A public hearing on a proposal to explore for uranium in the southern Black Hills has been rescheduled for May 18 through May 22.
The hearing will be held at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs. It was originally scheduled for this week but was postponed.
Clean Nuclear Energy Corporation and its Canada-based parent company, Nexus Uranium, applied in March 2024 to drill exploratory holes for uranium near Craven Canyon. The proposal calls for up to 50 drill sites on state-owned land, with holes reaching depths of up to 700 feet. Each hole would take about two weeks to drill. Additional drilling plans on federal land are under review by the U.S. Forest Service.
The application has drawn formal objections from dozens of individuals and organizations, who cite potential impacts to cultural and historic resources, including Native American petroglyphs, as well as concerns about water quality.
Interest in uranium exploration has increased as nuclear energy gains attention for its potential to help meet growing electricity demands, including those tied to artificial intelligence and data centers.
The state Board of Minerals and Environment has the authority to deny the application if it determines the project would cause unacceptable harm to cultural, historical, recreational, or water resources.
Comments