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An Introduction to the ISR Uranium Mine Permitting Process in Wyoming
In Wyoming there are two major permits/licenses required for the commencement of In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium mining: 1) the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Source Material License and 2) the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Permit to Mine. These two items allow for the construction of an ISR uranium operation and ultimately the commencement of uranium production. (Refer to chart at the bottom for more information)
For the NRC, the Source Material License is comprised of two parts; a technical review that results in a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) and an environmental review which produces an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS is in two parts: the Generic EIS, and the Supplemental EIS.
In order to receive the WDEQ Permit to Mine, a technical review of the project must be approved and an Aquifer Exemption must be granted.
In addition to the two major permit/licenses there are two semi-major permits required from the WDEQ. These are: 1) Deep Disposal Well permit and 2) an Air Quality permit. The Air Quality permit is required along with the Permit to Mine to begin construction of the ISR uranium facility. The Deep Disposal Well permit is not needed for construction, but is necessary for the commencement of operations for the ISR uranium facility.
For the Deep Disposal Well permit and the Aquifer Exemption permit, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also involved. The EPA reviews the applications for the Deep Disposal Wells and Aquifer Exemption and gives their approval of the permits, but the issuing authority is the WDEQ since they have primacy with the EPA for Wyoming.
Please read the company's press releases for updates on the status of Uranerz's projects in the permitting process.
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