[en] In the first years of the uranium program, starting in 1948, drilling was primarily undertaken by the government. The AEC and the U.S. Geological Survey continued a modest program until the mid-1950's. The government drilled about 5-6 million feet (1.7 million meters), and a number of significant ore deposits were defined, primarily in the Uravan Mineral Belt, Colorado. Except for the early years, private drilling exceeded the government program. Drilling reached a peak of 2.8 million meters in 1957, but dropped back to 0.6 million meters in 1965 when the government purchase program had been phased out. Later, with resurgence of uranium demand it rose again to nearly 9.1 million meters in 1969. After a decline in the early 1970's, activity rose dramatically to 10.3 million meters in 1976. Total drilling through 1976 has been about 88.3 million meters. Exploration costs from 1966 through 1976 are estimated to be $679 million. During 1976, 32 percent of the drilling or 3.3 million meters was in the Wyoming Basins, with 4.5 million meters or 43 percent in the Colorado Plateau, and 0.9 million meters or 8 percent in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Total 1976 drilling was 0.9 million meters and average depth of hole 155 meters; this contrasts with 1.7 million meters and 53 meters average depth in 1960. Reserves of uranium are located in the western portion of the country with over 85 percent in the Colorado Plateau and Wyoming Basins. The Basin and Range province of Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas is receiving considerable exploration emphasis. Other areas of increasing activity include sedimentary rocks of the Great Plains and the crystalline rocks of the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, and the Precambrian shield of Michigan and Wisconsin. Work in the new areas emphasizes geologic and geophysical assessment, so relatively little drilling has been done. When programs have matured, it is assumed that drilling effort will be accelerated. Industry surveys indicated that 10.3 Billion meters were drilled during 1976 at an estimated cost of $156.9 million. For 1977 plans are projected at 11.4 million meters at a cost of $167.8 million. Costs include land acquisition, geological and geophysical surveys, site preparation, logging, end site restoral. The uranium potential of the U.S.A. is estimated to be well in excess of 1,000,000 tonnes