Utah Issues Draft Permits to Restart Shootaring Mill
The regulatory approval marks a step toward reviving one of the few remaining uranium milling sites in the United States.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Nuclear
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Should the United States prioritize increasing domestic capacity for processing uranium and vanadium ore?
The Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control has issued draft permits for the renewal of radioactive material and groundwater discharge licenses at the Shootaring Canyon Mill. This regulatory step brings the Garfield County facility, one of three such licensed mills in the U.S., closer to restarting conventional uranium milling operations.
Why it matters
Restoring domestic milling capacity is a strategic priority for firms aiming to process uranium and vanadium ore from multiple regional projects through a centralized hub. The permitting process is the necessary hurdle for transitioning the site from legacy maintenance to active industrial output.
The draft license authorizes annual production of 1,500 tons of yellowcake, with the company targeting a refurbishment throughput capacity of 1,000 tons of ore per day. These figures are contingent on successfully upgrading legacy equipment like leach tanks and pumping systems.
The players
Anfield Energy
An exploration and development company focused on uranium and vanadium assets with a goal to centralize domestic milling capacity.
Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
The state regulatory body responsible for oversight and permitting of hazardous and radioactive materials disposal and processing.
The details
Anfield Energy is currently clearing legacy infrastructure at the Shootaring Canyon Mill, including retired electrical systems, pumps, and motors, under an existing maintenance license. Future operations will rely on a groundwater monitoring network that must adhere to best available technology standards for managing process ponds. The facility is designed to serve as a central hub for ore gathered from various domestic sources, requiring the restoration of chemical milling processes to convert raw ore into yellowcake, a concentrated form of uranium used as reactor fuel.
Timeline
April 5, 2024: Anfield Energy subsidiary applied for license renewal.
October 21, 2026: Utah state regulators issued the draft license and permit.
Late 2026: Proposed commencement of a 45-day public comment period.
Q2 2027: Target date for receipt of final renewed license.
Q2 2027: Planned start date for major facility refurbishment.
The Tech Race
The Shootaring Canyon Mill represents a rare expansion of the U.S. licensed uranium milling infrastructure, which currently consists of only three facilities nationwide. Restarting this site is a critical move for companies racing to provide independent, domestic ore-processing capability.
Residents and stakeholders in Garfield County can expect a 45-day public comment period on the draft permits, projected to begin in late 2026. This process represents the primary opportunity for local input before the company begins major infrastructure refurbishments in 2027.
The takeaway
The move to renew these permits signals a push to bring the Shootaring Canyon Mill back into the domestic supply chain. Stakeholders should track the official public comment window, expected in late 2026, to monitor the facility's progress toward the target 2027 refurbishment start.
Further reading
For more on the regulatory landscape for fuel production, see our coverage in Nuclear.
Live Poll
Should the United States prioritize increasing domestic capacity for processing uranium and vanadium ore?
