The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has approved Anfield Energy’s Velvet-Wood uranium-vanadium mine in San Juan County, Utah, aimed at enhancing the nation’s mineral security.
This is the first mining project to be approved under the expedited 14-day environmental review process in response to the national energy emergency declared by US President Donald Trump.
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final environmental assessment paves the way for Anfield Energy to restart the Velvet Mine and develop the Wood mineralisation with minimal new surface disturbance.
The approval follows the DOI’s announcement to accelerate the environmental assessment process for the project earlier this month.
The project is expected to generate employment and improve local infrastructure while adhering to environmental restoration post-mining.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said: “This approval marks a turning point in how we secure America’s mineral future.
“By streamlining the review process for critical mineral projects like Velvet-Wood, we’re reducing dependence on foreign adversaries and ensuring our military, medical and energy sectors have the resources they need to thrive. This is mineral security in action.”
The mine will focus on extracting uranium and vanadium from known deposits, with most activities occurring underground.
These minerals are crucial for nuclear energy, medical applications, and military hardware. Currently, the US is heavily reliant on imports for these resources, with significant amounts coming from countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan, according to the DOI.
Anfield Energy also plans to reopen the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill, one of only three in the US, further reducing the country’s dependence on imported uranium concentrate.
