Expect more whining at the Powertech/Azarga offices: the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has stayed the license the NRC issued Powertech to mine uranium in the southern Black Hills. In an order issued today, the three-judge panel ruled in favor of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and other intervenors. The ASLB says that until it has a chance to schedule a hearing, it wants "to prevent any immediate and irreparable harm to any cultural or historic resources caused by earthwork or ground disturbance within the Dewey-Burdock sites."
A friend in the loop tells me that hearing will happen the week of August 18 in or near Rapid City, giving local opponents a chance to show the "lack of scientific support or proper cultural resource investigations for the mine project."
Good news!
Let's hope they take seriously the testimony that will be presented.
But is the issue limited to "cultural or historic resources"? I hope contamination of water resources will also be considered.
Thank God, somebody has finally shown some sense in this.
The hearing on August 18 is the one that the NRC's had on schedule for quite some time and so controversially ignored when granting Powertech a license.
The ASLB will decide whether to repeal or extend the stay following a yet to be scheduled meeting allowing intervenors, the NRC, and Powertech to present oral arguments before the Board. PT reps say this will take place sometime next week, but the NRC hasn't peeped about the scheduled date yet.
Oral Arguments on the Temporary Stay becoming Permanent are May 13th, 2pm Eastern Time.
Thanks for that update—where is that hearing?