US approves Utah uranium mine after two-week environmental review

The Trump administration approved Anfield Energy’s proposed Velvet-Wood uranium mine project in Utah on Friday after a rapid 14-day environmental review as part of a new process to fast-track permitting of energy and mining projects.

Such studies typically take years because of the large potential environmental consequences of uranium mining.

The Canadian company’s project is the first approved under an emergency process for the Interior Department to permit energy facilities on federal lands. The new procedures are in response to President Donald Trump’s national energy emergency declaration, made on his first day in office in January in an effort to boost domestic energy supplies, bring down fuel prices and bolster national security.

Anfield filed its plan of operations for the mine on April 1, according to documents on an Interior Department website.

“This approval marks a turning point in how we secure America’s mineral future,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “By streamlining the review process for critical mineral projects like Velvet-Wood, we’re reducing dependence on foreign adversaries and ensuring our military, medical and energy sectors have the resources they need to thrive. This is mineral security in action.”

Anfield was not immediately available for comment.

The Velvet-Wood mine project in San Juan County will produce uranium, used in both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons production, as well as vanadium, a metal than can be used in batteries or to strengthen steel and other alloys.

It is located at the site of a previous mining operation.

(By Nichola Groom; Editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman)

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