Powertech (USA), Inc. - Environmental Permits
Powertech (USA), Inc. is a uranium company that plans to develop an in situ uranium mining operation in Custer and Fall River Counties in southwestern South Dakota (see Powertech's web site at http://www.powertechuranium.com. DENR has developed a Uranium Question and Answer Fact Sheet which describes the in situ mining process.
To help disseminate this environmental permit information, DENR will post permit applications submitted by Powertech on this page and will provide updates on the status of DENR reviews of the applications. Anyone wanting to provide comments on the permit applications can either email them to DENR or mail them to DENR at 523 East Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501. Each permit may have its own requirements on when public comments may be received and considered. Please consult the individual permit pages for more information on public comment periods. Any comments submitted before the the published comment deadlines for each permit application will become part of the permit file and will be considered by DENR staff who are involved in the review of permit applications and drafting of permits.
We have also provided links to applications submitted to the federal government by Powertech, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) uranium recovery license application and the EPA Underground Injection Control permit application below.
Permit Applications
2. Mine Permits
3. Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permits
4. Ground Water Discharge Permit
Consolidated Contested Case Hearing for Ground Water Discharge and Water Rights Permit Applications
On February 8, 2013, Everett Hoyt, acting as prehearing chairman on behalf of the state Water Management Board, ruled that Water Right Permit Applications (Nos. 2685-2 and 2686-2) and the Ground Water Discharge Permit Application (GWD 1-13) be consolidated for purposes of conducting a contested case hearing on the applications.
- Consolidated Case Webpage -- includes documents pertaining to the contested case hearing for the water right permit applications and ground water discharge permit application.
- Hearing Dates: 8:30 am on Monday Oct 7, 2013 through Oct 11, 2013 as needed. If necessary, the evidentiary hearing will reconvene and conclude during week of Oct 28, 2013.
- Hearing Location: Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, 2111 N LaCrosse Street, Rapid City SD.
Consolidated Contested Case Information
Contested Case Hearing for Mine Permit Application
A contested case hearing on Powertech's large scale mine permit application will be held before the Board of Minerals and Environment in Rapid City, South Dakota beginning on Monday, September 23, 2013. The hearing will begin at 8:30 am MDT at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center located at 2111 N. LaCrosse Street in Rapid City and continue thereafter until completed. The Board of Minerals and Environment in its discretion may adjourn and reconvene if necessary to complete the case. Documents pertaining to the contested case hearing can be viewed at Powertech's Large Scale Mine Permit Application Webpage.
Links to Federal Applications
1. NRC Uranium Recovery License Application
2. EPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) Application
3. EPA Class V Underground Injection Control (UIC) Application (link not available at this time)
- Powertech UIC V Letter (72 KB pdf) January 4, 2010
- DENR UIC V Letter Powertech ( 60 KB pdf) February 23, 2010- Powertech Class V and GWD letter (1 MB pdf) April 20, 2010
- DENR UIC V comments to EPA (112 KB pdf) July 2, 2010
Links to Federal NRC Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
(NRC is soliciting comments on this EIS until January 7, 2013. Please refer to the instructions in Volume 1 for submitting comments to NRC.)
