Whistleblower speaks out against methods once used by Uranium Resources Inc. at Kingsville Dome uranium in situ leach mine (Texas)
Roland Burrow worked as a wellfield operator for Uranium Resources, Inc., outside Kingsville, Texas a decade ago.
He says the company at the time was regularly flushing high volumes of water into the mine field that would have expanded groundwater pollution beyond its permitted area, posing a potential future risk to the residents of Kingsville.
He claims also to have witnessed the falsification of monitoring-well data, which must be regularly submitted to the state to show the contaminated water is contained at the mine site.
He tried unsuccessfully to get the TNRCC and FBI involved, and was fired.
Watch video Uranium mining whistleblower by paleish, Sep. 8, 2009 (Youtube)
Study finds URI Inc failed to restore groundwater quality after in-situ leach mining at Kingsville Dome
Kleberg County Citizen Review Board contracted this study by Dr. George Rice in which he found that Uranium Resources, Inc failed to restore water quality after mining.
Effects of URI's Kingsville Dome Mine on Groundwater Quality , Final Report, Prepared for the Kleberg County URI Citizen Review Board By George Rice, July 2006 (ALTURA)
Uranium Spill - URI, Incorporated - Kingsville, Texas
"On January 24, 2000, the Licensee notified the Agency of a spill of 'bleed water' that occurred on October 26, 1999, when a feed line became disconnected from a main trunk line. A well field operator discovered a flange connection between a feed line and a main trunk line had separated resulting in a 2000 gallon (7.6 m3) spill. The area was on higher ground causing the water to flow down and collect in a low area inside the fenced property. The spill covered an area of approximately 4800 square feet (446 m2) and was contained onsite."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FORTH QUARTER 1999, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Spill of Radioactive Material - URI, Inc. - Kingsville, Texas
"On June 1, 1999, the Licensee notified the Agency of a spill of approximately 9000 gallons (34 m3) of restoration water containing 2.7 parts per million of uranium. The spill was due to a disconnect in the flow line from the well to the disposal pond. All spilled water was contained on-site."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 1999, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI, Inc. - Kingsville, Texas
"On January 22, 1998, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 15,000 gallons" (57 m3) "of mine solution fluid containing 35 parts per million uranium that occurred on January 22, 1998. The spill occurred along an extraction line and was contained within the licensed area."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FIRST QUARTER 1998, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI - Kingsville, Texas
"On September 29, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 5000 gallons" (19 m3) "of pregnant mine solution containing 81 parts per million uranium that occurred on September 29, 1997. The spill occurred along an extraction line and was contained within the licensed area."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI - Kingsville, Texas
"On September 16, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 3000 gallons" (11 m3) "of barren mine solution containing 6.7 parts per million uranium that occurred on September 16, 1997. The spill occurred at the end of a lateral line and was contained within the licensed area."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Rosita ISL license violations
Uranium Spill - URI, Inc. - San Diego, Texas
"On December 17, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 7000 gallons" (26 m3) "of pregnant solution that occurred on December 17, 1997. The spill occurred on the extraction side of a lateral line. The spill was contained and 2500 gallons were recovered and deposited in a disposal pond."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI, Inc. - San Diego, Texas
"On December 4, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 7000 gallons" (26 m3) "of pregnant solution that occurred on December 4, 1997. The spill occurred on the extraction side of a lateral line. The spill was contained and 3500 gallons were recovered and deposited in a disposal pond."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI, Inc - San Diego, Texas
"On October 13, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 6600 gallons" (25 m3) "of pregnant solution that occurred on October 13, 1997. The spill occurred from the extraction side of a line that was attached to a main trunk line to the plant. The spill was caused by improper fusion of two joints. The spill was contained within a licensed area."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI - San Diego, Texas
"On September 30, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 5000 gallons" (19 m3) "of pregnated solution that occurred on September 30, 1997. The spill occurred at the injection side of a lateral line and covered approximately 400 square feet. The spill was contained and deposited in a disposal pond."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
Uranium Spill - URI - San Diego, Texas
"On September 1, 1997, the Licensee notified the Agency of a uranium spill involving 30,000 gallons" (114 m3) "of barren injection water containing 1.5 parts per million uranium that occurred on September 1, 1997. The spill occurred at a booster pump on the main barren trunk line covering approximately 1200 square feet."
[SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 1997, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control]
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