Rapid City Journal | News » Top | NRC ups review of new in situ uranium mines - 0 views
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The NRC said in a statement that it expects to deal with about 17 license applications through 2010 for new in-situ mines and for expansion and restarts of existing in-situ mines.
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will require more detailed environmental studies of proposed new in-situ uranium mines in the western United States. The in-situ technique involves pumping chemicals into groundwater to free uranium from the surrounding ore so it can be pumped to the surface and refined. The agency announced Thursday that is has released its final environmental study of the mining method after conducting public meetings in Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and New Mexico. Wyoming is the leading producer of uranium at about 2 million pounds a year.