North Dakotans wary of renewed interest in uranium mining

Mines shut down in late 1960s

BELFIELD, North Dakota: Geiger counters were a hot item a half century ago in the small North Dakota town of Belfield. Nearly every business, including the pool hall, sold the instruments to wannabe uranium prospectors.

“People weren’t worried about it then because they had no idea what it was,” said Barbara Thompson, a Belfield resident for nearly 60 years. “Now we know what it is and what’s going on.”
What is going on is a renewed interest in uranium exploration in the West. Worldwide demand for nuclear power pushed the price of uranium from roughly US$7 a pound in 2002 to about US$135 by midsummer. It dropped to around US$90 in late August.

North Dakota state geologist Ed Murphy said his office is beginning to field inquiries from mining companies interested in staking new claims