Smith Ranch Highland Uranium Plant, Wyoming

The Smith Ranch Highland Mill is one of the largest active uranium mining and production operations in the USA. The mill, also referred to as the Central Processing Plant, processes liquid that has been concentrated and collected from wells throughout the region, a process known as in situ recovery.  The operation started in 1987 and has expanded since then, now comprising several satellite sites, where liquids are delivered to the plant through pipelines and by tanker trucks. Waste material is injected 10,000 feet into the ground. It is operated by Power Resources Inc., a subsidiary of the Canadian uranium company Cameco. While the domestic market for the uranium is severely diminished, with cheaper ore coming from Russia, Canada, and Australia, Wyoming is still the largest domestic source.