Grants, New Mexico – October 06, 2026 -- The Cibola County Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution recognizing the strategic importance of the Grants Mineral Belt and In-Situ Recovery (ISR) technology for uranium extraction, the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico (CLEAN) announced.
Cibola County formally endorses ISR as a path for uranium development
The county resolution acknowledges ISR's potential to extract naturally occurring uranium without generating tailings or requiring underground workings, according to CLEAN. CLEAN President Janet Lee-Sheriff said the vote reflects research by county officials and staff aimed at making an informed decision based on sound information.
ISR already accounts for 60% of global uranium output
ISR technology, developed in the United States more than 50 years ago, is used to extract roughly 60% of the world's uranium and has been applied commercially in Texas, Nebraska and Wyoming. The method relies on wellfield technology to recover uranium from sandstone-hosted deposits, avoiding open pits and underground mining operations typical of conventional extraction.
Regulators cite no history of drinking-water contamination from ISR
CLEAN noted that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has stated there has never been an incident of drinking water contamination linked to the ISR process. State and federal regulators oversee ISR projects through a process that includes public comment periods and independent research review before approval.
Local support feeds into regulatory review process for future projects
CLEAN said county-level endorsements such as Cibola's resolution provide regulators and the public with more complete information as ISR projects advance through permitting. The association positions the vote as part of broader efforts to address legacy uranium contamination issues in New Mexico while developing new extraction sites.