Project Information

Project Title

La Jara Mesa Project

Sector

Sector:Mining

Project Location Address

Coordinates

• Latitude: 35°16'26.93"N
  Longitude: 107°46'4.75"W

Project Sponsor Contact Information

• Company Name/Agency: Laramide Resources
  Project Sponsor: Josh Leftwich
  Street Address 1 : 1315 Nelson St
  Street Address 2 (Optional): Unit 7
  City: Lakewood
  State: Colorado
  Zip Code: 80215
  POC Name: Josh Leftwich
  POC Title: VP of Operations & Strategic Development
  POC Phone: 979-220-9943
  POC Email Address: josh@laramide.com

Alternative Point Of Contact (Optional)

No 

Project Purpose

Laramide Resources (USA) Inc. proposes to develop the La Jara Mesa Uranium Mine on U.S. Forest Service land within the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, approximately 10 miles northeast of Grants, New Mexico. The project involves the extraction of uranium ore for offsite processing and will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1 – Underground Development: Construction of surface support facilities and twin access tunnels (portals) into La Jara Mesa to access ore. Temporary infrastructure will support the development workforce.

Phase 2 – Mine Production: Full-scale underground mining operations, development of an emergency escape tunnel, and construction of permanent infrastructure to support long-term operations.

The project is located on federally managed land and is subject to NEPA review, with a Plan of Operations already submitted to the U.S. Forest Service.

Project Description

The La Jara Mesa Uranium Project, proposed by Laramide Resources (USA) Inc., is situated approximately 10 miles northeast of Grants, New Mexico, within the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. The project area encompasses about 16.5 acres across Sections 11 and 15 of Township 12 North, Range 9 West in Cibola County .


Project Overview:

The initiative involves the development of an underground uranium mine, planned over a 20-year period. Surface infrastructure will include two adit portals, waste rock and ore storage areas, a vertical escape shaft, stormwater ponds, ventilation systems, and temporary facilities for workers. Additionally, new water and electrical lines are proposed to follow existing roads to the site .


Geospatial and Environmental Context:

La Jara Mesa is part of the Grants uranium district, historically significant for uranium production. The project lies on the southwestern flank of Mount Taylor, a mountain recognized as a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) by the State of New Mexico due to its cultural and religious importance to several Indigenous communities, including the Navajo Nation and Pueblo peoples .


Cultural and Historic Resources:

The La Jara Mesa Project is located within the western boundary of the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property (TCP), a culturally and spiritually significant landscape to multiple tribes, including the Navajo Nation and Pueblo communities. In 2008, the U.S. Forest Service, in consultation with tribes, the New Mexico SHPO, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, determined Mt. Taylor eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

As part of the NEPA process, the Cibola National Forest conducted government-to-government consultation with interested tribes to assess potential impacts to the Mt. Taylor TCP and other cultural resources. Identified resources within the project area are being evaluated with appropriate treatment and mitigation recommendations to avoid or minimize adverse effects to these culturally important sites.


Regulatory Status:

The U.S. Forest Service is currently reviewing the project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), with an updated DEIS expected to be released. A mine permit has been submitted to the State of New Mexico and is the review process.

Technical and Financial Ability

Laramide Resources (USA) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Laramide Resources Ltd., is the project sponsor for the La Jara Mesa Uranium Project. Laramide Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LAM) and the OTCQX in the United States (OTCQX: LMRXF), with a strategic focus on uranium development and production in the United States and Australia.

Technical Capability:
Laramide’s management team and technical advisors have extensive experience in the exploration, development, and permitting of uranium mines. The company has advanced multiple projects through technical and regulatory milestones, including the La Jara Mesa and Church Rock projects in New Mexico, and the Westmoreland project in Queensland, Australia. Laramide has completed substantial technical studies for La Jara Mesa, including underground mine design, infrastructure planning, and baseline environmental assessments.

Financial Capability:
Laramide has successfully raised capital through both equity markets and strategic investments to fund exploration and development activities. The company maintains access to capital markets in Canada, the U.S., and Australia, and has demonstrated the financial discipline to support phased project development. Laramide is actively pursuing funding partnerships and off-take arrangements that align with growing U.S. interest in secure domestic uranium supply chains, consistent with federal critical mineral and energy security priorities.

This track record and capital access position Laramide to effectively construct and operate the La Jara Mesa project in accordance with federal, state, and tribal regulatory frameworks.

Summary of Financing, Reviews and Authorizations

1. Federal Financing
At this time, the La Jara Mesa Project is not seeking direct federal financing or loan guarantees. The project is being funded by Laramide Resources (USA) Inc. through private capital and potential strategic partnerships. However, the project may pursue support under federal programs that promote domestic critical mineral development, such as those administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) or U.S. Department of Defense under the Defense Production Act, if eligible.

2. Environmental Reviews
The La Jara Mesa Project is undergoing a full federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The lead agency is the U.S. Forest Service (Cibola National Forest). Key environmental reviews and coordination activities include:

Project Assessment

The La Jara Mesa Uranium Project qualifies as a “covered project” under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), specifically under 42 U.S.C. § 4370m(6)(A), based on the following criteria:

1. Subject to NEPA
The project is undergoing a federal environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The U.S. Forest Service is the lead federal agency and is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) due to the project’s location on National Forest System lands and potential environmental and cultural impacts.

2. Requires Authorization by Federal Agencies
The project requires multiple federal agency authorizations, including:

Approval of the Plan of Operations under the U.S. Forest Service regulations (36 CFR Part 228).

Potential permits and consultations under the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106), and Clean Water Act.

3. Involves Construction of Infrastructure
The project entails substantial construction, including:

Twin underground access tunnels (portals)

Surface and subsurface mining infrastructure

Power and water lines following federal rights-of-way

Waste rock and ore handling facilities

These activities clearly meet the infrastructure component of a covered project.

4. Meets Investment Threshold
While uranium mining is not subject to a specific dollar threshold under FAST-41, the project represents significant capital investment and contributes to the critical minerals supply chain. As such, the project qualifies under 42 U.S.C. § 4370m(6)(A)(v):

“is determined by the Executive Director [of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council] to be subject to NEPA and likely to require a total investment of more than $200,000,000.”

Given Laramide’s development plans and historic cost estimates, the expected total project investment exceeds $200 million over its lifecycle, including mine construction, environmental controls, and compliance costs.

5. Contributes to National Interest
The La Jara Mesa Project contributes to U.S. energy security and critical mineral independence by supporting the domestic supply of uranium. Uranium is recognized as a critical mineral essential to national defense and clean energy goals. The project directly supports the objectives of:

Executive Order 13817 (Critical Minerals Strategy)

Executive Order 13953 (Addressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain from Reliance on Foreign Adversaries)

Form Submitter Contact Information

• Name: Josh Leftwich
  Title: VP of Operations & Strategic Development
  Work Phone: 9792209943
  Email Address: josh@laramide.com