Company seeks to restart state permitting for Black Hills uranium mine
Federal approvals clear the way for South Dakota review after a 13-year pause
EnCore Energy plans to restart South Dakota’s permitting process for the proposed Dewey-Burdock uranium mine after securing its final required federal permit last month, according to reporting by South Dakota Searchlight. The project spans nearly 20 square miles in Custer and Fall River counties and was added to the federal FAST-41 permitting process in 2025. According to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the company has submitted new water rights applications but has not yet applied for mine or groundwater discharge permits.
The project’s state permit applications have remained inactive since 2013 while federal reviews and litigation continued. According to the South Dakota Searchlight reporting, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Indigenous rights group NDN Collective oppose the project, citing concerns about potential impacts on historic and cultural sites in the Black Hills. The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance has also raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination and water use associated with the proposed mining operation.
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