The Clean Energy Association of New Mexico (CLEAN), together with Grants Energy, recently led a group of regulators and community members from Grants, Milan and San Mateo, New Mexico, on a tour of the Crow Butte In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium site in Nebraska. The purpose was to show how modern ISR technology can extract uranium with a minimal environmental footprint compared to the historical conventional mining methods that shaped New Mexico’s past.
During the visit, attendees saw firsthand how ISR is drastically different when compared to conventional mining practises. Instead of open pits or underground tunnels, ISR uses a network of wells, known as a wellfield, to extract uranium from sandstone-hosted deposits deep below the surface. This process is minimally intrusive, environmentally responsible, and has been safely used in the U.S. for over 50 years, primarily in Texas, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
ISR has been used worldwide for over 50 years with minimal environmental impact. CLEAN and Grants Energy are proud to provide these educational opportunities to help New Mexicans understand safe, modern uranium production methods that protect communities and the environment.
Photo Credits: ©Kim Cook Photography Inc
“I didn’t know what to expect, I had some legacy ideas of previous operations, but the fact that there was such an emphasis on the environment, restoration of the water, the reclamation of the well and the site, real attention to details on the safety, EPA standards, working with state regulators, working with federal regulators. It was very very impressive.” -Scott Lopez, New Mexico Nuclear Alliance
“This is a good, positive thing because its totally different then my previous grandfathers that worked in the mining business, what they endured and what they went through. It’s nothing that is even close to that.” - Stanley Michael, local San Mateo resident
“Crow Butte is a great example of how In-situ Recovery can be implemented into an area with no negative impact to the ecosystem, environment or community.” - Charles Lundstrom, Grants Energy
“As a lifelong resident of Milan, I was impressed with the overall non-invasive landscape that I saw. I was also impressed and appreciative of the site blending into the natural landscape of the area. I truly believe this process is the future of our power supply.” – James Mercer, local Milan resident
“Theres a lot of need for energy throughout the world and that energy seems to be coming through the uranium industry. That itself proposes a lot of promise and I think this will allow our citizens to make a good, informed decisions once they have the right information and I think they would be pleasantly surprised with the economic opportunities it presents.” - George Garcia, local Grants resident
“When we started passing the site, I was impressed that such a small footprint of the environment that it took up. I was used to the old style of mining with shafts and stoops and trucks and all kinds of uranium piles and I didn’t see any of that.” – George Garcia, local Grants resident
