Interim Baseline Radiological Investigation Report
November 14, 2012
Bear Lodge Project, for Rare Element Resources, Inc.
Rev.1
1
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Rare Element Resources, Inc. (RER) is proposing to develop a rare earth element mine known as
the Bear Lodge Project (Project) located in Crook County, Wyoming, approximately 16
kilometers (km) north of Sundance, Wyoming. The Bear Lodge Mountains are a small northerly
trending range approximately 16 km northeast of the Black Hills in the northeast corner of
Wyoming. Deposits of rare earth elements occur in the southern part of these mountains in the
core of the Bear Lodge dome. The current permit boundary encompasses approximately 8,600
acres.
Environmental Restoration Group, Inc. (ERG) conducted a baseline radiological investigation of
the Project in support of this development, under direct contract to RER. The work addressed in
this report was performed in accordance with applicable requirements in
Bear Lodge Project
Environmental Sampling and Analysis and Quality Assurance Plans (Draft)
(SAP [Knight
Piésold, 2010]).
Phase 1 of the work, which addressed baseline radionuclide concentrations in soils; and
associated radon flux and gamma exposure rates, was conducted in August 2011 and reported in
“Interim Baseline Radiological Investigation Report, Revision 0,” dated April 18, 2012. This
version (Revision 1) of the report addresses 1) baseline measurements of radioactive particulate
and radon and concentrations in air conducted from November 2011 to July 2012 (for
particulates) and October 2012 (for radon) and 2) ambient gamma dose rate monitoring
conducted from November 2011 to August, 2012. Baseline radionuclide concentrations in
groundwater and surface water have been addressed and reported separately.
Radiological impacts incurred during the development and operation of the Project, if any, will
be evaluated in part by comparing the data sets of the baseline and operational monitoring.
1.1
Description of the Project
The Project is located in Crook County, Wyoming; specifically Township 52 North, Range 63
West including all of Sections 9, 10, 15, 16, 20-22 and parts of Sections 5, 7, 8, 11, 14, 19, 23;
and 26-30. Surface ownership within the Project is comprised of 640 acres owned by the State of
Wyoming, 7,702 acres managed by the United States Forest Service, and 375 acres held
privately. Figure 1.1 shows the general location of the Project.
1.2
Purpose and Scope
The objective of Phase 1 of the investigation was to establish baseline concentrations of
radionuclides in surface soil (0-15 centimeters [cm]) and related radon flux and exposure rates at
the Project. Continuing work is addressing baseline measurements of ambient radon and
radioactive particulate concentrations in air. This information will be used in part to potential
assess impacts to human health and the environment, if any, during construction, operation, and
closure phases of the Project. The results from monitoring of radionuclides in groundwater and
surface water are being investigated and reported separately.
