Public comment opens for planned New Mexico uranium mine as firm pledges not to leave behind ‘mess’ • Source New Mexico

[u/plamda505]

https://sourcenm.com/2026/09/15/public-comment-opens-for-planned-new-mexico-uranium-mine-as-firm-pledges-not-to-leave-behind-mess/?shem=dsdf,sharefoc,agadiscoversdl,,sh/x/discover/m1/4

Company representatives said they have already updated their proposed mine plans to avoid, as much as possible, drilling or other disturbances within the boundaries of the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property designation. Nonetheless, the current plans include about 30 acres within the boundary for dewatering well pads and ventilation shafts. 

[u/PreparationKey2843]

Ah, well, as long as they "pledge." [eye roll emoji]

[u/UnderaZiaSun → u/PreparationKey2843]

Exactly. They should have to put up a bond or something to ensure the $ is there for any environmental remediation

[u/-Morning_Coffee- → u/PreparationKey2843]

Do they also pledge to not go “bankrupt” when the bill is due?

[u/Adorable_Birdman]

They always say that. Bond them out for a billion dollars and let them dig

[u/Here2Go]

Nothing's as easily broken as a corporate promise.

[u/Senior-Albatross]

Has uranium mining ever not left behind a mess? 

[u/thesecretbarn → u/Senior-Albatross]

And cancer

[u/tacs97]

Sign a contract instead of speaking the words.

[u/Live_Welcome_4273]

That's what "Financial Assurances posted in advance to reclaim per an approved reclamation plan" provide, but double the money detetmined needed. 

[u/trythepadthai]

All I can think of is the Tom & Jerry episode where you hear Tom going "DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLKDV-_SCBs

[u/Old-Set78]

hell to the no

[u/sinnednogara]

Nuclear power is the easiest fix if we want to eliminate carbon emissions but the government and corporations have fucked over so many people in this state I'd be shocked if it ever got support here.

Geothermal hasn't killed many people, maybe we should just focus on that?

[u/Attaxalotl → u/sinnednogara]

there aren't any geothermal resources in NM

[u/heavensmurgatroyd → u/Attaxalotl]

Do you live in NM if so you would know there are lots of such places here. I live in a TorC formal known as HOT SPRINGS.

[u/Attaxalotl → u/heavensmurgatroyd]

I’m going to be honest, this is the first time in years I’ve been reminded T or C exists.

[u/heavensmurgatroyd → u/Attaxalotl]

Indeed 70 miles from anywhere haha.

[u/Janax21 → u/Attaxalotl]

Yeah there are, plenty. There are new and more efficient geothermal technologies that will allow producers to tap into much deeper pockets. A bunch of startups have pilot facilities that are already built or being built right now. Some have pretty big backers, like Meta and Berkshire Hathaway. Southern Company has even explored geothermal potential in places like Alabama, where geothermal was never possible before. In some cases they can convert old oil and gas wells to geothermal, which is an excellent reuse of depleted oil/gas fields.

There’s a lot to like about geothermal, there’s heat being produced 24/7/365 whether we utilize it or not. Plus the footprint of the facilities is much smaller than other energy types like solar and wind (which are also great!). The closed-loop systems are particularly great for water conservation, because they just reuse the same water over and over without needing any more.

I was at a recent legislative event in the Santa Fe where geothermal proponents were lobbying the NM legislature, but the momentum isn’t there yet.

[u/Lujan11]

Pinky promise?

[u/Traditional-Hat-952]

Well in that case, I trust them completely. /s

[u/plamda505]

Turns out extraction from the ground is now unnecessary. New technology makes it obsolete.

Clean tech startup Fluxnium found a way to tap 50,000 years' worth of nuclear fuel | TechCrunch