enCore Energy's Dewey Burdock ISR Uranium Project EPA Decision Advances Federal Permitting

Rhea-AI Summary

enCore Energy (NASDAQ:EU) achieved a significant regulatory milestone for its Dewey Burdock In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Uranium Project in South Dakota. The EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) has fully denied a petition challenging the project's Underground Injection Control permits.

The decision validates both Class III and Class V UIC permits, which are crucial for ISR uranium operations. This development follows the project's recent approval for fast-track federal permitting under the Fast-41 Program on August 28, 2025. The company plans to initiate state permitting activities in 2025, advancing the project ahead of schedule.

This ruling marks the conclusion of over a decade of permitting and litigation, with all major federal authorizations now final and effective, including the NRC Source Materials License and EPA UIC permits.

Positive

• EPA Environmental Appeals Board fully denied petition against UIC permits
• Project approved for fast-track federal permitting under Fast-41 Program
• All major federal authorizations are now final and effective
• Project development timeline accelerated ahead of schedule

Negative

• Project faced over a decade of permitting and litigation challenges

Insights

Mining Regulatory Expert

EPA Appeals Board's full rejection of challenges to enCore's uranium project permits removes major regulatory hurdles, accelerating development timeline.

The EPA Environmental Appeals Board's complete rejection of petitions against enCore Energy's Underground Injection Control permits represents a critical regulatory milestone for the Dewey Burdock uranium project. This decision effectively concludes over a decade of permitting battles and litigation, providing regulatory certainty that has been lacking.

The ruling validates both Class III permits (for the uranium extraction process) and Class V permits (for disposal wells) - without which the in-situ recovery method would be impossible to implement. With these federal authorizations now final and effective alongside the NRC Source Materials License, enCore has cleared all major federal regulatory hurdles.

The significance extends beyond just obtaining permits; the decision accelerates the project timeline by allowing immediate progression to state permitting in 2025. The August designation under the Fast-41 Program further streamlines remaining federal processes. For context, in-situ recovery projects typically face lengthy regulatory paths, and clearing federal environmental permits is often the most challenging phase.

This regulatory breakthrough transforms Dewey Burdock from a speculative asset to a viable near-term production candidate in enCore's portfolio, potentially contributing to America's domestic uranium supply chain at a time of increasing focus on energy security and nuclear fuel availability.

NASDAQ:EU
TSXV:EU
www.encoreuranium.com

DALLAS, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: EU) (TSXV: EU) (the "Company" or "enCore"), America's Clean Energy Company™, announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") Environmental Appeals Board ("EAB") has denied in full a petition for review filed by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, and NDN Collective (the "Petitioners") against the EPA's issuance of Class III and Class V Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permits for the Company's 100%-owned Dewey Burdock In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") Uranium Project ("Dewey Burdock Project") in South Dakota. The decision allows the Dewey Burdock Project to advance through federal permitting with the intent to commence State permitting activities in 2025, accelerating the Project towards development ahead of schedule. The Dewey Burdock Project was approved for fast-track federal permitting, under the Fast-41 Program, on August 28, 2025.

Robert Willette, Acting Chief Executive Officer of enCore Energy, stated: "This decision by the EAB affirms the validity of the permits and the integrity of the regulatory process following years of administrative and judicial review. The Dewey Burdock Project is part of enCore's U.S. production pipeline, and today's decision provides the certainty needed to continue advancing toward development. This outcome not only strengthens enCore's growth strategy but also underscores our role in delivering secure, domestic uranium supply critical to America's clean energy and national security future."

The Petitioners alleged that EPA Region 8's permit decisions violated multiple statutes and procedures, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. After extensive review, the EAB concluded that EPA Region 8 had acted properly, that the permits were fully supported by the administrative record, and that no errors had been made in the regulatory process. The denial of review confirms the validity of enCore's UIC permits, which are essential for ISR uranium recovery operations at the Dewey Burdock Project.

This decision follows more than a decade of permitting and litigation, during which the Dewey Burdock Project has been subject to parallel challenges before both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") and the EPA. With the EAB's ruling, all major federal authorizations for the project – including the NRC Source Materials License and EPA UIC permits – are final and effective.

About the Dewey Burdock ISR Uranium Project
The Dewey Burdock Project, wholly owned by enCore, is an advanced-stage uranium project located in Custer and Fall River counties in South Dakota. The Dewey Burdock Project will recover uranium from subsurface sandstone ore bodies through ISR technology, which utilizes a chemical-free water-based solution in the production wellfield to dissolve uranium minerals in place and then pumps the uranium-bearing solution to a central processing plant for recovery. The use of ISR technology allows for minimal surface disturbance compared to conventional open-pit or underground uranium mining. The project consists of wellfield areas, a central processing plant, supporting infrastructure and environmental protection systems.

The Dewey Burdock Project was approved for inclusion in the Fast-41 Program by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council ("Permitting Council") on August 28, 2025. This is a component of the implementation of President Trump's Executive Order on Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production. The Dewey Burdock Project received its Source and Byproduct Materials License in 2014, from the NRC, now under timely renewal, and will work with the NRC as the lead agency for federal permitting. enCore's objective is to advance the Dewey Burdock Project into development and operation utilizing the ISR uranium extraction process.

Under the Executive Order, the Permitting Council identifies priority infrastructure and critical mineral projects to receive accelerated permitting review. The addition of the first South Dakota ISR project supports the domestic uranium production focus of the United States. This focus enables the development of essential clean energy, extracted through environmentally responsible ISR technology, to provide affordable, reliable domestic energy. To learn more, please visit the Federal Permitting Dashboard: Dewey Burdock ISR Uranium Project | Permitting Dashboard

The Company's Dewey Burdock Project received its Source and Byproduct Materials License SUA-1600 on April 8, 2014, from the NRC, covering 10,580 acres. The Company controls the mineral and surface rights for the area pertaining to the NRC license. With the approval of Fast-41, enCore's objective is to advance the Dewey Burdock Project into development and operation as an ISR uranium extraction project.

Mineral Resource Summary

ISR Resources	Measured	Indicated	M&I	Inferred
Lbs (U3O8)	14,285,988	2,836,159	17,122,147	712,624
Tons	5,419,779	1,968,443	7,388,222	645,546
Avg. GT	0.73	0.41	0.66	0.32
Avg. Grade (% U3O8)	0.13 %	0.07 %	0.12 %	0.06 %
Avg. Thickness (ft)	5.56	5.74	5.65	5.87

Notes:
1.	Effective date of mineral resource is October 8, 2024.
2.	enCore reports mineral reserves and mineral resources separately. Reported mineral resources do not include mineral reserves.
3.	The geological model used is based on geological interpretations on section and plan derived from surface drillhole information.
4.	Mineral resources have been estimated using a minimum grade-thickness cut-off of 0.20 ft% U3O8.
5.	Mineral resources are estimated based on the use of ISR for mineral extraction.
6.	Inferred mineral resources are estimated with a level of sampling sufficient to determine geological continuity but less confidence in grade and geological interpretation such that inferred resources cannot be converted to mineral reserves.
7.	Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

John M. Seeley, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., enCore's Chief Geologist, and a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and S-K 1300, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release on behalf of the Company.

About enCore Energy Corp.

enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company™, is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable fuel for nuclear energy as the only United States uranium company with multiple Central Processing Plants in operation. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore solely utilizes ISR for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy.

Following upon enCore's demonstrated success in South Texas, future projects in enCore's planned project pipeline include the Dewey Burdock Project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming. The Company holds other assets including non-core assets and proprietary databases. enCore is committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments.

www.encoreuranium.com

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This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws that are based on management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by such words as "will", "expects", "plans", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "continue", "potential", and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "will" be taken.

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Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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SOURCE enCore Energy Corp.

FAQ

What regulatory milestone did enCore Energy (NASDAQ:EU) achieve for its Dewey Burdock Project?

The EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) fully denied a petition challenging the project's Underground Injection Control permits, validating both Class III and Class V UIC permits essential for uranium operations.

When will enCore Energy begin state permitting for the Dewey Burdock Project?

enCore Energy plans to commence state permitting activities in 2025, following the successful federal permitting milestone.

What federal approvals does enCore Energy's Dewey Burdock Project now have?

The project has secured all major federal authorizations, including the NRC Source Materials License and EPA UIC permits, which are now final and effective.

When was enCore Energy's Dewey Burdock Project approved for fast-track federal permitting?

The project was approved for fast-track federal permitting under the Fast-41 Program on August 28, 2025.

Who challenged the EPA permits for enCore Energy's Dewey Burdock Project?

The permits were challenged by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, and NDN Collective through a petition that was ultimately denied.