October Term 2018 · Docket 16-1275
Can Virginia ban uranium mining under state safety laws?
Virginia argues state safety laws ban uranium mining. Virginia Uranium claims federal law preempts that ban.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Cooper argued the state ban is preempted by federal law.
Mr. Heytens argued the case involves obstacle preemption, not field preemption.
General Francisco argued Virginia can ban mining for safety reasons.
Justice Gorsuch questioned if mining is distinct from plant construction regulation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Virginia Uranium seeks to mine uranium in Virginia. The state banned the activity citing safety concerns. The dispute centers on federal preemption of state mining regulations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-5
What each side wants
Virginia Uranium wants the mining ban struck down as preempted.
Virginia wants the mining ban upheld as a valid safety measure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
What each side says
Virginia Uranium argues federal law preempts state mining regulations.
Virginia argues state safety laws remain valid despite federal statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if mining differs from plant construction.
Justice Kavanaugh asked how to handle dual-purpose regulations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-5
Why it matters
State safety laws compete with federal energy regulations. This conflict affects mining operations nationwide. Clear rules determine who controls nuclear fuel extraction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-5
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 26-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 24-34
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.