Dewey Burdock Uranium Project has received final authorisation from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), enabling enCore Energy Corp. to begin infrastructure construction for its in-situ recovery (ISR) operation in southwest South Dakota. The decision marks an important milestone for the company’s development pipeline.

The approval follows the completion of the BLM’s Environmental Assessment and the issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact. Consequently, enCore’s wholly owned subsidiary, Powertech Inc., can commence initial work on approximately 240 acres of public land within the wider 10,580-acre project area.

Dewey Burdock Uranium Project Advances Towards Development

The approved scope includes sections of primary and secondary access roads, light-use roads, four groundwater monitoring wells and overhead power infrastructure. Therefore, the latest regulatory milestone strengthens the project’s path towards future production.

William M. Sheriff, Executive Chair of enCore Energy, described the approval as a significant achievement. He highlighted the company’s ongoing cooperation with federal agencies and state regulators as part of the Fast-41 permitting programme.

Moreover, he reiterated enCore’s commitment to responsible resource development and environmental stewardship.

Environmental Review Process Completed

The Bureau of Land Management published a draft Environmental Assessment on 14 April 2026. Following this, a 30-day public consultation period allowed stakeholders to raise concerns regarding groundwater protection, cultural resources, tribal interests and environmental justice.

After reviewing all submissions, the BLM issued its final decision and concluded that the project would not have a significant environmental impact. As a result, construction activities can now proceed.

ISR Technology Supports Lower Surface Disturbance

The Dewey Burdock Uranium Project will utilise in-situ recovery technology, which extracts uranium from underground sandstone formations using oxygen and water-based solutions. The uranium-bearing fluid is then transported to a central processing facility for recovery.

Compared with conventional mining methods, ISR technology creates substantially less surface disruption. Furthermore, the extraction process has been used commercially for more than five decades and has established a strong operational record.

The project will include production wellfields, processing facilities, supporting infrastructure and environmental protection systems. These components are intended to support long-term domestic uranium production.

Fast-41 Designation Accelerates Federal Permitting

In August 2025, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council added the project to the Fast-41 programme. Consequently, the development received priority status under initiatives aimed at increasing domestic critical mineral production.

The project previously obtained a Source and Byproduct Materials License from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2014. That licence is currently undergoing renewal procedures. Meanwhile, enCore continues to work with regulators to advance the project towards commercial operation.

Mineral Resource Base Supports Long-Term Growth

According to the latest resource estimate dated 8 October 2024, the project contains:

• Measured uranium resources of 14.29 million pounds U3O8.
• Indicated resources of 2.84 million pounds U3O8.
• Combined measured and indicated resources of 17.12 million pounds U3O8.
• Inferred resources of approximately 713,000 pounds U3O8.

These estimates are based on ISR extraction methods and do not include mineral reserves. Therefore, economic viability has not yet been fully demonstrated.

Expanding Domestic Uranium Production

enCore Energy continues to position itself as a supplier of clean and reliable uranium for the expanding US nuclear energy market. In addition to South Dakota, the company is progressing development projects in Texas and Wyoming.

As demand for nuclear energy increases, domestic uranium production remains a strategic priority. Consequently, the advancement of the Dewey Burdock project represents another step in strengthening the US supply chain for critical minerals.