HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080799.tiff 3 March 2008
Unit 19-101
1020 Wabash St.
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Weld County Commissioners
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
Dear Commissioners:
This letter is in reference to the Powertech Co."s plans to mine uranium in Weld
County. Though I am not a resident of Weld County, events which have an effect on the
environment elsewhere will also be my concern. This letter is to show my STRONG
OPPOSITION to this mining plan.
The enclosed North 40 News newspaper article has brought to mind some questions
which I hope you have considered.
#1. Where will the"million" gallons of water come from to be used in this mining
operation? This area is short of water already.
#2. If it will take three years for contamination in the ground water to dissipate, how
will people and livestock get water?
#3. Has Powertech Co. given written guarantees to pay for waterlines to be installed to
the homes and farms in#2?
#4. Will Powertech Co. put enough money into an account, before operations begin,
that you can use to install the necessary waterlines?
#5. Will Powertech Co. have to take contaminated soil and/or water somewhere to be
processed? If so, which law enforcement agency will escort each shipment(ie Sheriff,
State Patrol, Federal Marshall) to ensure compliance with all necessary regulations?
#6. Will the Canadian Government guarantee necessary funds to clean up the area if
the Powertech Co. reneges on any part of its contract? Did they do this after their mining
operations in our Southwest States in the Navaho Nation lands?
Thank you for your time and consideration of this letter. You are free to share these
concerns with our State and Federal officials if you wish.
Respectfully yours,
Robert W. Parsons
Encl. 1
c.c. Larimer County Commissioners
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Uranium
Continued from page 1
use of large quantities of water
for the in-situ process. Powertech
officials, she said, estimate that
about a million gallons of water
per month would be consumed at
Centennial.
Jarding said the price of ura-
nium has "skyrocketed" in recent
years, creating a worldwide ura-
nium-mining boom.
Most speakers at the hearing
were concerned about possible ill
effects on health and the environ-
ment from the proposed mining
5 operation. Possible water contam-
ination was cited, along with con-
tamination caused by high winds
that could carry pollutants long
distances.
There was also.concern about
livestock grazing on contaminated
pastureland and about property
values in the vicinity that are al-
1 ready falling. Some worried that
Powertech would eventually file
for permits on open-pit mining
as well.
The Navajo Nation in the Four
Corners area has banned uranium
mining. "The people there were
affected very badly by open-pit
uranium mining,"said Dian Spar-
ling of Fort Collins, a nurse-mid-
wife who worked on the reserva-
tion in 1982. One of her jobs was
to collect statistics on the number
of miscarriages and birth defects
experienced by tribal members.
"Uranium mining so close to
275,000 people is a very risky
business,"said John Dixon of Fort
Collins. "We will be playing Rus-
sian roulette with the lives of our
children and future generations.
What is the health of our children
worth?"
Esther Gesick
From: Bill Jerke
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:16 PM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: ACTION ALERT - HB1161
Original Message
From: Robin Davis [mailto:robin@mustanghollow.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:00 PM
To: Phillip Brewer; William Garcia; Bill Jerke; Trevor Jiricek; Dave Long; Rob Masden;
Douglas Rademacher; paul wood
Subject: Fwd: ACTION ALERT - HB1161
Please see the note from Congresswoman Musgrave. She is in direct opposition regarding
the proposed uranium mining in Weld County. Please help protect our water by stopping
this proposal! !
Thank you,
Robin Davis
www.mustanghollow.com
"Bowen, Nate" <Nate.Bowen@mail.house.gov> wrote:
Subject: ACTION ALERT - HB1161
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 15:41:15 -0500
From: "Bowen, Nate" <Nate.Bowen@mail.house.gov>
To: <robin@mustanghollow.com>
Robin,
I hope you are doing well. How are things progressing in the state legislature? Any
movement on the Senate side?
Not sure if you saw the Tribune or not last week, so I wanted to make sure you saw
this letter the Congresswoman sent to the Larimer County Commissioners on Powertech's
proposal.
February 26, 2008
Mrs. Kathay Rennels
Larimer County Commissioner
PO Box 1190
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Kathay,
Over the past several months you have undoubtedly heard from a number of Larimer
County residents who are very worried about a proposal by Powertech Inc. to mine for
uranium near Nunn. I am also concerned about the potential impacts this mine could have
on our environment and have publicly opposed this project.
I understand that the Larimer County Commissioners will soon consider a resolution
to express opposition to this mine. As the impacts of this proposal would likely extend
far beyond the borders of Weld County, I urge you to carefully evaluate the environmental
and public health costs associated with this project.
Like many of my constituents, I am particularly concerned about the impact this
mining could have on our ground water resources in Northern Colorado. Powertech has said
it intends to utilize a process known as in-situ leaching to extract uranium from the
1
mineral deposits. This process has the potential to contaminate the underground aquifers
our families, communities, and agricultural producers rely upon for clean, safe water.
Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West are blessed with an abundance of natural
resources. As stewards of these resources, we are required to ensure that resource
development is done in a responsible way that ensures the health and safety of the public.
On behalf of my constituents in Colorado' s Forth Congressional District, I again reiterate
my strong opposition to this mine and encourage you to carefully examine the impact this
project could have on the people of Larimer County. Additionally, I would welcome the
opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Musgrave
Member of Congress
Nathan Bowen
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4)
1507 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4676
From: Robin Davis [mailto:robin@mustanghollow.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 1:00 PM
To: menunn
Subject: (LIKELY_SPAM]ACTION ALERT - HB1161
Please, everyone, take the time to send another note or make another call to your
Representatives and the Ag Committee regarding HB1161. Encourage them to move the bill to
the general assembly and to vote against the proposed amendment that would send the bill
to an interim study group (in effect killing the bill. ) Below are the contacts for the Ag
Committee, a brief update on the current situation from Lilias and a letter that I just
sent to the Ag Committee. Use any information that you would like in your letters or
phone calls. Pass this note all across the state and let's heat up those computers and
phone lines at the State Capitol today. Contact your personal Representatives and
Senators as well. Don't leave the Governor out either.
Blessings,
Robin Davis
www.mustanghollow.com <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?mnT6hP2bNJBBd-
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contact info
Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Committee
Frank McNulty
303-866-2936
Jerry Sonnenberg
303-866-3706
jerry.sonnenberg@state.co.us
Wes McKinley
303-866-2398
wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us
Christine Scanlan
Capitol Phone: (303) 866-2952
2
E-Mail:christine.scanlan.house@state.co.us <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?
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Mary Hodge
Cap: 303-866-2912
E-mail: mary.hodge.house@state.co.us
Kathleen Curry (Chair)
Cap: 303-866-2945
E-mail: kathleencurry@montrose.net
Rafael Gallegos
Cap: 303-866-2916
E-mail: rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us
Buff ie McFadyen
Cap: 303-866-2905
E-mail: McFadyen2002@hotmail.com
Marsha Looper
Capitol Phone: (303) 866-2946
E-Mail: marsha.looper.house@state.co.us <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?
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Judy Solano
Capitol Phone: 303-866-2918
E-mail: judy.solano.house@state.co.us <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?
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Randy Fischer
Capitol Phone: (303) 866-2917
E-Mail: randy.fischer.house@state.co.us <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/72O-
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Ray Rose
Cap: 303-866-2955
E-mail: ray.rose.house@state.co.us
Cory Gardner
Cap: 303-866-2906
E-mail: cory.gardner.house@state.co.us
An update from Lilias
Hi, All --
We've sorted some of this out, and here's the plan for the state legislature.
People need to ask the representatives on the Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural
Resources Committee to vote House Bill 1161 out of the committee and onto the House floor.
For those of you who are less "up" on legislative procedures : -) this would mean it
gets voted on by the entire state House of Representatives.
The three legislators who need to be pressured the most are Rep. Sonnenberg (Weld
County and northeastern CO) , Rep. Gardner (Yuma County and surrounding counties on the
eastern Plains) , and Rep. McNulty from Highlands Ranch. Their contact information is:
McNulty: 303-866-2936 (no e-mail)
Sonnenberg: jerry@electsonnenberg.com or 303-866-3706
3
Gardner: gardner@plains.net or 303-866-2906
I don't know what McNulty is interested in, but talk to Sonnenberg and Gardner about
protecting our water. They are both well aware the water quantity is being restricted
along the South Platte River. Pollution from in situ mining would make this worse.
Farmers and communities need adequate, clean water.
For those of you in Weld County, thank Sonnenberg for his opposition to open pit
mining. Remind him that you are his constituent.
We will need people to go to the Capitol in large numbers later on in the process.
But for now, we need to have a few people who support the legislation present. We need to
let Rep. Kefalas know that we support him. There will not be any opportunity for public
comments.
I'm going down tomorrow. The hearing is at 1:30, and we don't know just when the
vote will happen. I have to leave the Capitol by 4 :30 and am going to Greeley from
Denver. I would like to fill my car with Uranium Warriors. I can go past the Loveland
Park & Ride (I-25 and Highway 34) and pick people up there. I'll drop you off there, too,
of course.
Please get some calls and e-mails out today. Spread the request to your friends who
live in Weld County. And let me know if you want to go along tomorrow.
Onward!
Lilias
A letter I sent today, you may use parts if you
wish
Honorable Committee Chair Curry and Committee members of the Agriculture, Livestock
and Natural Resources Committee,
I am pleased to hear that HB1161 is up for a final vote from the Agriculture,
Livestock and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, February 20, 2008.
ACTIVE COLORADO NATIVE
As property owners in Weld County directly affected by Powertech Uranium Corps
proposed Centennial project as well as concerned citizens who have been deeply involved in
the opposition of said project through the formation of Coloradoan's Against Resource
Destruction (because of a lack of good regulations to protect our water supplies, remember
we gave you over 7, 000 signatures without a concerted effort of a petition drive) as well
as being a 4-H leader, a small business owner, and a 4th generation Colorado native, I
have trouble expressing just how important this bill is to Colorado.
I have testified about how the possibility of polluted water will effect my
business, our health, the health of our livestock and most importantly the health of the
children with whom I have been entrusted.
ECONOMICS
From an economics standpoint, we have personally seen all development (outside of
exploratory uranium mining) in northern Colorado reach a screeching halt. I know that
national indicators show that the entire nation is experiencing an economic recession, so
you may not take our situation as seriously as you might if other areas were still
booming. Fort Collins, Colorado has been topping many lists as the most desirable place
to live in the Unites States for several years now. We have received at least 4 notes
from people across the Nation who were considering relocating to Fort Collins and have
changed their mind because of the proposed uranium mine and it' s potential effects in the
area. These are just the few folks who have taken the time to contact us through our
website. Who knows how many more have made the same decision.
The Larimer County Commissioners had recently asked for and completed a study on the
potential impacts of in-situ leach mining for uranium. The result of the study and the
study in it's entirety are here: http://www.nunnglow.com/latest/larimer-cOuntryre1ea5e5
mining-report.html <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?2O-UOeohudIIFLT7e9CMOk6Ug8DRc5Lx-P-
4
AYfScEvynJ1K4UByYvf_gvgKHa4E4iYvmH6v0UTvHTKzteWtXCXCUR8iw2BmWjS14DkY-
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VFHOkA> One of their statements: " the end result is that the risks to the mining
operators are strictly financial while the risks to the community are potentially
financial, health and environmental with costs that may exceed any capabilities of the
operations to rectify. "
My personal experience has seen 2 boarders and one student discontinue doing
business with me because of the potential of this proposed uranium mine in our back yard.
The socio-economic impacts are already being felt. I also am aware of at least 3 other
small businesses in this vicinity who are already feeling the direct impact of this
proposed uranium mine.
'NO' ON AMENDMENT FOR INTERIM STUDY GROUP
The amendment regarding sending this bill to an interim study group and placing a
nearly year long moratorium on any in-situ leach mining permits being granted will
essentially pave the way for Powertech Uranium Corp to gain the permits for their proposed
operation. A moratorium on granting of permits will allow Powertech to continue their
baseline studies without any oversight from a 3rd party professional, and all studies will
be complete and they will be way ahead of the game when the moratorium is up. In effect,
sending this bill to an interim study committee will give Powertech a leg up on their
permitting process. Even Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave has come out in direct opposition
to the Powertech Centennial Project.
I would consider a vote in favor of this amendment to send HB1161 to an interim
study group a NO vote for the solid bill which will protect the water quality of our
precious resource of groundwater. I would consider this NO vote on HB1161 as a vote for
the decline of a healthy economy for Colorado. Not to mention a NO vote for public
health.
Please do NOT vote in favor of the amendment that will send this bill to an interim
study group. This is in effect killing a good, solid bill that will protect our precious
resource of water in Colorado. Please vote FOR HB1161 without this shuffle of our tax
dollars to study what has already been studied over and over again. The uranium mining
industry has assured us over and over again that they CAN return the groundwater in a
mining site to it' s pre-mining conditions. We must believe them, yet challenge them to do
a "job well-done. "
EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND LISTENING
HB1161 has gone through many steps of tightening the wording with extensive input
from both the Colorado Mining Association and Powertech Uranium Corporation. In my mind,
this is unheard of. Allowing an industry to regulate themselves seems like an invitation
for chaos. Nonetheless, Rep. Kefalas and Rep. Fischer have both been very gracious in
taking the opportunity to hear what the industry has to say and making every effort to not
set the bar too high, yet setting the bar high enough to protect our water.
Please vote FOR HB1161 and move it to the general assembly.
Thank you for your time,
Robin Davis
www.mustanghollow.com <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?
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5
Esther Gesick
From: Esther Gesick
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 10:32 AM
To: 'jstegner@uccweb.com'
Subject: FW:
Attachments: LEUraniumEmail.doc
.EUraniumEmail.doc
(57 KB)
Mr. Stegner,
Please see the attached response.
Esther E. Gesick
Deputy Clerk to the Board
915 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
(970)356-4000 X4226
(970) 352-0242 (fax)
Original Message
From: William Garcia
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 10:29 AM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW:
From: Jim Stegner [mailto:jstegner@uccweb.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 10:01 AM
To: William Garcia
Subject:
Subject: Stop Uranium Mining in Northern Colorado
Message: I am very concerned about the potentially severe impacts the proposed uranium
mine near Nunn, Colorado will have on our land, water, and health. As my representative,
I ask that you do everything in your power to stop this project.
Jim Stegner
(tviu._:1!eCL:T,3 3-IO -.Qoo8 1 1L 1 P9 ry
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