C.A.R.D. NEWSLETTER - May 21st, 2009
CARD, PO Box 143, Wellington, CO 80549
970-372-0029 (leave message) www.nunnglow.com
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction - CARD - just passed the Two-year mark opposing uranium mining in Colorado.
Thank you to all who have supported our efforts to stop uranium mining in Colorado by donating money, volunteering, signing petitions and business resolutions and getting the word out to everyone you know.
We need your help now more than ever.
If you don't want uranium mining by Canadian company, Powertech Uranium Corp.10 miles from Fort Collins, please stay involved and help us stop the mining.
On May 20, 2008, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed House Bill 08-1161, the most comprehensive state legislation in the U.S. on in situ leach uranium mining and ground water protection. State legislators Steve Johnson, John Kefalas, and Randy Fischer -- all from Fort Collins -- sponsored the bill.
Some people thought that we had "won" the battle against uranium mining when the law passed. - NOT TRUE.
Laws by themselves cannot stop anything. Laws must be enforced, and that starts with writing rules that say exactly what a law means.
The rulemaking process has already started. The uranium mining companies, the Colorado Mining Association, and their allies will attempt to weaken the rules.
Rulemaking includes public hearings, and we all need to be ready. Letting state rule-makers know that thousands of Colorado residents want strong protection (and over 11,000 have already signed petitions) is one way we can insure that the will of the people is incorporated into these rules.
As you might expect, the mining companies are pressuring to weaken the regulation language to their favor. They have deep pockets and will likely hire a number of pro-uranium mining consultants to testify at the upcoming rulemaking hearings. They will argue how "benign" ISL mining is.
The truth is - in situ leach mining has never restored the water back to previous condition. The mining industry argues this is possible, but when ISL mines have been declared "restored" it is only by lowering the restoration standards. Those are the facts. We can find no records of any ISL mine in the US that has "restored" groundwater without relaxed standards. This means the water wasn't actually restored, it remained contaminated because total restoration is virtually impossible.
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction (CARD) does not have a financial sponsor. We must rely on donations and grants to raise money to fight uranium mining.
We need approximately $10,000 to hire expert witnesses to testify how important it is to keep the regulations strong and hold the mining companies accountable for restoring the water back to previous conditions. We need your financial support to make this happen!
If the mining companies are successful in getting the rules of HB 08-1161 relaxed to their favor, and our water is contaminated, it could have serious economic and negative health effects to humans, livestock and agriculture - forever - or after 4.5 billion years (the half-life of uranium), whichever comes first.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Powertech Mining Update
Powertech Uranium Corp. is currently "prospecting" for uranium by drilling test holes at the mine site. This is also not as "benign" as it sounds when you realize that the water within the ore zone contains uranium and other heavy metals and is pumped to the surface.
Powertech was originally going to store the contaminated water it uses for drilling test wells in unlined ponds on the surface of the ground. Because of pressure from Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction, they have since decided to re-inject it back into the aquifer and filed a Request for Modification to Notice of Intent (NOI) File No. P-2008-043 with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, DRMS.
Attorneys from Western Mining Action Project have petitioned to the DRMS that Powertech is proposing to conduct a trial run of the groundwater pumping process which is not "prospecting", but "development" and is in violation of HB 08-1161. It remains to be seen if this action will stop Powertech from doing pump tests in the aquifer prior to getting a permit to mine.
In Goliad, Texas, residents living near ISL test wells have found their wells contaminated and undrinkable. The local county is currently suing the uranium mining company. We do not want this to happen here.
Our next hurdle will be later this year when we anticipate Powertech Uranium Corp. will file its first permit application(s) to mine uranium just northeast of Fort Collins. Watch our website, our newsletter, and your local media for information. We will need to take action.
Texas Hydrology Report confirms ISL mining contaminates groundwater
A hydrology report from Texas has now been completed and is available for review. It confirms that the ISL method of uranium mining routinely contaminates the ground water during the mining operation, making it impossible to be restored to pre-mining quality. You can find a link to it on www.powertechexposed.com
http://www.powertechexposed.com/BK_Darling%20Report_Complete_Sept_30.pdf
Hydrologist B.K. Darling, PhD, is the author of this comprehensive report of twenty seven ISL uranium mines in the state of Texas. He was commissioned by the Houston law firm of Blackburn and Carter to compile a report on the condition of these mines and their impact on ground water quality. Five of the mines in this report are mines that Powertech Uranium Company identifies on their web site as having successfully restored ground water.
Regional coalition of organizations fighting uranium mining
As you may know, northern Colorado isn't the only area of the US being threatened with a resurgence of uranium mining. CARD has been in contact with many groups in the region to discuss mining activities and strategy to protect communities and our water.
Powertech Uranium Corp is also proposing to mine uranium in South Dakota and are finding it an easier go there because the mine site is not as close to a populated area and state regulators have historically been more friendly to mining.
Other states opposing mining are Nebraska and Wyoming. Other areas in Colorado are Montrose, Grand Junction, Fremont, Park and Summit counties and eastern Colorado near Grover.
It is important to pay attention to the news in your area and watch for any unusual mining exploration activity. Many foreign companies have bought mineral rights under private property. It is called a "split estate", which means you may own the surface of the land, but others can own the mineral rights under it.
Ken Salazar endorses nuclear power
Quote from a recent blog from NEI Nuclear notes - http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2009/05/21st-century-energy-policymaking.html
"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the United States needs to move forward with a comprehensive energy plan that includes nuclear energy. Salazar noted that President Obama often speaks about the necessity of a diverse mix of energy sources. Nuclear is on that table, Salazar said."
Whatever you think of nuclear power and its "green-ness", more nuclear power plants means more uranium mining. Contact Mr. Salazar and inform him you are aware of the health and environmental dangers of uranium mining and for him to focus on renewable energy, not dirty energy. Every stage of the nuclear chain is toxic, even though it is claimed the actual "power generation" emits no greenhouse gasses. This claim is from the same pundits who embrace "clean coal". Neither is clean nor renewable.
Be sure to keep an eye out for bills in congress that have funding for the nuclear industry hidden in them. A good watchdog organization is NIRS - Nuclear Information and Resource Service - www.nirs.org. Sign up for alerts. They keep up on proposed bills and alert you when you should contact your legislators to vote against those bills.
Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste, Inc. make educational video about the uranium industry.
To watch this video called "Yellowcake" go to: www.downtheyellowcakeroad.org
Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste say the following about the reason for making this video.
"The full spectrum of the Uranium Industry and Nuclear Fuel Production has not been a part of the "Green" debate. We are addressing this lack of disclosure. Besides the Carbon Emissions, there is widespread toxic and radioactive contamination left behind. Water usage associated with nuclear power generation is exorbitant.
What is GREEN about the URANIUM Industry that produces the fuel for NUCLEAR Power Plants?The answer is NOT-A-THING.
Communities around the United States and the Globe are under siege from proposed operations by the Nuclear Energy Industry. Often their voices are not heard. Communities are left to respond to overwhelming lobbying forces from the Uranium Industry who have nearly unlimited funding, government subsidies, and long-entrenched lobbyists.
Our goal is to present the side of the story that goes untold, so that people will know when they flip the light switch, that this decision comes at a large cost to our land and to the American taxpayer."
It is a very informative video - Tell your friends to watch. To contact Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste in Canon City - email info@downtheyellowcakeroad.org
Who Are We?
CARD (Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction) is a diverse collection of citizens concerned about the health, environmental and economic impacts of uranium-related activity. We are convinced this project will have dire consequences for northern Colorado and set a dangerous precedent. Our goal is to prevent uranium mining in Colorado and protect our valuable resources, especially our water, for future generations.
The CARD website, www.nunnglow.com, has a wealth of information about the proposed mining, the processes and the potential impact on our air and water. On our website you can learn what you can do to stop the proposed uranium mining, sign an online petition and make a donation.
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