Q said you should read the story before asking dumb questions.
Co-Conspirators Posted Fake Advertisements for Cars, Tricking Victims Nationwide Into Wiring More Than $4.5 Million
Maybe, but probably not. A quick Google search:
Obvious question #1 - Can you mine uranium on a National Wildlife Refuge without "disturbing" the wildlife in their "refuge". No law wizard, but strongly suspect - Not likely
In recent months, there have been some social media accounts suggesting uranium deposits
exist in Harney County – specifically on private land within and south of Diamond Craters
near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Those social media posts also claim that the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to take over this property and mine the
uranium for future sale. Here’s why both of those statements are completely inaccurate…
First, historic federal and state mining reports from 1919 to the present show no known
measurable deposits for uranium within the area in question. None. Trace, widespread
amounts may exist, but are not of sufficient volume and concentration for mining value or
financial profit.
Second, as was reported in the March 16 edition of the Burns Times Herald, the BLM does not
enter into land exchanges or sales unless they have a willing seller. The BLM is not interested
in the subject property and there is no willing seller.
Now, for argument’s sake, let’s say there is uranium near Diamond Craters and the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge, and that the BLM was able to purchase that property from a willing
seller. Could mining actually happen under this fictional scenario? No.
The area in question is located within the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and
Protection Area (CMPA). Any minerals owned by the Federal government within the CMPA
were withdrawn from claim or mining by Congress with the passage of the Steens Mountain
Cooperative Mountain and Protection Act (Steens Act) of 2000. This means even if there was
uranium, and even if the BLM managed the land, it couldn’t be mined anyway.
Finally, you may have seen several social media posts referring to a “Malheur” uranium
mining operation. There is such a thing – it is a joint venture between Quincy Energy Corp and
Quincy Metals Corp, located three miles north of the Nevada border in Malheur County. Yes,
Malheur County…not Harney County, and not the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge