No. 16-1275October Term 2018Decided Jun 17, 2019
Virginia Uranium, Inc. v. Warren
This case asked whether Virginia could ban uranium mining on private land within the state, or whether federal nuclear law left that issue exclusively to the federal government.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 17, 2019
- What it's about
This case asked whether Virginia could ban uranium mining on private land within the state, or whether federal nuclear law left that issue exclusively to the federal government. The Supreme Court held that the Atomic Energy Act did not preempt Virginia’s mining ban.
Question presented
Does the AEA preempt a state law that on its face regulates an activity within its jurisdiction (here uranium mining), but has the purpose and effect of regulating the radiological safety hazards of activities entrusted to the NRC (here, the milling of uranium and the management of the resulting tailings)?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Decision released Jun 17, 2019
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 17, 2019
The Court released its decision on June 17, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology