Uranium Mining in Colorado - Current Uranium Mining

Current Uranium Mining

The only currently active uranium mine in the state is the Sunday mine near Uravan, owned by Denison Mines.

In 2007, Energy Fuels Inc. announced plans to build a uranium-vanadium processing mill in the Uravan district, west of Naturita. If permitted and built, the mill would be the first new uranium mill built in the United States in 25 years. The US Bureau of Land Management has issued a "finding of no significant impact," which will allow Energy Fuels to start mining at its Whirlwind mine in Mesa County, Colorado. The mine is projected to produce 250,000 pounds of U₃O₈ and one million pounds of V₂O₅ per year.

Canadian-based Powertech (USA) Inc. is currently evaluating roll-front uranium deposits in its Centennial Project in Weld County on Colorado's eastern plains. In response to the proposed mining in Weld county, state lawmakers have put forward two proposals to more closely regulate uranium mining in Colorado; the first would require that mining companies prove that groundwater would not be adversely affected before mining could begin; the second would assure that local governments have the power to set health and environmental standards.