Black Range Minerals, which won approval of a conditional use permit two years ago for uranium exploration in the Tallahassee area northwest of Cañon City, will appear before the Fremont County Planning Commission Tuesday afternoon seeking to expand the permitted exploration area.
Black Range Minerals wants to expand their uranium exploration area by another 2,210 acres to a total of 10,379 acres. The original permit issued on July 14, 2008, allowed Black Range to conduct test drillings for uranium on the Taylor Ranch. Among the conditions set on Black Range’s original permit are requirements that address the hours of operation, documentation of a water source, access to the property, possible impacts to county roads, and requirements of a hydrologist monitoring each bore hole when they are sealed.
The Board of Commissioners also required the hiring of an independent third party consultant, Western Water and Land of Grand Junction which monitors the drilling activities of Black Range and submits quarterly reports to the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Department.
In a news release last May Black Range announced it had signed a letter of intent to acquire exclusive rights to the 30 million pound Hansen Uranium Deposit which adjoins the Taylor Ranch. Black Range said approximately 1,000 holes had been drilled in the 1970’s to define the Hansen Uranium Deposit. The deposit was fully permitted for mining in the early 1980’s but mining efforts were abandoned when uranium prices dropped.
Black Range would have to operate under the same conditions imposed by the original permit if an amendment is approved to allow the expanded exploration of more acreage.
The Black Range amendment is the only item of business on the Planning Commission’s agenda. The Commission meets at 4 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, August 3rd, in the County Commissioners meeting room on the lower level of the Fremont County Administration Building.