Centennial Mine
Weld County, Colorado

SMITH performed three environmental studies for this project:

1. a detailed Order Two soil survey
2. a comprehensive baseline wildlife survey
3. a food chain radionuclide uptake analysis

We identified the topsoil thickness, recommended stripping depths, and topsoil volume available in the project area. Systematic section-level wildlife surveys were performed for all soaring, nesting, or roosting raptors, mammals and birds, both State and Federal threatened or endangered lists, and big game habitat. Radionuclide uptake in the food chain is an important parameter when considering the environmental affects of uranium mining. Prairie dogs were selected as an indicator species for background levels of both uranium and Radium 226 and were tested. The results showed little to no background uptake of radionuclides.