Elliot lake miner edges closer to uranium mine.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NEWS

Pele Mountain Resources has entered a pre-feasibility study on its way to developing the first operating uranium mine in Elliot Lake since 1996.

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The Toronto junior mining company is also filing first-stage documents to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to obtain an operating permit.

The company released a scoping study last fall outlining a scenario for developing a mine producing 826,000 pounds of uranium over an 18-year mine life.

Exploratory drilling continues this summer to upgrade and expand Pele's resource base, but not all is rosy.

Serpent River First Nation leaders are rising in opposition to uranium exploration along the North Shore of Lake Huron.

Chief Isadore Day was not available for comment, but in a statement said uranium exploration activity on their traditional land is moving faster than the Ontario government's pace of consultation with his community.

With other developments taking place in the area such as cottage lots, quarry projects, forestry, hydro-electric projects, Day says the government must do a better job in their duty to consult on what has taken place in recent years.

Serpent River residents have distinct memories of the uranium industry.

The reserve of 1,000 is just downriver from Elliot Lake where millions of tonnes of dumped radioactive tailings contaminated water in the Serpent River. Many in the community were stricken with cancer from drinking and cooking with contaminated water during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

"We...