At a time when energy costs are rising and all available sources of energy must be utilized to meet increased demand, making the licensing process for uranium recovery more efficient, while at the same time protecting public health, safety and the environment, is simply good public policy.

Backgrounder on Uranium

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently increased the efficiency of the individual permitting process through its Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). At the same time, NRC provides safeguards to ensure continued protection of the environment, including groundwater quality.

Final Report: Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities
Chapters 1-4 (49 MB) Chapters 5-12 (40 MB)

Uranium in the U.S. is mined in the mid-west, primarily by a process called in situ recovery. This process is environmentally benign, causes minimal disturbance of the surface and typically uses only carbon dioxide and oxygen. Where uranium is found in porous and permeable host sands, ground water mixed with carbon dioxide and oxygen is pumped through the sands dislodging the uranium and collecting it at wells. This is essentially a reversal of the natural process by which the uranium was first deposited into the sands, and is only performed at sites designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as not containing water suitable for human consumption.

For more information on the recovery process:

Backgrounder on In Situ Recovery

Wyoming Mining Association In Situ Recovery White Paper

Uranium is a radioactive element. To better understand how uranium impacts our environment and the public health:

Backgrounder: A Citizen's Guide to Uranium

Ionizing Radiation-Safety Standards - Health Physics Society

Radiation Risk in Perspective - Health Physics Society

NMA co-sponsors annual workshops with the NRC dedicated to the discussion of regulations and exchange of information and best practices. More information on these workshops can be found here: Uranium Recovery Workshops