Click here to read this story by Rudy Herndon of Moab Sun News
Click here to read this story by Dennis Webb of the Grand Junction Sentinel
Click here to read this story by Amy Joi O'Donoghue of the Deseret News
Click here to read this story by Courtney Tanner of the Salt Lake Tribune
Analysis of the project status:
1) Blue Castle Holdings (BCH) will have to start paying $180,000 per year for the lease of the water rights. In 5 years the lease goes up to $580,000 per year.
2) BCH has not submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for an Early Site Permit (ESP). The ESP process would take about 5 years. It would take between $50 and $100 million to finalize the ESP application.
3) In order to actually construct the reactor, they need a construction and operation license, which also costs millions of dollars.
4) No utility has expressed any interest to participate in this project.
5) It will be necessary for BCH to approach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a biological assessment for the project's impact on critical habitat for endangered species.
6) It will be necessary for BCH to apply for a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation to release water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir (upstream).
7) At present, there is a 56% chance the Secretary of Interior will declare water shortages in the Colorado River basin on January 1, 2018 (news & (presentation).
