Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials will conduct public meetings in Gillette and Casper this week regarding a generic permitting process for in-situ leach uranium mining.

The agency is preparing for an onslaught of permit applications to launch at least 14 new in-situ leach uranium mine operations across the West, most of them in Wyoming. In response, the commission launched a generic environmental impact statement meant to address general issues regarding in-situ uranium mining.

The in-situ leach process involves a series of closely spaced wells that flush a sodium bicarbonate solution into uranium ore-bearing formations. The solubolized material is brought to surface and separated.

So far, citizens and local officials have listed groundwater consumption and contamination among chief concerns. Surface disturbance is another consideration. A single in-situ production field requires several hundred wells spaced only 75 feet apart.

James Park, project manager for the NRC's generic EIS, said each meeting will begin with an hour-long open house where people can visit one-on-one with NRC officials. The public meeting portion will have a 45-minute presentation about the NRC and the generic EIS process. Park said members of the public are welcome to provide information, comments and ask questions after the presentation.

Members of the public may register to present oral comments at the meetings by contacting Tarsha Moon at (800) 362-5642 ext. 7843, or Antoinette Walker-Smith at (800) 368-5642 ext. 6390.

Those who wish to make comments may also register at the meetings, but comments may be limited by time available.

Contact energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be at (307) 577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com