I recently wrote about the numerous positive developments related to the mining and processing of critical minerals, such as rare earths, outside of China, which were supported by two key executive orders from President Donald Trump.
I can now report even more success in domestic mine expansion. The Trump administration recently approved the reopening of the Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine in southeastern Utah, marking the first mining project to be permitted under a new, dramatically accelerated environmental review process.
The decision, executed by the Department of the Interior, was made in just 14 days…a stark contrast to the months or years such reviews typically require.
“This approval marks a turning point in how we secure America’s mineral future,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum 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.”The Velvet-Wood mine, near Utah’s Lisbon Valley, will produce both uranium and vanadium. The former can be processed into fuel for nuclear reactors, while the latter is commonly used in steel alloys.The announcement comes 11 days after the Interior Department ordered the Bureau of Land Management to review the mine’s environmental impacts within 14 days, as opposed to the prior timeline of months or years.The fast-tracking follows a January executive order from President Donald Trump declaring a “national energy emergency.”
The mine is set to be reopened by Canadian company Anfield Energy. Anfield Energy’s main business is the development of energy metals, with a particular emphasis on uranium and vanadium resources. The company aims to become a top-tier supplier of energy-related fuels, positioning itself as a key player in the emerging nuclear energy sector in North America.
The company’s website heralds the astonishing potential of the Utah mine.
Acquired alongside the Shootaring Canyon Mill in 2015, this project holds significant historical mineral resources. With measured and indicated categories containing 4.6 million pounds of U3O8 ([uranium oxide] 0.285% grade) and inferred categories holding 552,000 pounds of U3O8 (0.320% grade) and7.3Mlbs of V2O5 ([Vanadium Oxide] 0.404% grade), Velvet-Wood demonstrates its potential.From 1979 to 1984, the project yielded significant results, recovering around 4 million pounds of U3O8and 5 million pounds of V2O5 from mining approximately 400,000 tons of ore with grades of 0.46% U3O8 and 0.64% V2O5. The Velvet mine retains underground infrastructure, including a 3,500 ft long,12′ x 9′ decline to the ore body. As Anfield Energy’s most advanced uranium asset, Velvet-Wood signifies a potential near-term path to uranium and vanadium production.
Of course, environmental activists are unhappy with this decision and pulling out the usual assortment of complaints….especially those associated with uranium. As an additional bonus, some “social justice” complaints are being tossed into the mix for variety.
“There’s a reason environmental reviews usually take time,” said Nancy Blackwell, policy director at the Western Public Lands Alliance. “Rushing through this process under the banner of ‘national security’ opens the door to costly mistakes and overlooked harms—especially when uranium, with its toxic legacy, is involved.”Critics also question the need for domestic uranium and vanadium production at this scale, pointing to the global oversupply of uranium and the long lead time required to bring nuclear facilities online. They argue that the real driver behind the project may be political symbolism rather than genuine energy urgency.Meanwhile, the Grand Canyon Trust and other advocacy organizations have called for a halt to mining near culturally and ecologically sensitive areas, citing concerns about contamination from past uranium operations still affecting Native communities.
If they’re unhappy, I am happy.
The reopening of this mine pairs well with the Trump administration’s push to expedite the development of our nuclear energy capacity. I am looking forward to writing about the construction of projects and facilities listed in the four executive orders related to the rapid deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies in this country, which Trump also has signed.
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