Permit specifies pressure requirement, clarifies issues noted in recent petitions
(Denver, Colo. - May 6, 2011) The E.P.A. (EPA) has revised and reissued a permit authorizing Powertech, USA, to re-inject water as part of an aquifer pump test at the suggested Centennial uranium recovery location in Weld County, Colo. The new outline Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V permit includes a specific pressure requirement for re-injection that was inadvertently not included in a permit E.P.A. issued last December. E.P.A. will hold a public hearing on the new outline permit on Monday, June 6, 2011, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Nunn Community Center in Nunn, Colo.
"This new outline permit addresses recent public comments and clarifies specific and rigorous measures that will ensure groundwater protection," said Steve Tuber, EPA's assistant regional administrator in Denver. "EPA remains committed to transparency and public involvement."
E.P.A. issued a final Class V UIC permit to Powertech in December 2010 following a year-long public review and review process. EPA's Environmental Appeals Board, an independent board that oversees E.P.A. permitting actions, received 2 petitions for review of the final permit.
After reviewing the petitions, E.P.A. decided to withdraw, revise and reissue the permit. This decision was based primarily on a petitioner's concern noting that the final permit did not specify that Powertech is required to not exceed zero pressure at the wellhead when re-injecting water from the pump test. While E.P.A. clearly stated its intent to require this condition, and Powertech agreed to comply, this requirement was inadvertently not included in the final permit. This requirement will help to ensure that the re-injection activity will not cause movement of water between aquifers beyond that which is naturally occurring.
EPA's new outline permit specifically requires that Powertech not exceed a Maximum Allowable Injection Pressure (MAIP) of zero at the wellhead. The outline permit also includes language that clarifies additional concerns noted in the petitions and retains previously identified requirements designed to ensure groundwater protection.
This UIC Class V permit is limited to re-injecting ground water from an aquifer pump test. Specifically, the permit will enable Powertech to re-inject water taken from a sandstone aquifer within the Fox Hills formation during an aquifer pump test. This groundwater will be placed into holding tanks and returned, unaltered, back into the same aquifer. The test is designed to provide information about hydrogeology at the Centennial location and inform the feasibility of any future in-situ uranium extraction activities. Conditions of the aquifer pump test itself are subject to prior approval by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety.
The State of Colorado is an Arrangement State under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulations for uranium in-situ leaching facilities and has authority for the licensing and operation of uranium extraction activities.
This UIC permit does not allow for the removal or processing of uranium or the disposal of waste water at the plan site. Such activities would be subject to additional E.P.A. and State approval(s). Any future UIC permit applications will be subject to an extensive public review process, including access to technical information, public meetings and review periods consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Related documents can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/region8/water/uic/
E.P.A. regulations under 40 CFR part 124 describe the public review process for UIC permitting actions. General information about the UIC plan can be found at: http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/
