CRAWFORD, Neb. (AP) — A company that runs the Crow Butte uranium mine in the Nebraska Panhandle wants to open as many as three expansion mines in the area.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that applications for the expansion sites near Crawford are under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Cameco America spokesman Ken Vaughn says the company hopes to make significant progress this year toward opening one of the new mines, called the Marsland expansion.

Cameco began commercial operation of the Crow Butte mine in 1991, where it employs about 40 people.

The company is seeking the expansion because it says it’s running out of ore, reducing productivity.

Cameco produces uranium concentrate at the Nebraska site, which is then sent to other facilities to be turned into nuclear fuel.