SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A federal panel has lifted a temporary hold on the operating license for a proposed uranium mine in western South Dakota.
The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in late April issued the stay on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license granted to Powertech Uranium Corp. The stay was to ensure historic and cultural sites in the Black Hills aren't damaged by work at Powertech's proposed Dewey-Burdock mine near Edgemont.
The board held a hearing earlier this month and on Tuesday issued an order removing the temporary hold and rejecting requests for a permanent stay.
Powertech still needs approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state Board of Minerals and Environment and state Water Management Board suspended hearings late last year until the federal agencies make decisions.