The ground broke on the Velvet-Wood project, a uranium and vanadium mine in southeast Utah, on Nov. 6. The project is being led by a Canadian company, Anfield Energy. The Velvet-Wood mine had an expedited environmental review by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and had permits issued after 11 days.
Nearby communities are concerned about the speed of the permitting process not allowing for a comprehensive environmental review and public input. With only 11 days, it does not give the community enough time to give input. Through the NEPA process, the BLM is required to give communities an opportunity to comment. This was ignored by speeding up the permitting process.
The fast-tracking of the permit will harm nearby communities. There is concern around the safety of mining operations, including potential impacts of radioactive ponds and waste rocks to local fauna, particularly critical raptor species; impacts on local resident’s livestock grazing and recreational uses of the land; and the potential for groundwater contamination of the Burro Canyon Aquifer, which sits above the Navajo Aquifer. The Navajo Aquifer is a vital freshwater resource for residents of Southeastern Utah, and the Navajo and Ute Mountain Ute Nations.
Abbie Nistler
Salt Lake City