January 2026

IN MEMORY

Jennifer Thurston, the long time Executive Director of the Information Network on Responsible Mining, a Colorado organization, passed away from complications from a brief illness on January 17, 2026, while living in New York. Her family and many friends and colleagues will greatly miss her. Jennifer contributed her knowledge, experience, friendship, and writing skills to fight for better mining and milling regulations and oversight. She worked successfully to stop a new uranium mill in the Paradox Valley, where she lived for several years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Information Network for Responsible Mining (INFORM), P.O. Box 349, Lyons, CO 80540.

VELVET – WOOD URANIUM MINE

More permitting is required before Anfield Resources Holding Corp. can start working underground at the Velvet – Wood Uranium Mine in San Jan County. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact in May 2025. However, Anfield must still submit plans for the pilot mine water treatment plant to the Utah Division of Water Quality for their approval. Anfield must also submit an application for the construction and operation of the radon ventilation system to the Utah Div. of Air Quality (DAQ). The DAQ is currently reviewing Anfield’s application for a modification of their Air Quality Permit. There will be a public comment period on the draft Air Quality Approval Order when that is complete. Once all permits are in place and construction complete, Anfield must pump, treat, and discharge millions of gallons of mine water prior to underground operations.

ABANDONED MINE CLEANUP IN LISBON VALLEY

Mandrake Resources Limited, an Australian Company, signed an agreement with Disa Technologies Inc. (DISA) to evaluate and treat abandoned uranium mine dumps to recover saleable uranium and other critical minerals within Mandrake’s 93,755-acre Utah Project in the Lisbon Valley area of San Juan County.

DISA received a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license (Docket No. 04038417) to utilize its High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) technology at abandoned uranium mine sites to produce a uranium concentrate that would be removed from the site. The concentrate would be sent to a licensed uranium mill for further processing or to a low-level radioactive waste facility for disposal. EFRI has expressed an interest in processing uranium from abandoned uranium mines at its mill in San Juan County, adjacent to the lands and community of the White Mesa Band of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Wastes from the HPSA process, which would contain uranium and uranium progeny, would remain on the abandoned uranium mine site and not be treated as milling wastes. The disposal of the waste and the use of large amounts of water are major concerns.