ablation machine, page-12

Assuming the technical issues associated with the technology have been resolved, Mr. Glasier will still have to contend with the unresolved permitting issues. TAC and others will likely argue that Colorado, an agreement state, should require a radioactive material license and that ablation is a milling process. WUC will likely respond with the argument advanced by Thompson & Pugsley that ablation is a continuation of the mining process that doesn't chemically alter the uranium source material, therefore regulation by the NRC, or in Colorado's case the Department of Public Health & Environment, is not required. The timeline for resolving this dispute is anyone's guess.