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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: Uranium Recovery Realities in the U.S. – A Review
Michael
D. Campbell and
Henry M. Wise
With the mounting concern about greenhouse gas emissions, interest in nuclear power has increased substantially over the past five years in theU.S.wheremore than 50 permit applications are now under review for building new plants. Nations around the world are looking to increasing their use of nuclear energy to generate greenhouse gas emission-free electricity because it is the cleanest technology available that is capable of producing the amount of electricity required at a competitive cost. With this increase in interest, there has been an increase in uranium exploration and production, which in turn has encountered an equally increased resistance from a few adversarial groups, especially in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. These groups base their objections on exploration and mining techniques and mining laws that were in effect at least 30 years ago. Unfortunately many in the news media have been reporting on these complaints without regard to important improvements in exploration and uranium recovery techniques and environmental protection laws. The general public has consistently been led to believe that uranium exploration and recovery will poison both the land surface and the underlying aquifers over vast areas. We will discuss these misconceptions in some detail