Uranium mine set to re-open in Lisbon Valley

A uranium mine is reopening in Lisbon Valley. Canadian based Anfield Energy received approval to operate the Velvet-Wood mines in Lisbon Valley from the state of Utah.
The company announced on October 7 it had received approval from the Utah Department of Oil, Gas and Mining for the Velvet-Wood project.
The approval from the state comes after an expedited approval from the federal government.
On May 23 the Department of Interior (DOI) announced the approvals for the mines. That approval came just 11 days after the Interior announced the use of emergency procedures as part of a national energy emergency declared by President Trump on January 20, 2025 aimed at, in part, decreasing reliance on foreign energy.
With the green light from state and federal regulators the company says they anticipate groundbreaking within 30 days.
The Velvet-Wood mine is located off Williamson Fork road in Lisbon Valley, less than five miles from the Lisbon Valley Mining operation.
The company says near-term plans for the mine include reopening of the mine portal, mine dewatering, construction of surface facilities, underground inspection and pre-construction assessment and construction of a new incline into the mine.
Corey Dias, CEO of Anfield, said the company is now clear to move the mine to construction and production.
“This reinforces our view that Velvet-Wood’s status as a past-producing uranium and vanadium mine with a small environmental footprint is advantageous to the Company’s aim to pursue near-term production. The Company will now pivot to advancing the project through the construction phase of its plan. With the plethora of nuclear energy-related Executive Orders released by the Administration in 2025, the path to sustained U.S. nuclear growth is being established, and Anfield’s portfolio of uranium assets are well positioned to contribute to the fuel cycle.”
In their statement in May the Department of Interior said “The Velvet-Wood project will bring new jobs and infrastructure to the area, reopen and expand the existing underground mine, and restore the land once mining is finished. Most of the work will take place underground, targeting known mineral deposits left from earlier operations.”
Anfield reports between 1979 and 1984 the Velvet mine produced four million pounds of uranium and five million pounds of vanadium.
Anfield bought the mine in 2015 and has announced plans to bring their Shootaring Canyon Mill into production located north of Ticaboo on the northwest side of Lake Powell a little less than a 200 mile drive from the mine in San Juan county to the mill in Garfield county.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about completing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in under two weeks.
The NEPA process includes evaluations which can take multiple years in some instances in just two weeks.
NEPA processes typically include analysis of potential impacts on the project environment, alternatives to consider and any mitigation of impacts on public lands including watersheds.
The process also includes opportunities for public participation in the form of comments and sometimes hearings.
Anfield shared they will post the required increase in the Velvet-Wood reclamation bond with the Bureau of Land Management.