Trump bypasses reviews to reopen Utah uranium mine, but low prices may stall production
The Trump administration is fast-tracking a long-idled uranium mine in southeastern Utah under emergency orders, but market realities could delay any revival of domestic uranium production.
Mead Gruver and Hannah Schoenbaum report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The Bureau of Land Management approved Anfield Energy’s Velvet-Wood uranium mine in just 11 days using emergency energy provisions, skipping normal environmental review procedures.
- Despite regulatory acceleration, industry experts say uranium prices remain too low to justify large-scale domestic production, and many projects still lack the needed capital and permits.
- Locals from nearby Moab and environmental groups remain wary, citing past contamination and limited public input, while global uranium supply mostly comes from Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan.
Key quote:
“This is all being done under the assumption there is some energy emergency and that is just not true.”
— Amber Reimondo, energy director of Grand Canyon Trust
Why this matters:
Uranium mining in the U.S. has long walked a tightrope between national energy interests and environmental fallout. Communities like Moab, Utah, bear scars from past uranium booms, where tailings seeped into the Colorado River and left behind a toxic legacy still being cleaned up today. Now, a push from President Trump to fast-track mines under a national energy emergency is rekindling old tensions. While nuclear power offers a low-carbon energy source, the mining and milling of uranium come with heavy environmental costs — especially for water quality and public health. Critics warn that cutting public input and environmental review could repeat past mistakes, with lasting consequences. Meanwhile, market conditions may do more to slow uranium’s return than policy: Current prices don’t support a boom. But that doesn't mean they won't in the future.
Related: Uranium mining project in Utah avoids standard environmental review process
