SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – The Utah Desert in southeastern Utah, known for its Red Rock Arch and Canyon Labyrinth, is on the verge of a revival under President Donald Trump.
Numerous abandoned uranium mines dot the dry landscapes, serving as hazardous reminders of the promises and perils of nuclear power during the Cold War. One of the mines expedited for regulatory approval by the Trump administration could reopen for the first time since the 1980s.
Typically, it can take years for the US Land Management Office to assess plans for resuming projects like Anfield Energy’s Velvet-Wood Mine located 35 miles (56 km) south of Moab. However, the department’s regulators have indicated they are fast-tracking the project in just 11 days under Trump’s “National Energy Emergency,” which supports expedited environmental reviews for energy projects.
Additional permits and approvals are needed, and site preparations are essential for the mines to begin operations again. Moreover, uranium prices must increase sufficiently for domestic production to be financially viable. If this occurs, it could spell a revival and jobs for an industry that has been stagnant since the Ronald Reagan era.
“President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham stated in April upon announcing the fast-tracking policy. “These emergency procedures reflect a steadfast commitment to safeguarding both.”
AP Audio: Trump's Fast-Tracking of Utah Uranium Mine, but the industry may wait for higher prices
Associated Press correspondent Julie Walker reports on President Trump's rapid tracking of the Utah Uranium Mine.
Such measures could facilitate quicker approvals. Trump’s directives also extend to oil, gas, coal, biofuels, and hydroelectric projects (excluding renewable energy) on federal land.
Favorable Conditions for Increased US Uranium Mining
Global uranium prices are currently about half of what they were seven years ago, and the past year has seen the US price prohibited uranium imports from Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Increased domestic mining will address a significant imbalance. The US imports approximately 98% of the uranium used to generate 30% of the world’s nuclear energy. Over two-thirds of US imports come from Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan, the leading three uranium mining countries.
Decreased government regulations could further stimulate uranium mining in the US. Market dynamics are crucial, and while spot market prices have seen a rise over the past few years, they have dropped about one-third from their recent peak in early 2024.
While several new uranium mining and processing projects have been announced, the scale of these efforts is modest. That indicates prices need to rise and remain stable for a genuine industry revival, according to John Wooley, a former uranium executive now working in the cement sector.
“You won’t actually be able to get these sites operational until prices rise significantly,” Woolly remarked. “The ground requires substantial capital.”
Nonetheless, industry activity is showing signs of revival in the Southwest.
Canadian company Anfield Energy plans to reopen the Shooting Canyon Uranium Mill in southern Utah, close to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This facility was shut down in the early 1980s and processes raw ore into yellowcake, which is then transformed into nuclear fuel using materials processed elsewhere.
Anfield officials did not respond to inquiries regarding their plans to reopen the mill and Velvet-Wood mines.
Another Canadian firm, Energy Fuels, recognized as the top uranium miner in the US, will commence operations at the Pinion Plain Mine, located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Grand Canyon, by late 2023.
Additionally, the industrial hub of Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill, the only operational uranium facility in the country, is situated near US 191 in southeastern Utah.
Moab’s Long and Complex Uranium History
Moab, now a vibrant desert tourist spot teeming with outdoor enthusiasts, has a deeper history tied to uranium mining. The town experienced a boom during the post-World War II mining era, evident in various local sites. Notably, the Atomic Hair Salon is more than just a quirky name.
The most significant reminder of this past is the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project, a 480-acre (194 hectares) site located just outside the town. For decades, the U.S. Department of Energy has been working to mitigate toxic tailings that seeped into the Colorado River upstream of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead, with a projected completion within the next five years.
The legacy of contamination from that mill raises caution among Moab residents, especially concerning the resumption of uranium mining and processing following the Trump administration’s expedited review of the Velvet-Wood mine plans.
“This is a process I would have been involved in,” said Sarah Fields, director of the local group Uranium Watch. “They didn’t allow the public to voice concerns, or to see what was happening.”
The Grand Canyon Trust criticizes the Pinion Plain Mine for potential groundwater risks, arguing that the US nuclear industry does not face a uranium shortage.
“This is all premised on the notion of an energy emergency, which is unfounded,” remarked Amber Raymond, the group’s energy director.
Supply and Demand Shape the Future of Uranium Mining
Hundreds of miles to the north, other nuclear energy initiatives could influence the future of the US uranium industry.
Backed by Bill Gates, Terrapower is constructing a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor in western Wyoming, promising lower costs and shorter build times compared to traditional reactors while meeting carbon-free electricity needs.
About 40% of US uranium production in 2024 will come from four Wyoming “in-situ” mines that dissolve uranium in underground sediments and pump it to the surface without large-scale excavations. Similar operations in Texas and Nebraska, along with stockpiled ore processed at White Mesa, will account for the remainder.
Thus far, no mining activities have commenced in Utah.
As the demand for electricity rises due to electric vehicles and advanced computing technologies, nuclear power offers a zero-carbon, 24/7 energy solution.
Meeting the domestic demand for nuclear fuel poses a challenge, however. Despite an increase to roughly 700,000 pounds of yellowcake produced in the US in 2024—up significantly from the previous year—this figure remains well below the 32 million pounds imported annually.
Even as mining efforts expand, it is uncertain whether the US can efficiently convert ore into fuel at a comparable pace, according to Woolly, who has experience in uranium mining.
“Re-establishing a viable uranium industry—from extraction through to the production of yellowcake and the conversion into nuclear fuel—still presents a substantial challenge,” Woolly noted.
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Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
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This piece has been updated to correct the name of the mining company Energy Fuels in a subsequent reference.
Source: apnews.com