and we can did into the GW Model a little bit more. Thanks.
Ben
On 11/3/2011 1:42 PM, Saxton, John wrote:
Ben
That would be fine. I have an a meeting at 11 my time. So either start at 9 my time or 1 pm would be fine. Let me know.
John
From: Ben Schiffer [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 1:59 PM To: Saxton, John Cc: Ray Moores Subject: Ross ISR PM to PM Call
John—
Thanks for your time this morning. I'd like to talk again next week, would morning of 11/9 (Wed) work for you? In addition, I think it would be beneficial to have Ray Moores (cc'd) on this email available to talk more succinctly about GW Model. Again, thanks for your time and let me know what would work for you.
Ben -- Benjamin J. Schiffer, PG WWC Engineering 1849 Terra Ave. Sheridan, WY 82801 Ph. (307) 672-0761 ext. 148 fax (307) 674-4265
9. Ross ISR, Docket #040-09091 ACOE Letter to Strata and Plan of Ops Cover Letter
*NB: Covering email is newish but letter is from Jan 2011, so I have only included the email.
StrataRossLAPEm Resource
From: Ben Schiffer [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 2:39 PM To: Saxton, John Cc: Bjornsen, Alan Subject: Ross ISR, Docket #040-09091, ACOE Letter to Strata and Plan of Ops Cover Letter Attachments: POO Cvr Ltr_1_20_11.pdf; ACOE Letter 12_9_10.pdf
John—
Hope you are having a good Friday. Please see the attached letter from the ACOE. I believe Alan Bjornsen was interested in having this added to the record. In addition, please see the attached cover letter that accompanied the Plan of Operations submitted to the BLM in January 2011. As always, please let me know if you have any questions regarding these letters. Take care.
Ben -- Benjamin J. Schiffer, PG WWC Engineering 1849 Terra Ave. Sheridan, WY 82801 Ph. (307) 672-0761 ext. 148 fax (307) 674-4265
10. Ross ISR Project, Responses to 3rd Round Technical Comments from WDEQ/LQD
*NB: Covering email is new but following letter and index has already been posted, so I am only including the covering email.
StrataRossLAPEm Resource
From: Ben Schiffer [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 6:50 PM To: Saxton, John Cc: Tony Simpson Subject: Ross ISR Project, Responses to 3rd Round Technical Comments from WDEQ/LQD Attachments: District 3 Cvr Ltr_3rd_Round_Responses_.pdf; Ross_ISR_ChangeIndex_3rd Round.pdf; Ross_3rd_rnd_Response.pdf
John-- As we discussed earlier this week. Please find the attached letter and responses in question and answer format to 3rd comments from LQD. These files have passed pre-flight and hence should be uploadable to ADAMS.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Take care.
Ben -- Benjamin J. Schiffer, PG WWC Engineering 1849 Terra Ave. Sheridan, WY 82801 Ph. (307) 672-0761 ext. 14