Uranium Symposium at Colorado State University Explores Scientific, Technical Questions
Note to Editors: Reporters interested in attending the symposium are asked to register as well as to RSVP to Dell Rae Moellenberg at 970-491-6009 or dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Scientific and technical issues around uranium mining will be discussed during a day-long symposium held at Colorado State University on Saturday, Feb. 2. Topics include toxicology, environmental assessment, fuel potential and risks of energy production, occupational health and safety, milling and in situ recovery.
The symposium will provide an overview of the basic sciences associated with uranium, particularly as it relates to environmental, medical and health questions, for professionals and members of the public. The symposium will not cover social or economic issues around uranium mining.
The symposium will be held in the East Ballroom of the Lory Student Center. Continuing Education credits, units or certification maintenance points may be available. The symposium and workshop is sponsored by Colorado State University; Mountain and Plains ERC, a NIOSH Education and Research Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety; and the Central Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Health Physics Society.
All presenters will be involved in a panel discussion and question-and-answer session.
A list of topics follows:
– Overview of radiation basics, presented by Craig Little, president of Two Lines Inc.
– Natural radiation: sources, relevance and uranium levels, presented by Ward Whicker, Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences professor emeritus at Colorado State University.
– Overview of conventional uranium mining and milling technologies, presented by John Hamrick, vice president of milling, Cotter Corp.
– Overview of in situ recovery technology, presented by Donna Wichers, senior vice president of In Situ Recovery Operations, Uranium One.
– Uranium toxicology and medical aspects, presented by Dr. Nancy Standler, Valley View Hospital, Cedar City, Utah.
– Historical perspective of the occupational health experience, presented by Dr. Karen B. Mulloy, Denver Health Center for Occupational Safety and Health.
– Overview of the uranium fuel cycle, presented by Tom Johnson, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health at Colorado State.
– Environmental assessment and measurement, presented by Janet Johnson, Tetra Tech Inc.
– Worker radiation protection at mines and mills, presented by Steve Brown, president of SHB Inc, and Jim Cain, environmental coordinator and radiation safety officer, Cotter Corp.
– Energy alternatives and risk comparisons, presented by Robert Meyer, Tetra Tech Inc.
– Case study: groundwater restoration results and long-term protection of underground sources of drinking water at Irigaray uranium in situ recovery project, presented by Wayne Heili, Ur Energy, Errol Lawrence, Petrotek.
– Case study: Sweetwater pit lake bioremediation, presented by Oscar Paulson, facility supervisor, Kennecott Uranium.
– Licensing process and oversight of uranium mills in Colorado, presented by Steve Tarlton, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, radiation management unit leader.
The symposium is available to the public and professionals for a $40 fee which includes lunch. Advanced registration is recommended because space is limited. Registration ends Feb. 2, and pre-registration is available at http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/HSCT/HSCT3010.dot.
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