enCore Energy has received final approval from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to begin infrastructure construction at the Dewey Burdock Uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) project in south-west South Dakota, US.
The decision follows the completion of an Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact.
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This allows enCore’s 100%-owned subsidiary, Powertech, to build initial ancillary infrastructure across approximately 240 acres of public land managed by the BLM, within the broader 10,580-acre project area.
The federally approved works include construction of primary and secondary access roads, light-use roads, four groundwater monitoring wells, and installation of overhead power lines.
enCore Energy executive chair William Sheriff said: “Securing the BLM’s approval to commence construction on BLM lands marks a significant milestone for the Dewey Burdock Project.
“Our team’s efforts at the federal level to coordinate permitting within the Fast 41 programme have greatly enhanced enCore’s ability to move forward, and we look forward to continuing to work with US Government agencies and state regulators to advance the Dewey Burdock Project.
“We greatly appreciate the support of our landowners, neighbours and the Edgemont community and look forward to growing our economic impact on the region. enCore remains committed to maximising shareholder value and properly managing best practices to protect the land, air, people and water.”
Dewey Burdock in Custer and Fall River counties is wholly owned by enCore Energy and is considered an advanced-stage uranium project.
The project’s ISR method involves injecting an oxygen and water-based solution into subsurface sandstone ore bodies to dissolve uranium minerals in situ, with the solution then pumped to a central facility for processing.
Dewey Burdock was granted a Source and Byproduct Materials Licence from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2014, which is currently under renewal.
According to the company, it plans to continue working with the NRC as the federal permitting lead agency and to advance the project using ISR uranium extraction.
The Permitting Council, under US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, designates certain infrastructure and critical mineral projects for expedited permitting review.
The inclusion of South Dakota’s first ISR project is intended to support domestic uranium production in the US.
In August last year, enCore Energy acquired a 5,900-acre parcel of private land adjacent to its Alta Mesa uranium project in Texas, US.
