3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 

This chapter describes the current conditions of the resources that might be 

affected by the Project. The Permit Area is located in the Great Divide Basin of 

Wyoming and is in the northeastern corner of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, 

near Carbon County, Wyoming. The Permit Area is about 15 miles southwest of 

Bairoil, Wyoming, about 38 miles northwest of Rawlins, and about 90 miles 

southwest of Casper. The Permit Area consists of 201 unpatented federal lode 

claims and one state mineral lease totaling approximately 4,254 acres. 

The regional landscape consists of rolling plains with some draws, rock 

outcroppings, ridges, bluffs and some isolated mountainous areas. Vegetation is 

primarily sagebrush and rabbitbrush. The area is sparsely populated, and the 

closest residence is approximately 15 miles from the Permit Area boundary. The 

weather is dry and windy, with short, hot summers and cold winters. There is no 

perennial surface water, although there are a few ephemeral drainages that can 

convey surface water during spring snowmelt and following intense rainstorms. 

The resources described in this section include: 

x Land Use; 

x Transportation; 

x Geology, Ore Mineralogy and Seismology; 

x Soils; 

x Surface Water, Wetlands and Aquatic Ecology; 

x Groundwater; 

x Vegetation; 

x Wildlife; 

x Wild Horses; 

x Meteorology, Climatology and Air Quality; 

x Noise; 

x Historic and Cultural Resources; 

x Visual and Scenic Resources; 

x Socioeconomic Conditions; and 

x Background Radiology. 

The description of the affected environment is based on available information 

from sources, such as the US Geological Survey, and on data collected by LCI 

and provided in the Technical Report in support of the NRC License (LCI, 2010) 

and in the WDEQ-LQD Permit to Mine and associated Mine Unit 1 documents 

(LCI, 2011b). The information in this chapter forms the basis for assessing the 

potential impacts of the Proposed Action and viable alternatives and for 

developing effective monitoring and mitigation measures. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 

3-1 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Land Use 

The land within the Permit Area is entirely publicly owned. Eighty-five percent is 

public land, managed by the BLM through the Rawlins and Lander Field Offices, 

and fifteen percent is owned by the State of Wyoming (Figure 3.1-1). The 

surrounding area is also largely publicly owned, with the majority being public 

land and a smaller percentage being state land and scattered private holdings, 

including mineral claims. 

3.1.1 Historic and Existing Land Use 

The historic land uses of the Permit Area and vicinity over the last century include 

livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, dispersed recreation, minerals and energy 

development, and infrastructure, and are comparable to the existing land uses. 

Each land use is discussed below. In addition, the wilderness characteristics of 

the area, originally evaluated in 1979, were reviewed in accordance with Section 

603 of the FLPMA. 

3.1.1.1 Livestock Grazing 

The primary land use in the Permit Area is rangeland for cattle and sheep; no 

farms, residences, or population centers are present. The only agricultural 

production within the Permit Area and vicinity is related to livestock grazing,

which is managed in accordance with BLM grazing regulations (43 CFR 4100). 

The Permit Area lies at the intersection of three BLM grazing allotments: Stewart 

Creek, Cyclone Rim, and Green Mountain (Figure 3.1-2). The Stewart Creek 

grazing allotment occupies 182,800 acres (170,209 public acres); Cyclone Rim 

occupies 308,608 acres (291,954 public acres); Green Mountain occupies 522,290

acres (468,407 public acres). The Stewart Creek grazing allotment has 1,214 

acres within the Permit Area (0.7 percent of the total grazing allotment). The 

Cyclone Rim grazing allotment has 2,170 acres within the Permit Area (0.7 

percent of the total grazing allotment), and the Green Mountain grazing allotment 

has 870 acres within the Permit Area (0.2 percent of the total grazing allotment). 

3.1-1 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-2
3.1-3 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The Stewart Creek and Cyclone Rim grazing allotments are managed by the BLM 

Rawlins Field Office. Animal Unit Months (AUMs) of summer and winter 

grazing are associated with each allotment. An AUM is a common unit of 

measure defined as the amount of forage to sustain one mature cow and calf (or 

the equivalent) for one month. The total AUMs of these two allotments are: 

x Stewart Creek 

o Summer Cattle: 8,894 AUMs (8,418 AUMs for public land) 

o Winter Cattle: 11,034 AUMs (10,472 AUMs for public land) 

x Cyclone Rim 

o Summer Cattle: 22,304 AUMs (21,060 AUMs for public land) 

o Winter Cattle: 27,504 AUMs (26,012 AUMs for public land) 

The portion of the Stewart Creek allotment within the Permit Area provides as 

much as 80 AUMs of cattle grazing, and the portion of the Cyclone Rim allotment 

within the Permit Area provides as much as 205 AUMs of cattle grazing. 

The Green Mountain allotment is managed by the BLM Lander Field Office. The 

total AUMs for the Green Mountain allotment is 66,657 AUMs (57,638 AUMs 

for public land). About 76 percent of the Green Mountain allotment’s AUMs are 

permitted for cattle and about 24 percent are permitted for sheep. Sheep and 

cattle use is not separated on the allotment geographically, but rather by season of 

use. Cattle use within the Permit Area occurs between May and October, 

dependent on the rotation schedule. Sheep use in the Permit Area is permitted in 

the fall and winter, beginning in late October through March. Within the Permit 

Area, the Green Mountain allotment provides as much as 125 AUMs of grazing. 

Water sources that support this grazing are discussed in Sections 3.5 and 3.6.

3.1.1.2 Wildlife Habitat 

Of the land management regimes and priorities affecting wildlife habitat in 

Wyoming (WGFD, 2005b and 2012), five are discussed due to proximity to the 

Permit Area and per regulatory requirement:

x Wild Horse Management Areas or Herd Management Areas (HMAs);

x Wilderness Areas; 

x Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs); 

x Wildlife Habitat Management Areas (WHMAs); and 

x Greater Sage-Grouse Core Areas. 

Herd Management Areas (HMAs) 

The BLM manages wild horses in HMAs, establishing appropriate management

levels (AMLs) for each HMA. An AML is the ideal population of wild horses for 

a specific area, ensuring a thriving ecological balance among all the users and 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-4

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

resources of the HMA (wildlife, livestock, wild horses, vegetation, water, and 

soil). In Wyoming about 5,000 wild horses are managed within 16 different 

HMAs (Figure 3.1-3).

There are 11 HMAs in the Project region: two in Carbon County and nine in 

Sweetwater County. These 11 HMAs account for 62 percent of the area used for 

wild horse management in Wyoming. The Permit Area overlaps two HMAs: the 

Lost Creek HMA and the Stewart Creek HMA; less than one percent of the two 

HMAs are within the Permit Area. While there are specified AMLs for the Lost 

Creek HMA and the Stewart Creek HMA, the horses are free to roam and are not 

confined to HMAs. Section 3.9 provides more detailed discussion of the region’s 

wild horses. 

Wilderness Areas 

Wyoming has 13 Wilderness Areas. As defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964, 

Wilderness Areas are generally in natural condition, provide outstanding 

opportunity for solitude and primitive recreation, are at least 5,000 acres, and are 

of ecological, geological or other nature-of-history value. There are no 

Wilderness Areas in Sweetwater County; however, there are three Wilderness 

Areas in Carbon County: Hudson Park, Encampment River and Savage Run 

Wildernesses. As shown on Figure 3.1-3, the closest Wilderness Areas are about 

60 miles away from the Permit Area. 

Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) 

Wyoming has several WSAs, which are lands under wilderness review. WSAs 

are managed in a manner so as to not impair their suitability for preservation as 

wilderness until they are designated by Congress as wilderness or until they are 

released from further wilderness consideration in accordance with FLPMA and 

the Wilderness Act (BLM, 1995). Six WSAs are within 50 miles of the Permit 

Area. These WSAs are Split Rock, Ferris Mountain, Bennett Mountain, Alkali 

Basin/Sand Dunes, Honeycomb Buttes, and Sweetwater Canyon (Figure 3.1-3).

Wildlife Habitat Management Areas (WHMAs) 

WGFD has 36 designated WHMAs (Figure 3.1-3), which are areas that are 

designed to protect and enhance crucial habitats, such as migration corridors, 

wintering habitat, and foraging grounds. The WHMAs in Carbon County include: 

Red Rim-Grizzly, Red Rim-Daley, Pennock Mountain, Wick/Beumee, and 

Morgan Creek. The only WHMA in Sweetwater County, and the closest WHMA 

to the Permit Area, is Chain Lakes, which is about six miles south of the Permit 

Area and is designated for antelope habitat. 

3.1-5 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-6
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Greater Sage-Grouse Core Areas 

Greater Sage-Grouse Core Areas have been designated throughout Wyoming for 

the protection of Greater sage-grouse. Section 3.8.3.2 discusses the core areas, 

including the area in which the Project is located. 

3.1.1.3 Dispersed Recreation 

The BLM uses the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) to identify and 

characterize recreational opportunities on public lands in terms of setting, activity, 

and experience. The ROS has six classes: Primitive, Semi-Primitive NonMotorized, Semi-Primitive Motorized, Roaded Natural, Rural, and Urban. Each 

class is based on physical (remoteness, naturalness, facilities), social (social 

encounters, evidence of use), and managerial (visitor services, management 

controls, user fees) conditions. The physical conditions of the Permit Area appear 

natural, except for primitive roads, nearby improved roads that may be visible, 

and other evidence of activity related to development of oil, gas, and uranium and 

to livestock grazing. In other words, modifications to and management of the 

natural setting are noticeable but may blend with the natural environment. Public 

access is managed by the BLM as Front Country, Middle Country, or Back 

Country. The Permit Area is designated as Middle Country, which is located 

more than 0.5 miles from improved roads. Middle Country access does not 

restrict natural resource development and allows motorized and mechanized uses 

in most areas with some restrictions. At the Permit Area, the frequency of contact 

with other parties, and the likelihood of hearing engine noise and observing 

motorized vehicle tracks are moderate. In addition, managerial controls and 

services are limited in the Permit Area. Therefore, due to its physical, social, and 

managerial conditions, the Permit Area is considered Roaded Natural to Rural. 

Dispersed recreation activities of the region include sightseeing, wild horse 

viewing, hunting, hiking, picnicking, rock hounding, horseback riding, mountain 

biking, and camping. The Permit Area is within the Western Extensive 

Recreation Management Area (ERMA) of the BLM Rawlins Field Office. The 

Western ERMA extends to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail 

(CDNST) Special Recreation Management Area. The closest section of the 

CDNST is about eight miles northeast of the Permit Area (Section 3.13.2). 

Recreational uses of the CDNST include hiking, mountain biking, horseback 

riding, and limited motor vehicle use. 

About 14 miles north of the Permit Area lies Green Mountain, which provides the 

only developed recreation facilities in an alpine setting in a several hundred 

square-mile area. Green Mountain has one developed campground with 18 

campsites, water, toilets, and other amenities. The campground is under-used and 

is closed during elk calving season. Common recreational activities at and near 

Green Mountain include sightseeing, hunting, rock hounding, wild horse viewing, 

3.1-7 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

fishing, mountain biking, and picnicking. There are additional primitive camping 

areas available for campers with recreational vehicles and tents. 

The closest portion of the Rawlins-Fort Washakie Stage Road is located 

approximately four miles northeast of the Permit Area (BLM, 2009e), and 

portions of the road parallel Highway 287 from Rawlins to Lander. The road was 

developed in the latter half of the 1800s to serve the headquarters of the Wind 

River Indian Reservation; however, the road is not well marked, mapped, or used 

currently. 

There are no designated recreation areas or facilities within two miles of the 

Permit Area, although there is some dispersed recreational use, such as hunting. 

Hunting is a major past-time for Wyoming residents and non-residents alike. The 

hunting season is typically from September through December, with the highest 

activity in October and November. In Wyoming, hunting can occur on both 

public and private land. Both state and federal agencies provide access to lands 

and include: the State Trust Land Office, the US Forest Service (USFS), and the 

BLM. The WGFD manages popular large game, including mule deer, whitetailed deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, big horn sheep, and mountain goats as well as 

game birds, such as: spotted, blue, and ruffled grouse; wild turkey; and pheasant. 

The Permit Area is located in Antelope Hunt Area 61 (Chain Lakes) and Deer 

Hunt Area 98 (Chain Lakes). In 2008, antelope and mule deer were the only two 

species reported as harvested within these Hunt Areas. Antelope were harvested 

more successfully than mule deer. In 210 hunter days, 70 antelope were 

harvested with an 80-percent success rate. In 558 hunter days, only 46 mule deer 

were harvested with a 33-percent success rate (WGFD, 2008a). The harvest totals 

reported include buck, doe, and fawn antelope and deer. 

3.1.1.4 Minerals and Energy Development 

Uranium 

Wyoming has been the nation’s leading producer of uranium ore since 1995, and 

hosts the nation's largest uranium reserves (Wyoming State Geological Survey, 

2010). While conventional uranium mining, i.e., open pit and underground 

mining, has primarily been used in Wyoming, ISR mining has also been used.

Figure 3.1-4 shows the uranium mines in the northern portion of the Great Divide 

Basin and adjacent areas – some of which were not developed and most of which 

are in reclamation or have been reclaimed by the operator or the WDEQ.

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-8

July 2012 
3.1-9 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 

gjg
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The closest uranium project to the Permit Area is Kennecott Uranium Company’s 

Sweetwater Project. The northern boundary of the Sweetwater Project is one mile 

south-southwest of the southern Permit Area boundary (Figure 3.1-1 and Figure 

3.1-4). The Sweetwater Project once included an open pit mine and a mill; the 

mine was reclaimed by the operator and the mill is on standby. Plans to redevelop 

a previous ISR project, the Bison Basin Project, about 25 miles northwest of the 

Permit Area, were deferred indefinitely (Wildhorse Energy, 2010). 

To the northwest, in the Gas Hills of the Wind River Basin, there was 

considerable historic uranium mining. Most of the sites are in reclamation or 

have been reclaimed by the operator or the WDEQ. There is some continued 

mining interest, including exploration work, one ISR project in permitting, and 

potential restart of surface mining. These projects are on the order of 50 miles 

from the Permit Area, in a different geologic and ecological setting. 

Existing uranium-related activities in the north-central portion of the Great Divide 

Basin are primarily exploration drilling and, in a few locations, more testing to 

better define ore distribution, subsurface characteristics, and baseline conditions. 

Exploration for other resources, such as oil and gas, often involve seismic testing 

or other procedures that provide relatively detailed subsurface information before 

drilling begins. However, to delineate uranium deposits, few tools are available 

other than drilling to obtain cores and geophysical data. Therefore, exploration 

begins with widely spaced drill holes and the spacing is reduced to focus efforts 

on areas of greater potential. Most of the locations identified as specific uranium 

exploration areas on Figure 3.1-5 have had some drilling on them over time, and 

scattered exploration drilling has also occurred outside these areas. The discovery 

of uranium deposits in the Permit Area and consequential exploratory drilling and 

studies and property transfers have occurred over the course of four decades:

x Pre-1976: Numerous companies held the property; uranium mineralization 

was discovered by Climax Uranium and Conoco. 

x 1976: Texasgulf optioned property from Valley Development Inc. 

x 1977 through 1979: Texasgulf optioned property from Valley 

Development Inc., delineated the main trend of the mineralization, 

obtained a 50-percent interest in the Conoco claims on the trend to the 

east, and exercised its option with Valley Development Inc. 

x 1986: Power Nuclear Corporation acquired the properties. 

x 2000: Power Nuclear Corporation sold its Lost Creek properties to New 

Frontiers Uranium, LLC. 

x 2005: New Frontiers Uranium, LLC transferred its Wyoming properties 

and data, including its Lost Creek property, to NFU Wyoming, LLC 

(NFU). 

x 2005: Ur-Energy USA Inc. purchased NFU from New Frontiers Uranium, 

LLC on terms. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-10

July 2012 
3.1-11 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

x 2007: Ur-Energy USA Inc. completed the acquisition of NFU from New 

Frontiers Uranium, LLC and maintained NFU as a wholly owned 

subsidiary. Ur-Energy USA Inc. formed LCI to develop the Lost Creek 

property and transferred the Lost Creek property from NFU to LCI. 

At least 560 uranium exploration holes were drilled in the Permit Area prior to 

2000. Information on the well identification, location, total depth, and completion 

date of these historic exploration holes is discussed in Sections 3.3 and 3.6. The 

LCI claims are shown on Figure 3.1-6.

Oil and Natural Gas 

There has been scattered oil and gas exploration drilling in the northern portion of 

the Great Divide Basin. These drilling locations are identified in the Class I UIC 

Permit, which was prepared for LCI by Petrotek in 2010 and is included as 

Attachment ADJ-2 of the WDEQ-LQD Permit to Mine (LCI, 2011b). The closest 

producing well is about eight miles southwest of the Permit Area. Leases also 

exist in the northern portion of the Basin, including leases within the Permit Area 

(Figure 3.1-7); however, there are no known plans for development of these 

leases. 

The Lost Soldier-Wertz Oil Fields near Bairoil were discovered in the early 1900s 

and continue to be produced. The closest portion of these fields is 16 miles 

northeast of the Permit Area. The oil fields are in their final stage of production, 

under carbon dioxide injection (enhanced oil recovery) since 1989. The Bison 

Basin Oil Field is another old field and is about 25 miles to the west-northwest of 

the Permit Area (Figure 3.1-5).

The most extensive development in the region relates to the Continental Divide 

and Creston Blue Gap gas fields and subsequent infill projects (Figure 3.1-5).

The development is on the checkerboard pattern of private and federal surface and 

mineral ownership that resulted from historic land grants from the federal 

government for railroad development. One infill project is the Wind Dancer 

Natural Gas Development Project (WDNGDP), which encompasses about 6,400 

acres 18 miles southwest of the Permit Area. The WDNGDP consists of the 

drilling, completion, and operation of up to 12 natural gas wells and associated 

facilities (access roads, pipelines, utility corridors). The WDNGDP started in

2004 with an anticipated life of 30 years. Another infill project, the Continental 

Divide-Creston Project, is in planning, as discussed in the next section. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-12

July 2012 
3.1-13 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-14
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The Atlantic Rim coal bed methane and natural gas development project covers 

270,080 acres, located approximately 31 miles south of the Permit Area (Figure 

3.1-5). The northern portion of this project is in the checkerboard ownership 

pattern. In March 2007, the BLM published a Record of Decision regarding the 

Final EIS for this project (BLM, 2007a). Work began that year on the 1,800 coal 

bed methane wells and 200 natural gas wells to be drilled over a 20-year period 

and to be in production for 30 to 50 years. 

Coal and Coal Bed Methane

There are no surface or underground coal mines in the eastern portion of the Great 

Divide Basin. There are two coal mines (the Bridger and Black Butte Mines) in 

the western portion of the Great Divide Basin. The Bridger Mine is located 

approximately 51 miles southwest of the Permit Area within Sweetwater County. 

It occupies approximately 10,054 acres of disturbed land. The Bridger Mine 

produced approximately 6.1 million tons of coal in 2009 (Wyoming Mining 

Association, 2010). The Bridger Coal Company submitted a coal “lease by 

application” to convert surface mining operations to underground mining in order 

to extend the life of the mine. The Black Butte Mine, located approximately 52 

miles southwest of the Permit Area and also in Sweetwater County, encompasses 

approximately 11,483 acres of disturbed land. It produced 3.8 million tons of coal 

in 2009 (Wyoming Mining Association, 2010). 

Historically, there was interest in mining coal in the northern portion of the Basin 

for the railroad, but the difficulty of mining, due in part to steeply dipping beds 

along the Basin margins, discouraged development (Smith, 1909). Subsequent 

development of more readily accessible coal in the Hanna Basin to the east and in 

the mines in the western portion of the State further discouraged development. 

Several surface mines and one underground mine are in reclamation in the Hanna 

Basin, which is about 75 miles east of the Permit Area. The Elk Mountain Mine,

which is producing, is located in the Carbon Basin approximately 85 miles east of 

the proposed Project. This mine produced 262,065 tons of coal in 2009 

(Wyoming Mining Association, 2010). A surface coal gasification facility was 

also considered in the Carbon Basin, but there are no definitive plans at present. 

One underground coal gasification project, currently in reclamation, is located 

about 20 miles south-southwest of the Permit Area on the eastern margin of the 

Great Divide Basin. It was permitted by the WDEQ-LQD as a Research and 

Development Project, and minimal gasification activities were conducted. 

The nearest coal bed methane project is the Atlantic Rim Project, which includes 

both coal bed methane and natural gas development, as noted above in the Oil and 

Natural Gas subsection. A pilot coal bed methane project, the Pappy Draw 

Exploratory Project, was approved by BLM in 2008 (BLM, 2008b). The 

proposed location was in the vicinity of the proposed JAB and Antelope uranium 

claims about five miles north of the Permit Area (Figure 3.1-5). However, the 

3.1-15 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

pilot project was terminated, and new approvals would be needed for any 

additional efforts (BLM, 2009a). 

3.1.1.5 Infrastructure 

The Permit Area is served by an Interstate Highway (I-80), a US Highway (US 

287), Wyoming State routes (SR 220 and 73 to Bairoil), local County roads, and 

BLM roads. There are no maintained roads within the Permit Area. 

Transportation is discussed in Section 3.2.

Wyoming has a network of pipelines that deliver carbon dioxide, oil, natural gas, 

and water throughout the State. The Permit Area is between two natural gas 

pipelines (Figure 3.1-8). The pipeline 2.6 miles to the west of the Permit Area 

boundary is the Entrega section of the Rocky Mountain Express LLC Pipeline. 

The pipeline 3.6 miles to the east of the Permit Area boundary is the True Oil 

Company/Maverick Pipeline that runs northeast through the State. 

There is a power line that extends north-south along the western boundary of the 

Permit Area. The right-of-way (ROW) easement for this power line is 25 feet 

wide. 

3.1.1.6 Wilderness Characteristics 

The FLPMA requires the BLM to maintain an inventory of public lands and the 

resources contained within the lands, including the wilderness characteristics of 

the lands. An Instruction Memorandum developed in July of 2011 outlines the 

steps to perform a wilderness characteristics inventory on BLM land (BLM, 

2011f). Wilderness is defined as “an area where the earth and its community of 

life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not 

remain” (BLM, 2001). Land is considered to have wilderness characteristics if it 

meets these criteria: 

x 5,000 acres or more of roadless land; 

x Affected primarily by the forces of nature; and 

x Outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined 

recreation. 

While wilderness characteristic inventories have been done in the past, the 

FLPMA requires that these inventories be maintained and updated to reflect any 

changes (BLM, 2001). As changes may have occurred since the last inventory 

was conducted, a wilderness characteristic inventory was performed to update a 

past inventory with respect to the Permit Area and adjacent lands (Appendix B).

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-16

July 2012 
3.1-17 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The wilderness characteristics of the Seven Lakes Area (Inventory Unit No. WY030-049), which includes the Permit Area, were evaluated in 1979. The 

evaluation concluded that the Seven Lakes Area “does not have potential for 

wilderness” primarily because “[m]an’s activities are noticeable most 

everywhere”, including the crisscross of roads and other evidence of activity 

related to the development of oil, gas, and uranium and to livestock grazing. 

The conditions have changed little since the 1979 evaluation. Various features 

related to human activities within and near the Permit Area include a transmission 

line, fences, well improvements, and roads; and photographs of these features are 

included in Appendix B. Some of the roads are currently maintained, such as the 

Wamsutter-Crooks Gap Road and the Sooner Road at the west and east ends, 

respectively, of the Access Roads to the Permit Area. Other observations of 

human disturbance along roads are residual impacts of exploration activities 

conducted prior to current requirements for road reclamation. Many of the 

residual roads are evident on the US Geological Survey (USGS) maps for the 

area. Existing surface disturbances in the Permit Area are discussed in more 

detail in Section 3.4.6.

While most of the human influence would be substantially unnoticeable when 

examined alone, the cumulative effect of the dirt roads, fences, wells, and power 

lines creates a landscape that has been significantly impacted by man. As such, 

the region was determined to not meet the naturalness criteria, and is not

considered as land with wilderness characteristics. 

3.1.2 Planned Land Use 

The existing land uses of livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, dispersed recreation, 

minerals and energy development, and infrastructure are expected to continue.

No new land uses are expected; however, some changes to existing uses are 

expected. Potential changes to livestock grazing, such as the changes to the 

Green Mountain Grazing Allotment (if implemented), are not anticipated to affect 

the Project (BLM, 2011d; Dayton, 2011). No changes in the existing land uses 

for wildlife habitat and dispersed recreation are anticipated. Changes in minerals 

and energy development and infrastructure are described below. 

3.1.2.1 Minerals and Energy Development 

Both Carbon and Sweetwater Counties are experiencing considerable natural 

resource development, much of which is related to oil and gas exploration and 

production. Based on publicly available information, no projects are currently 

planned in the Permit Area; however, several projects are proposed in the Project 

region (Figure 3.1-5).

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-18 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Uranium 

The closest proposed ISR project to the Permit Area is Uranium One, Inc.’s JABAntelope Project, which encompasses two areas located about three miles north 

and seven miles northwest of the Permit Area. In August 2009, the NRC issued 

an NOI to prepare an SEIS for that project (74 FR 41174, 14 August 2009). 

However, in October 2009, Uranium One, Inc. requested deferral of the NRC 

review (Uranium One, Inc., 2010), and the projected submittal date is NRC’s 

2013 fiscal year (NRC, 2012). 

In August 2011, the BLM started public scoping for the Sheep Mountain Project, 

a conventional mine and heap leach recovery operation about 18 miles north of 

the Permit Area (BLM, 2011h). 

Ur-Energy has the following claim blocks that may be developed after additional 

exploration and after permitting with federal, state, and county agencies: 

x Lost Creek North, immediately north; 

x Lost Creek South, immediately south-southwest; 

x EN, about three miles southeast; 

x Toby and ER, about four miles southeast; 

x North Hadsell, about eight miles north and northeast; 

x Lost Soldier, about nine miles northeast; 

x Arrow, about ten miles west-northwest; and 

x RS, about 12 miles north. 

Oil and Natural Gas 

Although there is research on further enhanced oil recovery from the Lost SoldierWertz Fields (Yin et al., 2012), no specific projects are planned. In February 

2012, the BLM Lander Field Office published a Scoping Notice for work to 

improve production from the existing Bison Basin Oil Field (BLM, 2012a). The 

improvements include ten new wells and facility improvements with an 

anticipated life of 20 years. 

The approximately 1.1-million-acre Continental Divide-Creston Project involves 

drilling and development of about 9,000 wells with associated facilities (roads, 

pipelines, compressor stations, power system) by numerous companies to further 

develop natural gas resources within the existing Continental Divide and Creston 

Blue Gap natural gas fields. The anticipated duration of the project is 15 years for 

construction and 30 to 40 years of project development and operation. The 

northern boundary of the proposed project is about seven miles south of the 

Permit Area. The BLM published a Scoping Notice in April 2006 (BLM, 2006), 

and work on the draft EIS is on-going. 

3.1-19 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Wind 

The closest proposed wind power project is the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre 

Wind Energy Project. This Project has two areas located 40 and 44 miles 

southeast of the Permit Area in Carbon County, south of Rawlins. This 1,000-

turbine wind farm is proposed by the Power Company of Wyoming; construction 

of the project is anticipated to begin in 2012 (Power Company of Wyoming,

2011). The BLM published a final EIS in July 2012 (BLM, 2012b). 

3.1.2.2 Infrastructure 

Two large proposed transmission projects of the Project region are the TransWest 

Express Transmission Project and the Gateway West Transmission Project 

(Figure 3.1-5). The TransWest Express Transmission Project includes a 600-

kilovolt direct-current transmission system that will extend about 725 miles from 

south-central Wyoming, through northwestern Colorado and central Utah, to 

southern Nevada. The Western Area Power Administration and TransWest 

Express, LLC would be joint owners of the extra-high-voltage line designed to 

carry renewable power generated in Wyoming to the Desert Southwest. This 

project is anticipated to begin construction in 2013 (TransWest Express, LLC, 

2011). The transmission line would be as close as about 30 miles directly south 

of the Permit Area, although an alternate route could be closer. 

The Gateway West Transmission Project is a collaborative effort between Idaho 

Power Company and Rocky Mountain Power to construct and operate 230- and 

500-kilovolt transmission lines from Glenrock, Wyoming to Melba, Idaho. This 

project is composed of 11 transmission line segments with a total length of 

approximately 1,000 miles across southern Wyoming and southern Idaho. This 

proposed project crosses approximately 500 miles of public land managed by the 

BLM, including 200 miles in Wyoming. This project is scheduled for line 

segments to be completed in phases between 2014 and 2018 (Idaho Power 

Company and Rocky Mountain Power, 2011). The transmission line would be as 

close as 30 miles south of the Permit Area. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.1-20

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.2 Transportation 

This section provides a description of the regional and on-site transportation 

network that is relevant to the Project. Most transportation would use the road 

network, but goods may be transported by rail to and from Wamsutter. The road

network would be used for: 

x shipments of construction materials, process chemicals, office supplies, 

and related materials from suppliers to the Plant; 

x shipment of yellowcake slurry to an off-site drying facility; 

x shipments of waste material to be disposed of off-site; and 

x movement of personnel to and from the site and within the Permit Area. 

3.2.1 Regional Transportation Corridors 

The transportation system serving the Project relies almost exclusively on existing 

public roads and highways (Figure 3.2-1). Automobiles and trucks are the 

primary mode of transportation. The local and regional transportation network 

relevant to the Project consists of primary, secondary, local, and unimproved 

roads. The Permit Area is served by an Interstate Highway (I-80); a US Highway 

(US 287); Wyoming State routes (SR 220 and 73 to Bairoil); local Carbon, 

Sweetwater, and Fremont County roads; and BLM roads. The roads are paved 

with the exception of the county and the BLM roads, which are generally gravel 

surface, although some short stretches may be paved. In addition to the 

designated routes, there are a number of four-wheel-drive routes that traverse the 

area for recreation and grazing access, as well as various other uses, including oil, 

gas, and mineral exploration. 

The primary interstate and US highways are well maintained. The other county 

and BLM roads providing access to the Permit Area are generally maintained 

biannually and in fair condition, depending on the season and how recently 

maintenance occurred. These roads are infrequently plowed in the winter. 

Ranchers, government agency personnel, and some hunters, fishermen, and other 

recreationists use these roads, along with personnel involved in oil, gas, and 

mineral exploration and development. 

3.2-1 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.2-2
Table 3.2-1 Local and Regional Roads 

Road/Counties Road 

Surface Lanes Speed Limit 

Average

Daily 

Traffic 

Peak 

Hourly 

Traffic 

Peak Time 

I-80

Carbon 

Sweetwater 

Paved 4 75 12,430

13,840

549

644

4-5pm-Aug. 

4-5pm-Aug. 

US-287

Carbon 

Fremont 

Paved 2 65 1,820

1,870

460

259 North 

308 South 

2-3pm-Aug. 

3-4pm-July 

3-4pm-July 

WY-73

Carbon Paved 2 65 230 ND1 ND

County Rd 22 

(Bairoil Rd) Gravel 2 Not posted ND ND ND 

County Rd 23N 

(WamsutterCrooks Gap Rd) Gravel 2 Not 

posted ND ND ND 

County Rd 

63/BLM 3206 

(Mineral 

Exploration Rd) 

Paved/ 

gravel 2 Not posted ND ND ND 

BLM Rd 2315 

(Sooner Rd) Gravel 2 Not posted ND ND ND 

* Sandidge. M. Transportation Technician 3, WYDOT Planning Traffic Surveys. Personal 

communication. March, 2007

1 ND = No Data 

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Table 3.2-1 describes these roads, with daily and peak traffic counts for the roads 

that are regularly monitored. Traffic counts are not available for the county roads. 

These roads receive little traffic for most of the year, but road use peaks in the 

summer and fall, when hunting and dispersed recreation is greatest. 

Traffic safety data are summarized in Table 3.2-1. An Operator’s or Owner’s 

Traffic Accident Report is required by the Wyoming Department of 

Transportation (WYDOT) if any party is injured or if there is property damage of 

$1,000 or more (Carpenter, T. Senior Data Analyst, WYDOT. Personal 

communication, March 2007). The accident rate was calculated by dividing the 

mean number of truck accidents per year (2002 to 2006) by the product of the 

road segment length, the average number of trucks per day, and the number of 

days per year (365). From 2002 to 2006, no accidents involving large trucks 

occurred on the segment of interest of WY-73, so the accident rate was calculated 

using all traffic. During this period, there were an average of 230 cars per day, 

and a total of three accidents. Traffic counts were not available for the county and 

BLM roads listed in Table 3.2-2, so the accident rate for these segments could not 

be calculated directly. Where no data were available, the truck accident rate was 

3.2-3 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
Table 3.2-2 Traffic Safety Data 

Road Length 

(mile)

Trucks/ 

Day 

Annual 

Truck 

Accidents 

Period of 

Record 

Accident Rate 

(Accidents/mile) 

I-80

(Carbon and SW 

County) milepost 

57.04 to 270.9 

223.9 6,627 408.8 2002-2006 7.5E-07 

US-287

Rawlins to Muddy 

Gap 

43.1 490 6 2002-2006 7.8E-07 

WY-73

(287 to Bairoil) 

Milepost 0 to 

4.651

4.7 30 0 2002-2006 1.5E-06 

County Road 22 

(Bairoil Rd)2 ND3 ND 0.6 2002-2006 2.2E-06 

County Road 23 

(WamsutterCrooks Gap Rd)2

ND ND 0.8 2002-2006 2.2E-06 

County Road 

63/BLM 3206 

(Mineral 

Exploration Rd)2

ND ND 0.6 2002-2006 2.2E-06 

BLM Road 3215 

(Sooner Rd)2 ND ND ND 2002-2006 2.2E-06 

* (WYDOT, 2007) 

1 No Truck Accidents; Accident rate calculated from all vehicles 

2 Generic Accident Rate (Harwood and Russell, 1990) 

3 ND = No Data 

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

estimated as 2.2 x 10-6 accidents per mile (Harwood and Russell, 1990), a widely 

cited value for two-lane rural roads. Most traffic accidents do not cause injuries 

or fatalities. From 2002 to 2005, an annual average of 15,867 accidents occurred 

in Wyoming. Of these accidents, 0.9 percent were fatal, 25 percent caused 

injuries, and 74 percent caused property damage only (WYDOT, 2007). 

3.2.2 On-Site Transportation Corridors 

Currently, the only on-site transportation corridors are two-track roads that are 

accessible year-round by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Most are indistinct, difficult 

to delineate, or do not have obvious end points. These tracks are not maintained, 

have no drainage, and are sometimes impassable during the winter months. 

Access to the site from west of the Permit Area is via the West Access Road from 

the Wamsutter-Crooks Gap Road (County Road 23N), and the site is accessed 

from the east via the East Access Road from Sooner Road (BLM 3215). Pictures 

of the East and West Access Roads are included as Figures 2.3-1 and 2.3-2,

respectively. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.2-4

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.3 Geology, Ore Mineralogy, and Seismology 

The following is a description of the geology, ore mineralogy, and seismology of 

the Project. Data were obtained from the WDEQ-LQD Permit to Mine and 

associated Mine Unit 1 (MU1) documents (LCI, 2011b).

3.3.1 Regional Geology 

The Great Divide Basin (Basin) is an oval-shaped structural depression, 

encompassing some 3,500 square miles in south-central Wyoming. The Basin is 

bounded on the north by the Wind River Range and Granite Mountains, on the 

east by the Rawlins Uplift, on the south by the Wamsutter Arch and on the west

by the Rock Springs Uplift. The formations underlying the region consist of 

several thousand feet of sedimentary materials, ranging in age from Cambrian to 

Quaternary, overlying PreCambrian granite. Structural development of the Basin 

began in the Late Cretaceous and continued through much of the Early Eocene. 

The regional geologic map is shown in Figure 3.3-1.

3.3.1.1 Stratigraphy 

The earliest sedimentation in the Basin was the Paleocene (Early Tertiary) Fort 

Union Formation, which was unconformably deposited on the Lance Formation 

of Late Cretaceous age. The Fort Union Formation consists mostly of lacustrine 

shales, siltstones, and thin sandstones, which locally contain lignite beds. The 

Fort Union Formation varies in thickness from place to place in the Basin, and is 

approximately 4,650 feet thick beneath the Permit Area. 

The Fort Union Formation is unconformably overlain by sediments of Eocene 

age, making up about 6,200 feet of basin fill. The western and southern portions 

of the Basin are covered by the Wasatch Formation, which consists of sandstone, 

siltstone, limestone, conglomerate and lignite beds. The rocks in the Wasatch 

Formation are believed to be of fluvial-lacustrine origin. Towards the north and 

northeast, the Wasatch Formation rapidly grades into and inter-tongues with the 

equally thick, fine- to coarse-grained arkosic sandstones and conglomerates of the 

Battle Spring Formation, a typical alluvial fan complex. The source of the Battle 

Spring sediments is believed to be the ancestral Granite Mountains to the north. 

Pliocene pediment deposits and recent alluvium cover large areas of the Basin 

surface. Table 3.3-1 and Figure 3.3-2 show the general stratigraphy of the Basin. 

The upper portion of the Battle Spring Formation is the host to the uranium 

mineralization in the Permit Area. In the Permit Area, the top 700 feet of the 

Battle Spring Formation is divided into at least five uranium-bearing horizons 

marked from top to bottom as BC, DE, FG, HJ, and KM. These horizons are 

separated from one another by various thicknesses of shale, mudstone and 

siltstone (Figure 3.3-3).

3.3-1 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.3-2
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Table 3.3-1 Permit Area Stratigraphy (Page 1 of 3) 

Age Formation Thickness 1

(feet) A uifer 2 Lithology 

Quaternary Alluvium 

(Qa) 0 to 20 Yes 

Sands and clays derived chiefly 

from the Tertiary formations in 

the area. 

Early Eocene 

Battle Spring/ 

Wasatch 

Formation 

6,200 Yes 

Battle Spring Formation is a 

major fluvial system, consisting 

of alternating fine to coarsegrained sandstones, minor 

conglomerates, siltstones and 

mudstones. Host to 

mineralization. Minor 

carbonaceous matter. Color 

buff to tan in the oxidized areas 

and gray to dark-gray in 

unoxidized zones. Dips 

average of 3 degrees to the 

west. Mineralization in top 

portion in at least five sand 

units separated by various 

shales, siltstones and 

mudstones. 

Wasatch Formation interfingers 

with the Battle Spring 

Formation and consists of fine 

sandstones, mudstones, 

siltstones and lignites. 

nconformity 3

Paleocene Fort Union 

Formation 4,650 Yes 

Consists of alternating fine to 

coarse-grained sandstone 

siltstone and mudstone. 

Contains various layers of 

lignitic coal beds. 

3.3-3 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Table 3.3-1 Permit Area Stratigraphy (Page 2 of 3)

Age Formation Thickness 1

(feet) A uifer 2 Lithology 

nconformity 3

Cretaceous 

Lance 

Formation 2,950 Yes 

Interbedded sandstone, 

siltstone and mudstone. Gray 

to brownish gray. Locally 

carbonaceous. Sandstone is 

white to grayish orange. 

Fox Hills 

Formation 550 No

Consists of coarsening upward 

shale and fine-grained sand 

with thin coal beds near the 

top. Represents a transition 

from marine to non-marine 

environment. Grades into 

Lewis Shale at the base. 

Lewis Shale 1,200 No

Interbedded dark-gray and 

olive-gray shale and olive-gray 

sandstone. 

nconformity 3

Cretaceous 

Mesa Verde 

Group 800 No

Gray to dark gray shales with 

interbedded buff to tan fine to 

medium grained sandstones.

Steele and 

Niobrara 

Shales 

2,000 to 

2,500 No

Steele shale is soft gray 

marine. Niobrara shale is dark 

gray and contains calcareous 

zones. 

Frontier 

Formation 500 to 1,000 Yes Gray sandstone and sandy shale. 

Dakota 

Formation 300 to 400 Yes 

Marine sandstone, tan to buff, 

fine to medium grained may 

contain carbonaceous shale 

layer. 

Jurassic Nugget 

Sandstone 500 Yes 

Grayish to dull red coarsegrained cross-bedded quartz 

sandstone. 

Triassic Chugwater 1,500 No

Red shale and siltstone 

contains gypsum partings near 

the base. 

Permian Phosphoria 300 No Black to dark gray shale, chert 

and phosphorite. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.3-4

July 2012 
Table 3.3-1 Permit Area Stratigraphy (Page 3 of 3)

Age Formation Thickness 1

(feet) A uifer 2 Lithology 

PermianPennsylvanian Tensleep 500 No

White to gray sandstone 

containing thin limestone and 

dolomite partings. 

PennsylvanianMississippian Amsden and 

Madison 250 No Red and green shale and 

dolomite, sandstone near base. 

Cambrian Undifferentiated 1,000 No Siltstone and quartzite, 

including Flathead sandstone. 

nconformity 3

Precambrian Basement No

Granites and associated 

metamorphic and igneous 

rocks. 

* (Love and Christiansen,1985; Wellborn and Wold, 1993) 

1 Thicknesses shown are approximate and apply only to the Permit Area and vicinity. 

2 Aquifer designation only applicable to the vicinity of the Permit Area. 

3 Only major unconformities are shown. 

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.3- FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.4 Soils 

The Permit Area is located in the Basin at an approximate elevation of 7,000 feet. 

The region has limited precipitation and high potential evaporation (Section 

3.10). This results in little soil moisture available for the growth of most plants. 

Limited soil moisture, when coupled with cold temperatures that persist for much 

of the year, result in plant communities dominated by shrubs, cushion plants, or 

cacti rather than by herbaceous species (Section 3.7). The terrain of the Permit 

Area slopes gently to the south. Perennial streams are not present. The bedrock 

is interbedded shales and sandstones, which serve as the parent material for the 

soils. The resulting soils are typical of semi-arid areas in Wyoming. 

No previous soil studies by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

or Soil Conservation Service (SCS) exist for the Permit Area. Two empirical 

soils studies were completed by Munn and Arneson (1998) at 1:500,000 and the 

1:100,000 scales, but both were based on a simplified five-factor soil formation 

model. 

Several soil surveys and studies have been performed in the Permit Area for 

various regulatory requirements: 

x An Order 3 soil survey of the Permit Area in 2006 for overall baseline 

conditions; 

x An Order 1 soil survey of the Plant site and MU1 in 2008 for more sitespecific information to determine stripping depths and topsoil stockpile 

requirements; 

x A geotechnical survey of the Plant site in 2008 to determine construction 

suitability; and 

x In September 2009, an Order 3 soil survey of the East and West Access 

Roads and an Order 1 soil survey of the deep injection well sites and 

access corridors within the main Permit Area. 

All of the surveys were designed and performed according to protocols in the 

National Soil Survey Handbook (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1993). The above 

studies are discussed in more detail below in chronological order. In addition, 

areas of historic disturbance were delineated as the soils in these areas may have 

been impacted. 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.4-1

July 2012 
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

3.4.1 2006 Order 3 Soil Survey 

In April 2006, a reconnaissance soil survey of the entire Permit Area was 

completed to determine soil profile locations based on vegetation, landform type, 

and position on the landform. From this survey, 19 soil profiles were located and 

excavated in June 2006 (Figure 3.4-1). Soil profiles were excavated with a 

backhoe to a minimum depth of four feet. Profiles were examined and data were 

recorded on field sheets. Composite samples were collected from each soil 

horizon. Samples from ten locations were selected for laboratory analysis. 

Parameters to be analyzed were selected by consulting WDEQ Guideline No. 1 

(1994a). Analyses were performed by Energy Laboratories of Casper, Wyoming, 

and the results are available in Table 3.4-1.

Based on these reconnaissance survey results, the soils of the Permit Area were 

classified as Typic Torriorthent with three different textures: loamy, mixed, 

mesic; fine loamy, mixed, mesic; and fine loamy over sandy, mixed, mesic 

(Figure 3.4-1 and 3.4-2). All three textures support the same vegetation types 

and densities; Lowland Big Sagebrush Shrubland is found in the ephemeral 

channels and Upland Big Sagebrush Shrubland is found everywhere else. Lab 

results indicated that the soils are all either suitable or marginally suitable for 

topsoil according to WDEQ Guideline No. 1 Topsoil Suitability, Table I-2

(1994a). No groundwater was encountered at any of the sampling sites. The 

complete report is included in Appendix D7 of the WDEQ-LQD Permit to Mine 

(LCI, 2011b).

3.4.2 2008 Geotechnical Study 

A geotechnical engineering report was conducted on the Plant site in September 

2008 (Inberg-Miller Engineering, 2008). Twelve borings, completed from 20 to 

45 feet in depth, revealed various layers of sand and clay over sedimentary 

bedrock. Observations showed that the topsoil was composed of 0.5 to 2 feet of 

stiff to hard sandy clay and contained very little organic material. Subsoil was 

encountered from about two to four feet below surface and was composed of 

dense to hard clayey sand and sandy clay. Sedimentary bedrock was encountered 

below the subsoil. No groundwater was encountered in any of the borings. The 

full engineering report, which indicated the site suitable for construction of the 

proposed facilities subject to appropriate site preparation, is presented in 

Attachment OP-7 of the WDEQ-LQD Permit to Mine (LCI, 2011b).

3.4-2 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
July 2012 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.4-3
3.4-4 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN

Table 3.4-1 Soil Sampling Results, 2006 Order 3 Soil Survey (Page 1 of 4) 

-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
Table 3.4-1 Soil Sampling Results, 2006 Order 3 Soil Survey (Page 2 of 4) 

FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.4-5

July 2012
Table 3.4-1 Soil Sampling Results, 2006 Order 3 Soil Survey (Page 3 of 4) 

3.4-6 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012 
FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU Table 3.4-1 Soil Sampling Results, 2006 Order 3 Soil Survey (Page 4 of 4) RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 3.4-7

July 2012
3.4-8 FINAL EIS – LOST CREEK URANIUM IN-SITU RECOVERY PROJECT – VOLUME I 

July 2012