Cameco Waiting for Federal Approval to Open Mine

Cameco Waiting for Federal Approval to Open Mine

Monday, June 30, 2003 at 13:47

Cameco officials are trying to convince federal regulators that it’s safe to resume production at the McArthur River uranium mine.

Production at the northern Saskatchewan mine has been at a standstill since April 6th because of underground flooding.

Cameco’s Jamie McIntyre says there is still some water coming into the mine, but it’s under control and being managed.

McIntyre says the company hopes production will be allowed to resume later this month, but says they will first have to get approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

McIntyre says before the commission gives its OK, it will need to be satisfied that neither worker safety nor the environment is at risk.

So far, no permanent staff at the mine have been laid off, but some have been forced to use up vacation time.