DISA Technologies Receives First-of-Its-Kind NRC License to Remediate Abandoned Uranium Mine Waste

Groundbreaking license marks a new era in environmental cleanup, enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective remediation of legacy uranium waste while supporting America's nuclear energy supply chain

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DISA Technologies Inc. (DISA), a company pioneering advanced solutions for mineral recovery and environmental remediation, announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved its Service Provider License (SPL) last week, authorizing DISA to remediate Abandoned Uranium Mine (AUM) waste across the western United States. The license—the first of its kind ever issued by the NRC—represents a major milestone in modernizing how America addresses legacy uranium contamination and advances national efforts to restore contaminated lands, protect public health, and strengthen domestic nuclear fuel supply chains.

To commemorate this historic milestone, NRC Chairman David A. Wright, Commissioners Matthew J. Marzano and Bradley R. Crowell, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Deputy Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, DeWayne Crank, and DISA leaders Greyson Buckingham, Stephen J. Cohen, and Jeff Merrifield gathered in Washington, D.C. yesterday to mark the approval of the license and highlight the remarkable cooperation between federal, tribal and private partners that made it possible.

"I am thrilled the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved DISA's license to ramp up its important work to clean up abandoned mine sites in Wyoming and throughout the American West," said Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis. "The Trump administration's expedited approval process demonstrates what's possible when innovative companies are empowered by federal regulators to establish clear, first-of-its-kind frameworks that prioritize both safety and efficiency. This license is a critical step in allowing DISA to advance its essential work remediating abandoned uranium mine waste and recovering valuable materials that would otherwise remain environmental liabilities."

"For decades, tribal and rural communities in Arizona, and particularly on the Navajo Nation, have lived with the health and environmental consequences of abandoned uranium mines," said Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. "This license is a meaningful step toward finally addressing legacy uranium contamination in a way that protects public health, strengthens our energy security, and delivers results for the communities most affected. I'm thankful to Senator Lummis, who has been a partner in advancing this work, the Navajo Nation, and to Chairman Wright and Commissioners Marzano and Crowell at the NRC for taking this important step."

"This license represents a turning point in how our nation confronts legacy uranium contamination," said Greyson Buckingham, DISA's CEO, President, and Co-Founder. "For decades, AUM sites have been viewed as a burden too complex and costly to clean up. Today, we have a clear, regulated pathway to do it faster, safer, and at lower cost—while recycling valuable resources that support our nation's energy future. We're deeply grateful to Chairman Wright, the NRC Commissioners, the bipartisan leadership of Senators Lummis and Kelly, Navajo Nation leadership, and other key stakeholders for helping make this vision a reality."

Transforming Legacy Waste into Environmental Progress
Across the western United States, more than 15,000 sites associated with AUM waste remain contaminated largely from Cold War-era mining activities—many located on or near tribal lands. For decades, these sites have posed persistent environmental and health risks, with limited and costly options available to safely treat or contain the contaminated material.

DISA's patented High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) technology offers the first scalable method to remediate this waste safely and economically, using a clean mechanical process, no chemicals. By separating and cleaning the material at the source, HPSA makes it possible to recycle uranium—a critical fuel for nuclear power—while dramatically reducing the volume of material requiring long-term disposal.

The new NRC license allows DISA to deploy its HPSA systems under federal oversight to treat AUM waste across multiple states, ushering in a new era of environmental cleanup that aligns with America's goals for energy security and environmental stewardship.

The issuance of DISA's license builds on years of collaboration among federal and tribal partners, including the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA). Following a successful 2023 EPA-funded Treatability Study, DISA and NNEPA have continued working closely to demonstrate scalable, community-centered cleanup solutions.

"The Navajo Nation is proud to help with this critical breakthrough," said Dr. Buu Nygren, President of the Navajo Nation. "By combining innovative technology with regulatory leadership, we have a new path to remediate legacy uranium sites to restore our lands to safe, productive use and to protect our precious groundwater resources. We appreciate the support from U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and Mark Kelly. I encourage continued discussions at the federal level to ensure a safe legacy cleanup is performed in a timely manner."

Throughout the licensing process, DISA received strong support and engagement from a diverse coalition of environmental, nuclear energy, and community stakeholders, including the Navajo Nation and other tribal leaders, ClearPath Action, Good Energy Collective, Third Way, Nuclear Innovation Alliance, Breakthrough Institute, Native Nuclear (formerly the Tribal Consent-Based Coalition), Generation Atomic, academic leaders from several U.S. universities, and numerous bipartisan Members of Congress from both chambers who have championed innovative approaches to legacy mine cleanup and domestic uranium recovery and recycling.

Federal Leadership and Momentum
The NRC's approval reflects growing federal recognition of the need for new approaches to legacy mine cleanup. Senators Lummis and Kelly, both members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, have championed the use of innovative technologies like HPSA since 2022 to accelerate remediation of AUM waste and address the environmental and public health challenges facing affected communities across the West.

"This is the kind of American innovation that unites environmental remediation, national security, and economic revitalization," said DISA Board Member and former NRC Commissioner Jeff Merrifield. "It's proof that when agencies work together, technology can turn legacy problems into lasting progress."

Photos of yesterday's event are available here for re-use and publication.

NRC License & DISA Technologies
DISA's Service Provider License (SPL) was issued under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 40, authorizing the company to possess and process specific radioactive materials for remediation purposes under NRC oversight. The license enables DISA to support federal, state, and tribal partners in treating AUM waste and other legacy materials across the United States.

Founded in 2018, DISA Technologies is revolutionizing mineral recovery with its patented High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) technology—an innovative solution that upgrades critical minerals from mined ore and legacy waste. Serving both the mining and remediation sectors, they recover valuable resources that power industry, strengthen energy independence and restore contaminated sites to productive use. DISA's technology unlocks economic and environmental value, transforming how the world processes, remediates and recycles essential mineral assets. DISA is headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, with a satellite office in Westminster, Colorado. For more information, visit www.DISAusa.com.

SOURCE DISA Technologies, Inc.