Regulatory review status for the Wheeler River Project
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The Commission has issued a licence to Denison Mines Corporation (Denison) authorizing it to prepare a site for and construct an in situ recovery uranium mining and processing operation – the Wheeler River Project – located in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, approximately 600 kilometres north of Saskatoon.
The licence, valid until February 28, 2031, does not authorize the operation of the facility to be constructed. Authorization to operate the facility would be subject to a future Commission licensing hearing and decision should Denison come forward with the relevant licence application.
If operation of the facility were to be authorized, the Wheeler River Project could potentially produce up to 5,400 tonnes of uranium oxide annually for up to 15 years. An environmental assessment (EA) for this project was completed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, and the Commission concluded that the project was not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects considering the proposed mitigation measures and follow-up monitoring measures.
Environmental assessment start date: May 31, 2019
Reference number: 80178
Timeline
 Application submitted |
|
|---|---|
| Date | Activity |
| July 4, 2023 | The initial licence application for a licence to prepare site and construct a mine and mill was submitted. |
| November 22, 2024 | The submitted application to prepare site and construct a uranium mine and mill was deemed sufficient by CNSC staff. |
 Public hearing |
|
|---|---|
| Date | Activity |
| October 8, 2025 | Application for a licence to prepare a site for and construct its Wheeler River mine and mill project (Part 1) |
| December 8 to 11, 2025 | Application for a licence to prepare a site for and construct its Wheeler River mine and mill project (Part 2) |
 Commission decisions |
|
|---|---|
| Date | Activity |
| February 19, 2026 | Commission issues a site preparation and construction licence to Denison Mines Corp. for its Wheeler River Project |
 Licence issued |
|
|---|---|
| Date | Activity |
| February 19, 2026 | Site preparation and construction licence |
 Compliance activities |
|
|---|---|
| Date | Activity |
| N/A | |
Contact
For general CNSC updates, subscribe to the CNSC’s mailing list. For information directly related to this project, please contact:
Environmental Assessment Division
Email: WheelerRiver@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-995-7948 or 1-800-668-5284
Mailing address: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
PO Box 1046 Stn B
Ottawa ON K1P 5S9
Additional resources
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