A long-debated uranium mining proposal near the Black Hills has taken a step forward after the Bureau of Land Management approved construction of limited infrastructure, though mining itself is not yet authorized.
The approval allows Powertech, a subsidiary of enCore Energy, to build access roads, monitoring wells, and power lines on about 240 acres of federally managed land within the larger Dewey-Burdock project site.
Federal officials emphasized the project still requires additional state and federal permits, including a license renewal from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The proposal has faced strong opposition, with critics raising concerns about groundwater contamination, cultural impacts, and the speed of the review process. More than 700 public comments were submitted during the environmental review.
Opponents also question the project’s planned in-situ mining method, which involves injecting fluids underground to extract uranium, citing potential risks to local aquifers.
If fully approved, the project could begin within five years, though legal and regulatory hurdles remain.
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