The United States Government has tried to fast-track the Velvet-Wood uranium mine permit. If successful, this could have huge implications for national energy policies. The process for a permit like this usually takes years, but it is now being compressed into just 14 days.
The motivations behind this are a “national energy emergency,” which means that bureaucratic delays can be circumvented completely. The project aims to bolster domestic uranium production, giving the nation more energy independence, as 99% of uranium imports come from geopolitically unstable or adversarial nations. However, the fast-tracking of the permit could spell trouble for the environment.
Energy Security
Uranium is an important component in nuclear power, which gives roughly 20% of America its power. Uranium also has a more frightening history in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Right now, the United States is dependent on foreign sources for nearly all of its uranium, which is primarily from countries like Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
The Velvet-Wood uraniaum mine in Utah holds a lot of domestic uranium, and would mean the U.S. would be so reliant on other nations. This would ensure future energy security for the nation, but it should not be taken lightly, given how damaging mining can be to local habitats.
Low Surface Impact
If mining were to start at the Velvet-Wood mine, then its underground layout would limit surface disturbance to only three acres. Existing mining infrastructure dates back to the 1970s.
This would mean there would be a smaller than usual footprint, which is a strong argument for fast-tracking the permits. These modern mining attempts may not end up doing nearly as much damage as other regions, and when critical resources are needed, it may be justifiable.
Boosting Local Economies
If the Shootaring Canyon and Velvet-Wood mines were reopened, then jobs and investment could be injected into the region, which has never recovered from uranium mining’s collapse in the 1980s. This boost to the local economy would aid many industries as they got involved in the project, such as transportation, equipment production, and environmental services.
While there are implications about habitat displacement, when it comes to factors that would aid people, there is a strong argument for reopening the mine. However, the reality is that it is not that nuanced, and considerations must be made on environmental impact, so that past mistakes are not repeated and local ecosystems become contaminated by chemicals and pollution.
Setting A Precedent
The two-week environmental review sets a precedent going forward for expedited permitting under the declaration of national emergency. The framework could be utilized for future mineral and energy projects, whether they are justified or not.
This precedent dramatically shortens timelines for projects that are deemed “essential.” While it could help reduce regulatory uncertainty, a model like this challenges the status quo of protracted environmental reviews that stall infrastructure and projects for a very important reason, as many of these movements often have negative effects on the environment.
Producing More Than Just Uranium
While the main goal of mining at the Velvet-Wood mine is to extract uranium, vanadium will also be found in the ground. The vanadium market is growing due to the adoption of renewable energy. This important resource is critical for strengthening steel and emerging battery technologies. This unique synergy shows that both traditional infrastructure and nuclear energy can benefit from mining efforts. Extracting both resources from the same site will improve economic stability and support the transition to cleaner energy technologies.
Environmental Risks
While the benefits of fast-tracking permits for the Velvet-Wood mine are valid, if environmental review is cut from more than a year to only two weeks, analysis will be rushed and leave no room for a more detailed examination. This rushed process could create oversights of critical environmental risks, especially regarding groundwater being contaminated by runoff.
A thorough review is important as rushing through processes can leave potential hazards undiscovered or unaddressed. This would increase the future chances of long-term damage to local ecosystems and local communities, especially indigenous groups that have already been affected by uranium mining in the past.
Concerns
Uranium mining is known to release radioactive particles and heavy metals into groundwater close to the mining site. This threatens local wildlife and local communities through polluting essential drinking water. In the old tunnels of the Velvet-Wood mine, about 50 million gallons of contaminated water have accumulated.
This water needs to be pumped out of the mine and treated in order for the operation to continue. However, with fast-tracking of permits, the contaminated water could be allowed to be released into nearby washes that feed into the Colorado River, creating widespread pollution of radium, uranium, and zinc downstream into other ecosystems that are not even close to the Velvet-Wood mining site.
Legacy Pollution
The Velvet-Wood site is located close to an old and defunct uranium mill that still contaminates groundwater today. The landscape has already been stressed by pollutants. The reopening of the mine would mean that ore would have to be transported, which would increase truck traffic and waste production.
These factors would all contribute to pollution in the local area above the contamination that the mine itself would be producing. A rushed review process would leave little to no time to fully assess how all of the combined effects would impact the local environment. A comprehensive plan to prevent further environmental degradation also wouldn’t have time to be developed.
Fast-Tracking Risks: Sacrificing Environmental Safety For Speed
While the fast-tracking of the Velvet-Wood mine would secure more energy independence from other foreign and sometimes adversarial nations, it risks repeating the same historic mistakes of uranium mining by sidelining comprehensive environmental review, public input, and long-term safeguards.
The combined potential for groundwater contamination, radioactive waste hazards, and increased pollution could set a terrifying precedent for future projects rushed through important reviews. The trade-off of environmental safety for speed may not be worth it in the long run.
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