The Associated Press gives word that inquiries from uranium mining firms are up at the state Geology department. Mining may resume in western North Dakota after a 40-year break. Troublingly, the previous spate was conducted in about the most horrific way possible — burning through tons of lignite to harvest the trace amounts of uranium oxide in the flyash.

This time around, the miners promise gentler methods. If that is truly the case, I would have no issues with using the material for nuclear power, so long as the people of the state of North Dakota received their fair share of the revenues. But pollution of any kind from an operation of this nature is dangerous and cannot be tolerated. That point has been punctuated by the gravestones of dozens of ranchers that bought in 40 years ago.