uranium | AIPG-TX

05 Dec, 2020

The Wise Report

The US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) has approved the bipartisan Bill that includes a yearly program for a national strategic uranium reserve. EPW Senate committee chairperson Senator John Barrasso stated on Thursday that the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act would promote US international leadership, preserve America’s nuclear fuel supply chain, prevent more carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere, and protect economic, energy and national security.

“The bipartisan Nuclear Infrastructure Act is broad reaching legislation, important for supporting the US nuclear fuel industry, national security and clean energy. The legislation will provide a clear path for implementation of the US uranium reserve and provide a strong platform to revitalize the US uranium industry,” commented uranium exploration and developer Uranium Energy Corp (UEC) CEO and president Amir Adnani.

15 Nov, 2020

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The Texas Legislature will be back in session January 12, 2021 through May 31, 2021. On November 9, 2020 bills began to be filed. I’m currently checking these bills and have not found any of general interest to geologists in Texas. As usual, I’ll be filing updates as new bills come in.

12 Jul, 2019

By AIPG-TX News

I2M Web Portal Passes Milestone of 8,500 Resources

Thanks to all the hard work by the I2M Web Portal Editors and contributors from around the world, the I2M Web Portal just passed 8,500 resources. These resources are available for searching and consist of historical reports, papers, and technical news items. The portal emphasis (as of 2017) is on uranium, nuclear minerals, and nuclear power followed by climate change, off-worlds activities, and numerous other subjects of interest to the I2M management and associates.

19 Jan, 2019

By AIPG-TX News

Texas Energy Profile

In case you didn’t know the details:

Texas leads the nation in energy production, primarily from crude oil and natural gas, providing more than one-fifth of U.S. domestically-produced energy.¹
Second only to Alaska in total land area, Texas stretches about 800 miles at its widest points both east to west and north to south.²
Crude oil and natural gas fields are present across the entire state, and
Coal (Lignite) is found in bands that outcrop across the eastern Texas coastal plain and in other coal-producing areas in the north-central and southwestern parts of the state.^3,4
Texas also has abundant renewable energy resources and has rapidly developed its wind energy, becoming first in the nation in wind generated electricity.^5,6
With a significant number of sunny days across vast distances, Texas is among the leading states in solar energy potential as well.^7,8
Geothermal resources suitable for power generation are present in East Texas.⁹ and
Uranium deposits are found in South Texas.¹⁰
Overall, Texas is a large state with a wealth of energy resources.

For the rest of the EIA presentation, see: https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=TX , and for the distribution of energy in Texas, see: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX

27 Nov, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

An Update: Nuclear Power and Uranium Markets, Ownership and Uranium One

This is a brief update produced by Henry Wise (President-AIPG Texas Section) and Michael D. Campbell (VP-Eastern Texas-AIPG-Texas Section) since the 2017 Annual Report from the Chair, Uranium (Nuclear and Rare Earth) Committee of the Energy Mineral Division (AAPG) was released April 1, 2017. Some 99 nuclear power plants in the U.S. remain in operation, a few are scheduled for retirement, two new reactors are being built in Georgia. Japan is slowly upgrading and re-starting its fleet of nuclear power plants after Fukushima. China is rapidly building some 25 new plants and hundreds more are planned, along with financially underwriting the construction of more than 40 projects in joint ventures with other countries.

Russia too is building new nuclear plants at home, and they are testing a “fast breeder” design that consumes most waste. Russia is building nuclear plants on behalf of other countries as well, and providing financing in competition with China. India has turned to nuclear to ramp up electricity production to match population growth rates and is also working on “fast breeder” designs. Other countries are also building nuclear plants funded from a variety of sources. For the details on the above topics and more, see: (more).

18 Mar, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

2017 AIPG Texas Section Field Trip Postponed to Spring, 2021 – Planning Underway

Final Announcement of the 2017 AIPG Texas Section Field Trip to Uranium Country in South Texas / West Texas to Visit REE Mine

Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G., President of AIPG Texas Section, announced today that after detailed discussions with the five uranium mining companies having exploration/recovery operations in south/west Texas, the AIPG Texas Section Board has decided to postpone the uranium field trip to south Texas indefinitely (circa spring of 2022?). The companies and Board concluded that it would be more interesting to field trip participants if all of the companies’ operations were in production of yellowcake, or the REE mine is ready to provide visit to their mine operations. Other geological sites in west Texas are also being considered.

Invitations will be extended to the Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Advisory Group of the Uranium (Nuclear and Rare Earth) Committee of the Energy Minerals Division (AAPG) to join us in sponsoring and participating in the field trip. Invitations will also be extended to the members of the South Texas Geological Society and other local geological societies.

HMW

14 Jan, 2017

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

EPA Rescinds Proposed New Rule on Uranium Tailings in the Western U.S., but will Resubmit Soon

The U.S. EPA, rather than finalizing its proposed rule on uranium tailings, opted to rescind its existing proposed rule and re-propose a new rule in 2017. The proposed rule would impose new health and environmental standards around uranium in-situ recovery facilities, including groundwater monitoring requirements. More information on the planned re-proposal can be found here (more). Once it is published in the Federal Register, the public comment period will be open for 180 days. The rule will likely draw criticism from Republicans in Congress due to potential cost increases on businesses.

A report on the TCEQ Petroleum Storage Tank State-Lead Program, including the status of sites and recommendations on fees, programs, and activities to eventually conclude the program, has been issued by the TCEQ and can be found (here).

Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG

10 Dec, 2016

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

On October 28, 2016, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) received a petition from Lloyd Gosselink on behalf of the Owner/Operator Members of the Uranium Committee of the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA-UC or petitioner).

04 Nov, 2016

By AIPG-TX News

The Wise Report

The Texas Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA-UC) has petitioned the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a revision of administrative rules regarding monitoring and sampling requirements for uranium mining operations, the definition of excursions, restoration sampling, restoration table amendments, fees, and radiation safety officer requirements. For more information go to: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/petitions/17005PET_petition.pdf

Henry M. Wise, P.G.

01 Oct, 2016

By AIPG-TX News

Post-AIPG Texas Section Field Trip Guidebook Now Available and the EMD Uranium Committee Has Released it’s Uranium FAQ

Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG, President, Texas Section of the AIPG, announced today that the Guidebook accompanying the 2016 Field Trip to Central Texas has been revised to include field-trip photos and expanded coverage of topics. It is available in PDF.

A future field trip by bus is being planned for Spring, 2017 to visit uranium mines in South Texas. More information when available.

Also just released, Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., CPG, Vice President – Eastern Texas, announced that the Uranium FAQ was produced by the Committee of Uranium, Thorium, and Rare-Earths, Energy Minerals Division (AAPG). Mr. Campbell has been the Chair of that Committee since 2004. A series of committee reports to the EMD on uranium, thorium, and rare earths are also available (more).