Council hears updates on Cedar Mountain uranium lease, helium testing and Bronco coal cessation order

Trust Lands staff briefed the Emery County Public Lands Council on several mineral and lease matters during the meeting. A previously leased Cedar Mountain block (long leased for uranium but undeveloped after the last lessee let the lease lapse) is under a new application and will be considered by the Trust Lands board in an upcoming meeting; staff will provide a map to the council.

Trust Lands staff also said North American Helium is reviewing results from three wells drilled on the Temple Springs block in the San Rafael Desert following Dingle/Dingell-related public-land adjustments. Council members were asked to review maps when staff provides them.

Separately, a state division representative (speaker 18) told the council the Velvet uranium-vanadium mine in neighboring Grand County is approved and attempting to begin production and that the Division has issued a cessation order against Bronco for insufficient reclamation bonding; Bronco may not perform active mining until reclamation bonding is adequate. The representative said the bond shortfall was partly a clerical error on the state’s part and noted industry rumors of a possible buyer for Bronco but no confirmed sale.

Council members asked about surface-versus-underground mining methods, reclamation responsibilities, and opportunities to comment during Trust Lands board processes. Trust Lands staff said some mineral actions use other-business arrangements (OBAs) that require exploratory due diligence and drilling contingencies before full leasing.

Council requested that staff circulate the Cedar Mountain map and related materials to council members for review and public-comment planning.