Canada-based Gamma Resources Ltd. is moving forward with its plan to drill for uranium in Rio Arriba County. But the drill is only on paper for now, as federal regulators are assessing whether the project requires a full environmental review.
In a press release posted on its website, the company hired SWCA Environmental Consultants to conduct a Class III cultural resource survey for its Mesa Arc Project. The survey is a procedural step before any ground activity on lands under the U.S. Forest Service.
But a more consequential question beyond the technical filings looms. The U.S. Forest Service is assessing how much disruption the project will cause.
Forest Service forest spokesperson Zach Behrens told Source NM that the agency has just begun reviewing Gamma’s notice of intent, which it filed on February 23. Behrens said the review will determine whether the planned uranium exploration would result in “significant surface disturbance.” The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) sets that threshold for more rigorous environmental assessment to follow.
Early-stage, but high stakes
Gamma’s proposal would drill 10 to 12 exploratory holes, each reaching a depth of up to 350 feet on all four sites within the Mesa Arc Project. The company has expanded its coverage to about 4,520 acres, including newly-staked federal claims.
The area is within the Upper Rio Grande watershed. Although the area is tied to historical uranium production, it is critical for water systems and surrounding communities.
Gamma frames the archaeological survey as a routine compliance step. But such assessments often determine whether the projects could affect not just cultural heritage, but also critical landscapes.
Regulatory trigger point
NEPA requires federal projects that may significantly alter land, ecosystems, or communities to undergo detailed environmental reviews, including Environmental Assessments (EA) or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). It also mandates public consultation and impact studies.
The company could face delays if the Forest Service finds out the drilling plan crosses that threshold. If not, Gamma’s project could proceed with more limited oversight.
Company stance
In a statement, Gamma CEO Gabriel Alonso-Mendoza described the survey as part of “baseline studies” needed to move forward with the project. “Engaging a highly experienced firm such as SWCA helps ensure that our exploration activities are conducted responsibly,” he said.
The survey will identify any cultural or historical resources in the proposed drilling zones. It will also recommend mitigation measures. Gamma will submit the findings to the U.S. Forest Service, which will decide whether additional safeguards or a full environmental review are required.
In the meantime, the Forest Service is set to start a scoping report. The agency, Behrens wrote in an email sent to Source NM, is reaching out to local governments, conservation districts, acequias, grazing permittees, and the wider public “to flag environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic concerns.”