Show Approves New Contract For Uranium Mill Mil At Moab Word Wont was received Monday by Mitchell president Uranium Uranium Uranium Ura Ura- Reduction company that the Atomic Energy Commission had approved the new contract extending purchases of uranium uranium ura ura- concentrate from March Marih 31 to December 31 31 1966 1006 Initial announcement of thelong thelong the thelong long awaited approval was made mad at the Monday noon meeting of the Moab Rotary club by Roy Hollis general manager of ot tho the Moab mill In making the announcement It was explained that the con tract had not yet been signed but that it was a certainty that signing would take place within a few Cew days daS With the approval of the contract contract con con- tract Western Knapp Engineers of San Francisco were given the go ahead to start work on a Q 2 million ore processing conversion conversion conver conver- sion slon program it was reported by Mr The c conversion includes the construction and installation of an entirely new leaching circuit for the purpose of removing lime from the ores The present process process pro pro- cess involves the use of acid add as the dissolving agent which because because because be be- cause of the large amount of add acid required one pound of acid add acido to o each pound of lime the expense ex ex- expense pense of preparing concentrates h fiat has been extremely high The Tho new process known as carbonate carbon carbon- ute tile leaching using soda ash Instead in instead in In- stead of acid will reduce the costs at lit the mill substantially It was reported In addition the new process will VIII be economically Important since C it will reduce maintenance costs diminishing the corrosion of machinery buildings It Is expected that Western Knapp will employ about 80 SO workers for the new construe construction Ion Hon which Is expected to take tako eight months These employees will will move Into Moab since no living facilities are being planned at 1 t the mill The conversion will neither r add nor decrease the present number of employees when completed com com- completed officials stated It is not expected that he conversion work wU will wilf with regular r snail operation The conversion will not alter the mills mill's capacity since the present present pre pro sent and new contract with places a n maximum 1500 tons of oC uranium ore per day Announcement that the mill contract would be extended to the end of 1966 1006 was received with in Moab since it provides the largest single payroll In this area It employs an average of persons |