RECLAMATION OF A URANIUM EXTRACTION OPERATION
The four (4) images of an open pit uranium mine being reclaimed linked to this page are all of the Bear Creek Mine near Douglas, Wyoming. Click on the images or links to learn more about each item! This mine and mill mill was owned by Bear Creek Uranium Company, a subsidiary of Union Pacific. These photographs are courtesy of Bear Creek Uranium Company. Reclamation of open pit uranium mines in Wyoming is strictly regulated by the State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The DEQ requires mine operators to obtain Permits to Mine and to post bonds to insure that the mine is reclaimed. Mine operators are required to file annual reports to the DEQ and to comply with various site specific conditions inserted by the DEQ into their individual mining permits. Uranium mills are decommissioned after cessation of operations. Uranium mill tailings impoundments are reclaimed. Decommissioning of uranium mills and the reclamation of uranium mill tailings impoundments is regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Operators are required to post bonds to cover the cost of reclamation and mill decommissioning.Uranium in-situ leaching operators are also required to decommission their plants upon cessation of operations and perform groundwater restoration on the mined out aquifers. These operators are also required to post bonds with the State of Wyoming DEQ and with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.The photographs below are of the B-13 pit area at the Bear Creek Mine. The B-13 Pit is one of five (5) pits at the site that have been reclaimed. Bear Creek Uranium Company has obtained final bond release on approximately 1,800 acres of the site. The mine permit area has been reduced from 8,000 acres to 1,047 acres. Reclamation of the tailings area is 50% complete with the remainder to be completed in 1998. Bear Creek Uranium Company has obtained release from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on groundwater issues and is awaiting release from the State of Wyoming.

Step 1: Pit Prior to Reclamation
 This is the Bear Creek Pit prior to reclamation. The open pit and the associated overburden pile can be clearly seen.
Step 2: Backfilled Pit.
To the left is the backfilled pit and remains of the overburden pile. The surface has been disced. This work is performed under the strict regulatory supervision of the Wyoming DEQ.
Step 4 Seeding
To the left is another aerial view of the reclaimed Bear Creek Pit following backfilling which comprises Step 3.
Step 4: Final Reclamation
Final reclamation is shown to the right! Here, the old, backfilled pit has been disced and seeded. The mine area is now lush and green. Another uranium mine reclamation success story courtesy of a Wyoming uranium mine operator!

Uranium mines can be successfully reclaimed. Uranium mills can be successfully decommissioned. Wyoming uranium operators are committed to the successful reclamation of their operations upon cessation of operations.
These photographs are courtesy of Bear Creek Uranium Company