No: 14-046 July 30, 2014

CONTACT: Maureen Conley, 301-415-8200 

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Take Public Comment Aug. 18,

Hold Hearing Aug. 19 on Dewey-Burdock Uranium Recovery Facility

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hold a hearing 

Aug. 19 in Rapid City, S.D., concerning challenges by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and others to 

Powertech’s Dewey-Burdock uranium recovery facility in Custer and Fall River counties in South 

Dakota. The Board is the independent body within the NRC that conducts adjudicatory hearings and 

renders decisions on legal challenges to licensing actions. The NRC issued Powertech a license for the 

facility in April 2014. 

Evidence to be presented in the hearing will address seven contentions on the license and the 

environmental impact statement prepared by NRC staff.

The hearing, which begins at 9:00 a.m., will be held at the Hotel Alex Johnson, 523 Sixth St. in 

Rapid City, and continue through Aug. 21. Members of the public and media are welcome to observe 

the evidentiary hearing, but participation will be limited to the parties and their lawyers and witnesses. 

Those planning to attend the evidentiary hearing should arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time 

for security screening, including searches of hand-carried items such as briefcases or backpacks. No 

signs will be permitted in the courtroom.

The Board will also take comments from interested members of the public, known as limited 

appearance statements, on Aug. 18, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. at the Mueller Civic Center, 

801 S. 6th St., in Hot Springs, S.D. These statements are not testimony or evidence, but they nonetheless 

may aid the Board and/or the parties in considering the issues in the hearing. Speakers will be allotted 

five minutes each for their statements, but the Board may limit that time to ensure everyone has an 

opportunity to speak.

Those interested in speaking may request time prior to or during the limited appearance 

sessions. Requests submitted beforehand will be given priority. Members of the public may submit 

written requests to make an oral statement, specifying the midday or evening session, until 5 p.m. EDT 

(3 p.m. MDT) on Friday, Aug. 8. Requests may be sent:

By mail to: Office of the Secretary

Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
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By fax to: 301-415-1101

or by email to hearingdocket@nrc.gov. 

Copies of the request should also be sent to the Board Chairman.

By mail to: Adminstrative Judge William J. Froehlich, Chairman

c/o Nicholas Sciretta, Law Clerk

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel

Mail Stop T-3F23

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

By fax to: 301-415-5599, 

or by email to Nicholas.Sciretta@nrc.gov and Twana.Ellis@nrc.gov.

Those who cannot attend the sessions in Hot Springs can submit written statements using the 

methods above.

Documents related to the Dewey Burdock application are available on the NRC website. 

Documents regarding this Board proceeding are available on the NRC’s Electronic Hearing Docket by 

clicking on the folder entitled “Powertech_USA_40-9075-MLA” on the left side of the page. More 

information about the role of the Board in the licensing process is available on the NRC website.