A uranium company is weighing its next move after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a proposed mine is located in Indian Country.

Hydro Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Uranium Resources Inc, could ask an en banc panel to rehear the case. Or it could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We’re looking at what the options are now,” Rick Van Horn, the chief operating officer for URI, told The Gallup Independent.

HRI owns 160 acres of fee land in New Mexico. The 10th Circuit said the land is part of a Navajo community so the company must seek federal approval to develop the mine.

“We fully intend to continue pursuing this and then to be doing business in the state of New Mexico here pretty soon. When I say ‘doing business,’ I mean mining uranium," Van Horn told the paper.

The Navajo Nation banned uranium mining on tribal lands.

Get the Story:
Navajo celebrates HRI ruling (The Gallup Independent 4/22)

10th Circuit Decision:
Hydro Resources v. US (April 17, 2009)

Related Stories:
10th Circuit rules in Indian Country status case (4/20)
Navajos sue to stop uranium mine in New Mexico (2/13)
Indian Country ruling a victory for Navajo Nation (3/1)