Uranium
There has been renewed interest in uranium mining in recent years, and we can expect to see more uranium mining proposals, perhaps many more, in the future. Wyoming is the nation’s largest producer of uranium and it has the largest uranium reserves of any state. Currently there is only one active mine, the Smith Ranch-Highland mine in west-central Converse County. This mine (and increasingly most uranium mines) is an in-situ recovery site, meaning a solution of chemicals is pumped into the deposit to extract the uranium. It is anticipated that many future mining proposals will call for in-situ mining.
In 2008, the BLM initiated an environmental review for the proposed Reynolds Ranch in-situ uranium recovery mine. This mine would be located adjacent to the existing Smith Ranch-Highland mine in Converse County. The Wyoming Outdoor Council submitted scoping comments on this proposed project.
Reynolds Ranch ISR Scoping 07-28-08.pdf
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is preparing a nationwide “generic” environmental impact statement for in-situ uranium milling facilities. The Wyoming Outdoor Council submitted scoping comments on this analysis, and we submitted comments on the draft environmental impact statement.
NRC GEIS scoping comments final.pdf
Comments on the NRC's draft SEIS for the Moore Ranch in-situ uranium facility March 2010