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Table of Contents 

6.0 TRIBES, INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES 

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6.1 Consultation by BLM .......................................................................... 6-1

6.2 Consultation by NRC .......................................................................... 6-2
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According to NEPA, federal agencies are required to prepare detailed statements 

that evaluate potential environmental impacts of and alternatives to federal 

undertakings that may affect the environment. The federal agencies are to 

disclose the potential impacts and alternatives of the undertakings, as well as 

encourage and facilitate public participation in the decision-making process. 

In compliance with NEPA, multiple agencies have evaluated the potential 

environmental impacts of and alternatives to the Project. These federal agencies 

include, but are not limited to, the BLM, NRC, USFWS, and EPA. Working 

closely with NRC and other federal agencies, the BLM has prepared this 

environmental document to focus on the evaluation of potential environmental 

impacts. With the cooperation of the BLM, other federal agencies and WDEQ, 

NRC also released environmental documents, the GEIS (NRC and WDEQ, 2009) 

and the SEIS (NRC, 2011), focusing on the evaluation of handling and managing 

uranium. 

Since both the BLM and NRC have consulted tribes, individuals, organizations, 

and agencies regarding the Project per NEPA requirements, the consultation of 

both the BLM and NRC is presented below. 

6.1 Consultation by BLM 

The development of an ISR Project generally begins with exploration work and 

progresses to full-scale licensing and permitting. The BLM’s involvement with 

the Project began with the necessary notice and approval of the Lost Creek 

Exploration Drilling Program. Part of the regulatory review processes for the 

exploratory work included archaeology. Formal consultation under Section 106 

of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, was initiated for the 

Project prior to the 2006 and 2007 archaeological surveys (Section 3.12). 

Tribes, individuals, organizations, and agencies have been and continue to be 

consulted regarding the Project. In accordance with the American Indian 

Religious Freedom Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, American 

Indian Tribes have been consulted regarding potentially sacred areas within the 

Permit Area. In addition, tribal governments are included on the mailing list for 

scoping letters and notices, and various other correspondence. 

As discussed in Section 1.0, notification of the scoping process was published in 

the Federal Register, in local newspapers, and was included in the BLM’s weekly 

report to the Washington, DC office as well as the BLM’s quarterly congressional 

briefing. The EPA, USFWS, State of Wyoming, Wyoming Game and Fish 
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Department, state and local government representatives, Native American tribes, 

local media, and interested organizations and individuals received a public 

scoping notification via email or mail. 

The BLM initiated coordination and consultation activities through the scoping 

process and contacted: 

x EPA; 

x USFWS; 

x State of Wyoming and its agencies; 

x WGFD; 

x Carbon County Commissioners; 

x Fremont County Commissioners; 

x Sweetwater County Commissioners; and 

x Coalition of Local Governments. 

The EPA, State of Wyoming, Carbon County Commissioners, and Sweetwater 

County Commissioners agreed to participate as cooperating agencies on the 

Project’s EIS. 

In addition, under Executive Order 13084, the BLM is required to establish 

regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Native American 

tribal governments on development of regulatory policies and issuance of permits 

that could significantly or uniquely affect their communities. The Arapaho Tribe, 

Shoshone Tribe, and Ute Tribe were mailed letters of invitation to become 

cooperating agencies in the Project’s EIS development process. 

A public scoping meeting was held at the BLM Rawlins Field Office on March 7, 

2011. Media interviews were conducted with The Radio Network, which 

operates a syndicated string of radio stations in southwest Wyoming. During the 

public scoping period, ten comment submittals (e.g., letter, comment form) were 

received and contain 57 comments. These comments were evaluated to identify 

key issues and concerns and to develop alternatives. 

6.2 Consultation by NRC 

NRC consulted with several tribes, individuals, organizations and agencies, 

including, but not limited to: 

x Bureau of Indian Affairs; 

x Eastern Shoshone Tribe; 

x Northern Arapaho Tribe; 

x USFWS; 

x BLM; 

x WDEQ; 
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x Wyoming SHPO; 

x WSEO; 

x WGFD; 

x Sweetwater County; 

x Fremont County; and 

x Town of Bairoil. 

Additional information about the consultations is presented in the order bulleted 

above. 

In January 2009, NRC and the Bureau of Indian Affairs had a meeting to discuss 

potential ISR facilities proposed in Wyoming and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ 

involvement in the development of the SEIS. 

In accordance with Executive Order 13175, NRC initiated discussions with 

potentially affected Native American tribes. In December 2008, NRC mailed 

letters to tribes that solicited comments and concerns about impacts to cultural 

resources by ISR projects. The tribes included the Eastern Shoshone, Northern 

Arapaho, Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Three Affiliated Tribes, Ft. Peck 

Assinboine/Sioux, Oglala Sioux, Crow, and Cheyenne River Sioux. NRC did not 

receive responses from the tribes on the general inquiry. 

However, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe 

and the Northern Arapaho Tribe have been consulted and informed of cultural 

resources identified within the Permit Area. The Tribal Historic Preservation 

Officer from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe visited the Permit Area and determined 

that it held no interest to the tribe. 

In compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended, NRC sent a letter to the USFWS in October 2008, requesting 

information to ensure that the Project does not jeopardize the continued existence 

of listed species or adversely affect designated critical habitats. In November 

2008, the Ecological Services’ Wyoming Field Office of the USFWS provided a 

list of T&E species potentially occurring in the Permit Area, discussed obligations 

to protect migratory birds, noted potential adverse impacts that could result from 

the land application of waste water, and recommended avoidance of wetland and 

riparian areas and protection of sensitive species. In January 2009, NRC and the 

USFWS Rawlins Office had a meeting to discuss site-specific issues (e.g., greater 

sage-grouse). 

NRC coordinated with the BLM during preparation of the SEIS. In January 2009, 

NRC and the BLM had meetings to discuss the administration of BLM lands, its 

concerns, and guidance on greater sage-grouse and cultural resources. In addition 

to the January 2009 meetings, NRC staff consulted with the BLM regarding the 

development of the SEIS. The NRC shared its preliminary and draft sections of 
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the SEIS, and ensured that the BLM was copied on all NRC correspondence with 

LCI. 

In January and June 2009, NRC met with the Wyoming Governor’s Planning 

Office, who cooperates with the BLM, WDEQ, and Wyoming SHPO. 

In January, June and September 2009, NRC and WDEQ had meetings to discuss 

the development of the SEIS. 

In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 

as amended, NRC sent a letter to the Wyoming SHPO in October 2008, 

requesting information to facilitate the identification of historic and cultural 

resources that could be affected by the Project. In January and June 2009, NRC 

and SHPO had meetings to discuss site-specific issues and protocol. 

In January 2009, NRC had a meeting with WSEO to discuss well permitting and a 

meeting with WGFD that generally focused on greater sage-grouse. 

NRC had meetings in January 2009 and phone calls with county and city 

representatives, including those from Sweetwater County, Fremont County, and 

the Town of Bairoil. In addition, NRC met with the Wyoming Community 

Development Authority in January 2009.