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Reclassification of Groundwater, Lost Creek ISR Project
Pursuant to Water Quality Rules Chapter 8, the WQD is providing notice for the proposed reclassification of a portion of groundwater within the Production Zone Aquifer (HJ Horizon within the Battle Spring Aquifer) as Class V (Mineral Commercial). This classification includes specified production zones for the wellfields included in the in-situ uranium mining permit (PT0788) for the (HJ Horizon) , which ranges in depth from 285 to 450 feet below ground surface.
There is no current domestic use of the portion of the Battle Springs aquifer that is being proposed for mining. The groundwater, after mining, shall be returned to a condition and quality consistent with the pre-discharge use suitability of the water.
Lost Creek ISR, LLC, 1478 Willer Drive, Casper, WY 82604, received an in-situ uranium mining permit (PT0788) from the Land Quality Division (LQD) of the DEQ on October 21, 2011. In conjunction with the mining permit, the EPA authorized an aquifer exemption for the production zones associated with the uranium mining operation on August 23, 2011. Lost Creek requested a modification to the existing aquifer exemption area of approximately 13.1 acres to incorporate additional uranium ore into the mining operation. The modification was approved by the EPA on November 16, 2016. Lost Creek is requesting a modification to the approved aquifer exemption area of approximately 502 acres to incorporate additional uranium ore into the mining operation. The proposed aquifer exemption expansion for the mining of uranium is located in portions of Sections 16, 17, 20, and 21, Township 25 North, Range 92 West as shown on the revised Statement of Basis (SOB) map.
The Lost Creek ISR Project is located in the Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
The public comment period begins December 17, 2025, and ends January 15, 2026. Electronic access to a copy of the SOB for an Aquifer Exemption that is completed to support the aquifer exemption request, which is submitted to the USEPA for those portions of the aquifer coincident with the Class V classification, is provided here.
During the 30-day public comment period, any interested person may submit written comments on the proposed permit and may request a public hearing be held. Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by the WDEQ comment portal provided at https://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com. Requests for public hearings must be made in writing and shall indicate the name and full mailing address of the individual requesting a hearing, the interest that individual has in the project, and the grounds for holding a public hearing.
Requests for a contested case hearing on a permit issuance, denial, revocation, termination, or other final department action appealable to the Council, must be made in writing to the Chairman of the Environmental Quality Council and the WDEQ Director at the address above and state the grounds for the request pursuant to the WDEQ Rules of Practice and Procedure.
All written comments and requests received prior to 5:00 P.M, January 15, 2026 in the Cheyenne office will be considered. Electronic comments may be submitted to the link identified above. Comments submitted by email will not be considered. Written comments may be directed to Lily R. Barkau, P.G., Groundwater Section Manager, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 200 West 17th Street, 2nd Floor, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 or by fax at (307) 635-1784.
Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Please provide at least fourteen (14) days before the close of the public comment period for such requests.
Statement of Basis Groundwater Classification
2011 Statement of Basis and Aquifer Exemption Approval
2016 Aquifer Exemption Modification Approval
Lost Creek Amendment D5 D6
LCI MU5 Aquifer Exemption Modification 9-23-25 rev-1
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