Here’s the full story from the Associated Press:

EDGEMONT, S.D. – The Oglala Sioux Tribe and others have been named official parties in the permitting process for Powertech Uranium Corp.’s proposed mine near Edgemont.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission agreed Friday that the tribe, three individuals and two citizens’ groups raised valid arguments about the Dewey Burdock project and would be allowed to weigh in.

Powertech wants to inject chemically treated water into holes to dissolve the uranium, then pump out the solution and collect the uranium for processing. Company representatives say the process is safe.

But some environmental and Native American groups fear it would harm underground aquifers and disturb sacred and burial sites. The land is about 60 miles from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

(Republic of Lakotah image)

See Debra White Plume’s post about the proposed mine on the Republic of Lakotah blog, here.

Tags: buffalo post, burial sites, Edgemont, environment, Gwen Florio, Native American news, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Powertech Uranium Corp.