Minerals and Mining Program
Powertech (USA), Inc. - Exploration and Mine Permits
Powertech (USA), Inc. is a uranium company that plans to develop an in situ uranium mining operation in Custer and Fall River Counties in southwestern South Dakota (see Powertech's web site at http://www.powertechuranium.com. In 2007, the Board of Minerals and Environment issued Powertech a uranium exploration permit for the area. Powertech submitted an additional uranium exploration application in July 2008. The company has also started the process to obtain a large scale mine permit application. In August 2008, Powertech submitted a Request for Determination of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands and Notice of Intent to Mine, which is the first step in the mine permit process. In April 2009, the Board of Minerals and Environment determined the proposed mine area did not have special, exceptional, critical, or unique characteristics.
Powertech submitted a large scale mine permit application on October 1, 2012. The department has completed its review of Powertech's mine permit application and supplemental information and determined it was procedurally complete on January 16, 2013. The deadline for petitions to intervene and become a party to a hearing on the application is February 19, 2013. A hearing on the application before the Board of Minerals and Environment is tentatively scheduled for May 2013.
In 2011, the South Dakota Legislature tolled (put on hold/suspended) the in situ leach mining rules (ARSD 74:29:11). As a result, Powertech is not required to comply with the rules.
To help disseminate information on these environmental permits, DENR will post the following permit applications submitted by Powertech on this page and will provide updates on the status of DENR reviews of the applications. Please click on the type of permit application you are interested in:
Mine Permits
Special, Exceptional, Critical or Unique Land Determination
DENR's Mine Permit Application File
