OCR Text |
Show N I 5% ATLAS CORPORATIO RDifitzfcggngggg Seventeenth Street, Suite 3150 Telephone: (303) 825-1200 Fax: (303) 892-8808 - RICHARD E. BLUBAUGH Vice President Environmental and Governmental Affairs March 8, 1996 Residents of Castle Valley Castle Valley, Utah Attention: Mayor Valli Smouse, Castle Valley Town Rebecca Martin, Castle Valley Property Owners Association Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: Atlas’ proposed reclamation plan for capping the tailings at the existing site includes rock armoring to provide the long-term stability required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). After evaluating potential sources that could meet NRC’s stringent criteria, Atlas determined that Round Mountain in Castle Valley should be added to the list of potential rock sources. However, Atlas never intended to obtain all the required rock from Round Mountain. Only the large size rock (greater than 8 inches in diameter), less than 15% of the total rock required, was considered coming from this source. Consequently, the number of truck loads would have been limited to about 1,800. Assuming the transport was performed with four 20—ton trucks, the use of the Castle Valley road would have been limited to approximately two months. Early in the evaluation process, we recognized the sensitivity surrounding Round Mountain and only considered it as a last resort in case we could not obtain sufficient volume of large size rock elsewhere. However, after listening to the heartfelt and sincere comments from Castle Valley residents during the recent NRC public meeting in Moab (February 28), Atlas’ . management has decided to delete Round Mountain from its list of potential rock sources. ' Atlas believes the vast majority of the required rock can be obtained from other sources without a significant increase in costs. The alternate sources being considered will preclude transportation through Castle Valley. Atlas is aware that many Castle Valley residents object to the capping of the tailings pile in its existing location. Your beliefs and opinions may or may not change as you |