Crownpoint

(View Larger Image)	Who:	NuFuels, Inc.
	What:	Application for a Renewal at an in Situ Recovery (ISR) Site
	When:	February 26, 2027 (Anticipated Amendment to Renew License)
	Where:	McKinley County, New Mexico

Crownpoint Uranium Project – License Renewal Status

Applicant: NuFuels, Inc., a subsidiary of Laramide Resources Ltd.
Project Type: In‑Situ Recovery (ISR) Uranium Facility (proposed)
Location: McKinley County, New Mexico
NRC Docket: 040‑08968
Current Stage: License Renewal Application Under Technical Review
Application Submitted: January 22, 2025
Latest NRC Update: February 26, 2026 – NRC acceptance of application for technical review
Public Notice Issued: May 27, 2026 – Opportunity to request a hearing

Project Overview

NuFuels, Inc. is seeking renewal of Source and Byproduct Materials License SUA‑1580 to construct and operate ISR wellfields and processing facilities within the Crownpoint and Church Rock project areas. The license renewal application includes plans for several facilities and supporting activities that are already licensed:

• Three proposed satellite ISR facilities: Crownpoint, Unit 1, and Church Rock Section 8
• Processing of uranium‑bearing solutions using ion exchange (IX) technology
• A proposed central processing plant (Crownpoint Central Plant)
• A projected capacity of up to 1 million pounds of U₃O₈ per year at each satellite facility

The project proposes extraction from the Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation using ISR methods.

NRC Current Review Status

The NRC has determined that NuFuels’ renewal application contains sufficient information to begin a technical safety and environmental review. Acceptance for review does not indicate that a renewed license will be granted.

The existing docket number (040‑08968) remains in place.

As review progresses, the NRC may request additional information to support environmental, groundwater, engineering, or safety evaluations.

License Renewal Application

The NRC received a license renewal application (LRA) from NuFuels, Inc., dated January 22, 2025, (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML25022A289) requesting renewal of Source and Byproduct Materials License Number SUA-1580. NuFuels, Inc., a subsidiary of Laramide Resources, Ltd., proposes to develop in-situ recovery (ISR) operations in McKinley County, New Mexico. NuFuels, Inc. submitted the application, pursuant to Part 2 and Part 40 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). The CUP In-Situ Recovery Facility will consist of three separate satellite facilities at the Crownpoint, Unit 1, and Church Rock Section 8 project areas. Uranium recovered from Church Rock Section 17 will be processed at the adjacent Section 8 satellite facility. In addition to the satellite facilities, NuFuels will construct the Crownpoint Central Plant (CCP) proposed within the Crownpoint project area. The license requires that NuFuels submit for NRC approval the results of a groundwater restoration demonstration in Section 8 before proceeding to conduct injection activities at the Section 17, Crownpoint, and Unit 1 sections.

NuFuels proposes to construct and operate wellfields and associated infrastructure within the project areas to extract uranium from the Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation. Recovered uranium-bearing solutions will be processed at satellite facilities located at the Crownpoint, Unit 1, and Church Rock Section 8 project areas. These satellite facilities will recover uranium using pressurized down-flow ion exchange (IX) columns. The loaded resin from the IX columns will then be transported to the CCP for further processing and drying. Each satellite facility is designed for a production capacity of up to 1 million pounds of triuranium octoxide (U₃ O₈) per year.

The NRC staff has determined that NuFuels has submitted sufficient information to enable the staff to undertake a technical review of the application and that the application is, therefore, acceptable for docketing. The current docket number, 040-08968, for license SUA-1580, will be retained. The determination to accept the LRA for docketing does not constitute a determination that a renewed license should be issued and does not preclude the NRC staff from requesting additional information as the review proceeds.

Recent Application‑Related Documents

(Dates reflect NRC public posting)

• NuFuels,Inc., NRC Request for Revised License Renewal Application (ML23289A123), January 25, 2024
• NuFuels, Inc. Crownpoint Uranium Project - License Renewal Application for Source Materials License SUA-1580, NRC Docket No. 040-08968 (ML25022A289), January 22, 2025
• Response to Request for Supplemental Information for the Acceptance Review of the License Renewal Application, NuFuels, Inc. Crownpoint Uranium Project, McKinley County, New Mexico (SUA-1580; NRC Docket 040-08968) (ML25182A330), June 30, 2025
• Letter from NuFuels NRC responding to NRC's RSI dated 04/11/2025, NuFuels Inc. - Churchrock/Crownpoint ISR Project-License (ML25350C307), December 11, 2025
• NRC Acceptance of Application for Technical Review and Schedule (ML26058A001), February 26, 2026
• Federal Register Notice- NuFuels Inc.; Crownpoint Uranium Project In-Situ Recovery Facility; License Renewal Application; Opportunity to request a hearing and petition for leave to intervene, May 27, 2026

Historical Documents from 2002 to 2014

Historical Context

The Crownpoint license has been active since the late 1990s and has undergone:

• Litigation and environmental justice reviews (2002–2006)
• Technical amendments and court rulings affirming NRC authority (2006–2012)
• Ownership transfer to Laramide Resources (2015–2016)
• Ongoing license maintenance, groundwater updates, and renewal preparation (2016–present)
• No commercial ISR extraction has occurred to date.

Summary of Crownpoint NRC License Renewal Since 2002

1998-2002: Original NRC License

• In 1998, the NRC issued Source Materials License SUA-1580 to Hydro Resources, Inc. (HRI) for in‑situ recovery uranium operations at several New Mexico sites: Crownpoint, Church Rock, and related units.
• From 1998–2002, the licensee was involved in litigation and hearings with local communities and tribal groups.

2002–2006: Environmental Justice & Hearing Challenges

• In 2002, the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) required additional environmental justice and groundwater analyses.
• Over the next few years, HRI submitted supplemental information.
• In 2005–2006, NRC completed additional environmental and hydrogeological reviews and upheld the license with conditions.

2006–2012: Renewals, Amendments, and Litigation Resolutions

• NRC processed multiple amendments to reflect technical updates, groundwater monitoring requirements, and wellfield planning.
• Federal court decisions (including the 10th Circuit in 2010) upheld NRC’s authority to issue the license.
• By 2012, most major legal challenges against the Crownpoint license had been resolved.

2013–2016: Laramide Resources Acquisition

• In 2015–2016, Laramide Resources Ltd. purchased HRI’s Crownpoint/Church Rock assets.
• NRC approved the transfer of the license from HRI to NuFuels, Inc., owned by Laramide.
• Minor amendments followed to reflect new ownership and updated operational/administrative plans.

2016–2020: License Maintenance & Groundwater Compliance Updates

• NuFuels maintained the license in a non-operational status.
• NRC continued to review site restoration plans, groundwater protection methods, and monitoring revisions.
• Several amendments were issued to keep the license current with new modeling standards and regulatory requirements.

2020–2024: Renewal Application

• In January 2024, the NRC issued a letter to NuFuels requesting that NuFuels submit a license renewal application within one year.
• In January 2025, NuFuels submitted its renewal application.
• NRC initiated environmental and safety reviews.

Public Participation

A Federal Register Notice (FRN) issued May 27, 2026 provides the opportunity to:

• Request a hearing
• Petition for leave to intervene
  • Requests for a hearing are due within 60 days of the issuance of the FRN.
  • Refer to the FRN for instructions.

No Public Meetings have been scheduled yet.

Contacts:

Environmental Review:

Christine Pineda – Senior Environmental Project Manager
NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Phone: (301) 416-6789

Safety Review:

James Smith – Senior Project Manager
NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Phone: (301)4156103