[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43267-43268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21286]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8857]

Notice of Receipt of an Application for a New In Situ Uranium 
Mine and Announcement of an Opportunity to Request a Hearing
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Receipt of an Application For a New In Situ Uranium 
Mine and Announcement of an Opportunity to Request a Hearing.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) has received an application from Power Resources, Inc. 
(PRI) for a new in situ uranium mine in the Gas Hills of Wyoming. 
Persons potentially affected by an NRC decision to license the 
facility, have the opportunity to request a hearing on this action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Carlson, Uranium Recovery 
Branch, Mail Stop T-7-J-9, Division of Waste Management, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission,

[[Page 43268]]

Washington, DC 20555. Telephone (301) 415-6606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 1996, Power Resources, Inc. (PRI) 
submitted an application for a license to construct and operate a new 
in situ uranium mine. The proposed facility will be located at PRI's 
Gas Hills properties in Fremont and Natrona Counties, Wyoming, about 85 
miles west of Casper, and will include an ion exchange facility and 
associated wellfields.
    At the proposed Gas Hills facility, PRI intends to leach uranium 
directly underground from ore bearing sands by injecting mining 
solutions into the ore rich formations and processing them to remove 
the uranium. The uranium will be loaded onto ion exchange resins, which 
will be transported to PRI's Highland in situ leach mine and processing 
plant approximately 60 miles east of Casper, for processing into 
yellowcake. Because the proposed Gas Hills facility is to be operated 
as a satellite to PRI's Highland facility, PRI has requested that the 
Gas Hills facility be authorized to operate by amending the existing 
Highland license.
    Citing the recent upturn in the uranium market and the increased 
demand for yellowcake, PRI indicated it desires to have the proposed 
Gas Hills satellite facility in production during calendar year 1998. 
NRC staff expects to begin work on the application in the September/
October 1996 time frame, and depending on the completeness of the 
application, anticipates having the review complete and the license 
issued in late 1997.
    The NRC hereby provides notice of an opportunity for a hearing on 
the license amendment under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L, 
``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials and 
Operator Licensing Proceedings.'' Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any 
person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding may file a 
request for a hearing. In accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c), a request for 
hearing must be filed within 30 days of the publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register. The request for a hearing must be filed with 
the Office of the Secretary, either:
    (1) By delivery to the Docketing and Service Branch of the Office 
of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD 20852; or
    (2) By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and 
Service Branch.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(e), each request for a hearing 
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:
    (1) The applicant, Power Resources, Inc., Suite 230, 800 Werner 
Court, Casper, Wyoming, 82601; and
    (2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for 
Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 
20852 or by mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 
2 of the NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person 
other than an applicant must describe in detail:
    (1) The interest of the requestor in the proceeding;
    (2) How that interest may be affected by the results of the 
proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted 
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in 
Sec. 2.1205(g);
    (3) The requestor's areas of concern about the licensing activity 
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    (4) The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing 
is timely in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c).
    The request must also set forth the specific aspect or aspects of 
the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes a 
hearing.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of August 1996.
Charlotte Abrams,
Acting Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 96-21286 Filed 8-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P