South Dakota defeats anti-Powertech bill with 10-2 vote

The South Dakota House Agriculture & Natural Resources committee has quashed a bill against Powertech Uranium, which had attempted to halt Powertech’s Dewey-Burdock uranium project near Edgemont, South Dakota, US.

Dewey-Burdock project manager Mark Hollenbeck said that the bill had been an attempt to delay or completely stop the project.

"The bill sponsors ignored the experience and expertise of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which recently issued the final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) for the project."

The FSEIS report concludes that there are no environmental impacts that would preclude licensing the facility.

Hollenbeck noted that the key points of HB 1193 were addressed in the FSEIS and rejected by NRC, and that the bill offered no additional protection to public health or environment.

Powertech president and CEO Richard Clement said that the strength of the review by the NRC illustrates the project’s environment protection steps and highlights the positive impacts of the project for South Dakota.

"We continue to be pleased with our progress in South Dakota and appreciate the continued support of local residents and state legislators," Clement said.

Through its South Dakota-incorporated subsidiary, Powertech (US), Powertech Uranium has holdings in the Dewey-Burdock Uranium deposit in South Dakota, the Centennial project in Colorado and the Dewey Terrace and Aladdin projects in Wyoming.

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