ABSTRACT
Environmental concerns associated with the front end of the uranium fuel cycle, particularly mining and milling, fall into two groups. The first is generally similar to those connected with other mineral projects: surface and wildlife habitat disturbances, and degradation of air and water quality. Since Colorado is an "agreement state" an Environmental Report is required and it is similar in nature to an environmental impact statement. Major environmental impact categories, aside from radiation hazards, are essentially the same as for coal operations: surface disturbance and degradation of air and water quality. The environmental impacts of an open-pit uranium mine differ from those of an underground mine. In 1977, 92 percent of United States uranium ore was produced from conventional mining operations, that is, underground or open-pit mines. Solution mining of uranium appears to offer significant environmental advantages over underground and open-pit mining. Surface disturbance is minimal and its reclamation is relatively simple.
