A fourfold increase in the price of uranium in the past three years has led to a rush of new claims by uranium companies in the Western United States, according to a new survey by an environmental group that wants to inform the public of the potentially harmful consequences.

Mining claim data compiled by the Environmental Working Group, a research organization based in Washington, shows that in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, the total claims rose from just over 2,000 in 2001 to about 18,000 in 2005.

In Arizona, a project manager for the Canadian mining concern Quaterra Resources, has filed 616 claims, many within a few miles of the Grand Canyon's north rim.

"There's a renaissance of people's attitudes toward nuclear energy as a viable, green, clean, clean-air type of energy source," said Paul Matysek, president of Energy Metals, based in Vancouver.

Matysek added that the increase in oil and natural gas prices, even though they have eased in recent months, had spurred a miniboom in the price of uranium.

"Three years ago it was $12 or $14" a pound, he said. "Today it's $65.50."

Matysek's company has signed a letter of intent to merge with High Plains Uranium, a company formed in New Brunswick, Canada, less than two years ago. High Plains, with headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has filed more than 2,250 claims.