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Home My WebLink About20080542.tiff Esther Gesick From: Edquist, Jeff[JEFF.EDQUIST@aei.com] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 4:23 PM To: Esther Gesick Subject: RE: Regarding Health, property value,and in-situ Uranium mining in Weld county Ms. Gesick, Received and understood. Thank you for your swift response. If there are any related public hearings in which I may attendee as a concerned citizen, please include me via email, phone or U.S.P.S. mail Thank you for your time and support, Jeff Edquist 970-215-7841 P.O. box 686 Wellington, CO 80549 Original Message From: Esther Gesick [mailto:egesick@co.weld.co.us] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 4:00 PM To: Edquist, Jeff Subject: FW: Regarding Health, property value,and in-situ Uranium mining in Weld county Mr. Edquist, 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: Bill Jerke Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 3 :51 PM To: Esther Gesick Subject: FW: Regarding Health, property value,and in-situ Uranium mining in Weld County Original Message From: Edquist, Jeff [mailto:JEFF.EDQUIST@aei.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:00 PM To: starlton@smtpgate.dphe.state.co.us Cc: robin@mustanghollow.com; Dave Long; Douglas Rademacher; Rob Masden; William Garcia; Bill Jerke Subject: Regarding Health, property value,and in-situ Uranium mining in Weld county Mr. Tarlton, We have exchanged a few letters in the past. If you recall I am an owner of a 60 acre parcel next to Powertech's planned section 11 site on WCR 96 and 23 in Weld county. In the past I voiced my concerns over the fact that we residents have no baseline of our environment. I am advised I should go to UL for soils testing and water if possible. I have a drilled and capped well. I had it drilled within the two year 2008-0542 1 cAm auz.n/ . -,,o -//-0zaa2' /0L/Si99 permit timeline. The pump was to go into the well as my home was built. I await the sale of my Loveland home before my construction loan is viable. At this point I find I would have to fork out the 4K to get the pump in now. Just so I can get the water tested. My neighbors just west of me both drink from their wells, as do the neighbors on the north side of WCR 96. Powertech stands to take millions back to Canada. At a mininmum they can pay for testing. When Powertech presents data such as the king ranch, those mines sat on massive acerage that was purchased by the mining companies. No residents were locally drinking form that aquifer. And yet the contamination was enought that the EPA had to raise the acceptable levels as a standard. Powertech claims our water is undrinkable. One wonders how North Weld county has been able to drink all these years. I still have no answer why our local and federal government would not be involved with a baseline. Of course Powertech offered to test on our land. I see no motive with this company except to bolster their stock. I would expect them to skew results and possibly not even share test results unless asked by a judge to do so. Today' s Ft. Collins Now newspaper published an in depth story of Uranium mining in Goilad county TX. http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080206/NEWS/340020944 <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?mmlOarP29JBBd-UVNCS02tH6tGDDOxi5j7bVI poly-9TKZteXCOMgOkoNByZQXCzBxwTvHTVKOeud78VYTsS8-WXTE2PsGj lm_bBPrZT6nPga tQSnSmbzzoVws2_8X52k29Ew2_WvcCOpEwmzlrUPb6y0PFXvw7I43hlaluAFJCy09NS4CRjh 0Ha4E4j hlalEw0nPQ3hlgHs9Bzs_3 VU3 zg9J4SOOO_ssyyr7ag9> This story in the here and now is not much different from 1960 or 70 stories on mining. Massive contamination of wells at every turn. Goiliad County's judge was kind enough to share a copy of his county's resolution banning in-situ mining. This and the fact that Fairfax, VA just passed a similar resolution. I cannot help but wonder where are the people of my state, in looking out for our health and best interests? My first question is why would we not require the mining companies to test the baseline? Not just a soil sample or two, but in a diameter of miles from the target? There is actually dent corn growing on top of Powertech's southmost site. Anhauser is right next to them, with more corn. I do not want this company doing the testing. The state should do it and charge the mining company. Once a lab is done, post this publicly were the data may not be skewed. Should I sit back and wait a few years until my water turns filthy like Goilad? The Mustang Hollow ranch already reports additional chemicals and stench in their water since Powertech set up testing on their land. My wife and I believe our loveland home will sell this year as the general market picks up. But to then sink our home equity in building a new home is now out of the question. I cannot have my sons catch cancer in twenty years because I decided to live next to this uranium and it's progeny. In Goliad they (miners) cut corners and the wells have radiactive soil at their heads. When I was in the Marine Corp, we had our hands in radar transmitter cooling oil every day as we scrambled to get jets of the carrier deck and back in action. Finally Uncle Sam told us the PCBs in the oil cause cancer. God only knows if this will kill me first. You can see why I am a skeptic that my government is looking out for me. I am not able to sell my land now. It is already de-valued by this threat (remax appraisal) . No one is going to want produce or meat from this agricultural area. See the article, no one in Goliad is buying livestock. Unless I pave my land to park RVs, not much is left for me to do with this albatross. One way to save my equity is to sell my mineral 2 rights and let the next company come in to mine. Perhaps this region needs to be corridoned off to all but mining. If I had my way Powertech would have to buy out all surrounding owners at fair market value. I consider myself at least better off than my neighbors already living there. My sale to a second company would likely drive them all out and lose their home equity in the process. So if I sit put and bear the mortgage cost for two years, what happens when they do contaminate? Will your department stand by us citizens? If we can condemn our land as unhealthy, perhaps there is some disaster relief from FEMA? Can this be done? This is worse than Katrina, there is no recovery possible with Uranium. Please advise, we are at a critical decision point and must act to save what we can before it is too late. Jeff Edquist This message, including any attachments, may contain information that is confidential and proprietary information of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. The dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this message or any of its attachments is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. This message, including any attachments, may contain information that is confidential and proprietary information of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. The dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this message or any of its attachments is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 3 THE STATE OF TEXAS § IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT COUNTY OF GOLIAD § OF GOLIAD COUNTY,TEXAS RESOLUTION OPPOSING URANIUM MINING IN GOLIAD COUNTY TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: WHEREAS Goliad County, Texas ("Goliad County") has a land area of approximately 859 square miles surrounded by Victoria County in the east, Refugio County in the south, Bee County in the west, and Dewitt County in the north; and WHEREAS groundwater is a precious commodity in Goliad County; and WHEREAS the primary source of drinking water in Goliad County is the Gulf Coast Aquifer; and WHEREAS the role of groundwater and surface water interaction in sustaining the fragile ecosystem within Goliad County is important; and WHEREAS it is generally recognized that eco-tourism, development of the airpark, spring water for ranching and hunting are seen as major drivers of the economy; and WHEREAS the future economic health of Goliad County is highly dependant upon a reliable source of groundwater; and WHEREAS groundwater must be managed on a"sustainable"basis; and WHEREAS uranium intrusion, uranium contamination and lowered water quality are a risk from in-situ uranium mining; and WHEREAS the residents and property owners of Goliad County have expressed valid concerns regarding in-situ uranium mining in Goliad County.. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Goliad County Commissioners Court hereby resolve and express its firm and absolute opposition to in-situ uranium mining in Goliad County. Goliad County Commissioners Court supports the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District's mission and goal in protecting the groundwater resource in Goliad County, Texas. Approved this day of October, 2006. Harold Gleinser County Judge Julian Flores, Precinct 1 Jerry Rodriguez, Precinct 2 Jim Kreneck, Precinct 3 Ted Long, Precinct 4 ATTEST: Gail Turley, County Clerk Esther Gesick From: Esther Gesick Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 4:02 PM To: 'guard1234@hotmail.com' Subject: FW: Stop the mining before we're another statistic. Attachments: LEUraniumEmail.doc .EUraniumEmail.doc (57 KB) Mr. Williams, 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: Bill Jerke Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 3 :57 PM To: Esther Gesick Subject: FW: Stop the mining before we're another statistic. Original Message From: howard williams [mailto:guard1234@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:09 AM To: avillegas@greeleytribune.com; Bruce Barker; Bill Jerke; bmanvel@£cgov.com; bob bacon; d, trujillo; dbrown@fcgov.com; dhutchinson@fcgov.com; Dave Long; don.marostica.house@state.co.us; droy@fcgov.com; governor.ritter@state.co.us; Jerry Sonnenberg; jerry sonnenberg; john.doval@va.gov; Kevin Lundberg; letters@rockymountainnews.com; 1poppaw@fcgov.com; Monica Mika; pdemilt@aol.com; randy.fischer.house@state.co.us; Scott Renfroe; Trevor Jiricek; William Garcia; wtroxell@fcgov.com; guard1234@hotmail.com Subject: Stop the mining before we're another statistic. This should be reason enough to stop Powertech from doing anything further.We don't need any more evidence. The body of water Powertech wants to mine in is not a small enclosed aquifer it is several times larger than Weld county. How much longer will we have to wait until the decision is made to stop them? H,M, Williams 52337 wcr # 15 Carr,CO 80612 2.5 miles from GROUND ZERO Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. Get it now! <http://console.mxlogic.com/redir/? 3 sSOOCssUCro 169ggGOEv8P bVgDIvU74GSAws2g618G2h091sr5g5QPWoHgDIvfAXUHt5eZTzt- uvv78Td7b2dPtPp5LoE8FII0EDmoDOVJ555VWVJ5eWr5XLFLCS1NIoDloQgj9-g85pgB0yg827KRzVEwcuq9U- g8dxmpfUCy2AZDaAVmUTfM-ub7Xa1J4SyrppjvKehhdyJcf> 1 02 AAA-H ,,7w»vo a-li ar itig99 Power Struggle- Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 1 of 15 WEATHER REPORT NI FAIR 18° -- - sponsored by �x Fort Collins Now-News.Entertainment from Fort Collins,Colorado ❑x Fort Collins Now-News,Entertainment from Fort Collins,Colorado SE • Home ❑x Homes-Fort Collins Now-News,Entertainment from Fort Collins,Colorado E Wheels-Fort Collins f • News • Entertainment • Opinion • Community • Classifieds • Place an Ad • »About Us • »Advertise • »Contact Us • »Archives • »Electronic Edition • »Video E -NEWS-Fort Collins Now!Serving Fort Collins,Colorado Power Struggle Click to Enlarge Opponents of a proposed uranium mine near Nunn V A Sign of Things to Come? find kindred spirits in South Texas A Dain McCoig, senior engineer at an in-situ mine in Kingsville, Texas, describes an injection well By Rebecca Boyle, (Bio) that forces oxygenated groundwater into uranium- rboyle@fortcollinsnow.com bearing sandstone. Similar injection wells will be 10:10 a.m. MT Feb 6, 2008 designed by Powertech Uranium Corp. if the company gets a permit to mine in Northern GOLIAD, Texas The first sign that there might be Colorado. Duderstadt's south Texas ranch was when the cows v Photo By Rebecca Boyle More Photos&Reprints» Last summer, they began to bypass their special grow from a muddy puddle of rainwater. • More Coverage "This is a full water trough, and they'd walk a couple They'd walk right past that water trough," Duderstadi RELATED ARTICLES Not Your Typical Teen Interest About that same time, the well water used inside the] drinking started running red and slimy. A well filter t Power Struggle up in a matter of hours—one time, Craig couldn't evE The Kindergarten Conundrum the sediment. The Duderstadts stopped drinking the v The Tim Masters Case: Chasing A Culligan driver now brings four blue jugs of clean file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Sewing Fort Collins, Colorado Page 2 of 15 Reid Meloy town, about a 30-minute drive northeast. Fix it or Ditch it? The culprit, they say, is a uranium mining operation 1 MORE LOCAL NEWS water turns bad when the mining company drills expl Not Your Typical Teen The resurgent field of in-situ uranium mining througl Interest kind of pioneer, one who still fights for land and watt heeled, highly technical modern foe. It's different tha Boucher: Republicans Out in familiar to the West as open fields and thunder, and it Force employment on both sides. Power Struggle Fort Collins Now traveled to Goliad, Texas, to find o 1 to stop a newly formed company from extracting urai Making a Big Splash groundwater. The fight against in-situ uranium mining in south Ter _JThe Kinderga ten Conundrum Colorado. There are differences, to be sure, but in bol the fundamental fact that it is essential to life. It's an especially tough issue for people who long the on the land and earn a peaceful living. But as the Duderstadts and their neighbors have learn The third-generation farm Craig and Luann Dudersta two dogs and three horses is a comfortable, quiet plat butterfly weeds grow along the patio and where ball r in one day on a hurricane, makes its home on the inns of giant live oak trees. A bull watches visitors with suspicion from a small b the yard, and a spare water trough behind the house b Duderstadts' fondness for creatures of all sizes it's • especially for wildlife and the many migratory birds through Texas' Coastal Bend region. Atop the wooden kitchen table at the center of the olc is the first sign that this is not an average Texas rand- Next to a ceramic vase and a candy bowl is a framed of a billboard in Victoria: "Help Stop Uranium Minin On the carpet a few feet away, Luann pushed back he braids to sift through a plastic tub of papers and files amassed about uranium mining, Texas land law and l the fight against Uranium Energy Corporation. Like I Uranium Corp., which wants to mine in Northern Col is based in Vancouver, British Columbia,has a corpo the capital city of the state they're exploring for urani file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 3 of 15 up a field office in the town where their opponents lip Luann is Texas-style blunt and does not seem given t it's clear that raw emotions feed her activism against she believes will poison her water beyond repair. Until two summers ago, the Duderstadts' lives consis farming and ranching and generally appreciating soul at the end of a fulvous gravel road. Since Uranium Energy Corp., a newly formed compa drilling exploration and test wells for uranium,her w: life have both changed for the worse. She said she is committed to helping stop the"enviro disaster" she believes is inevitably wrought by this ty mining. "The Navajo people say it all when they refer to yellc yellow death," she said, referring to the material wan processed into. The people of the South Texas Crossroads region are ranchers and farmers, salt-of-the-earth people with In Lone Stars on their homes. They're the sort who balk restaurant dares to charge $11.99 for chicken parmes; the kind of people who wear cowboy boots because o for work, not as pets. They keep herds of whitetail deer in fenced-in private region's tourist visitors. Buzzards are praised for keel Their cattle, including Hereford and Texas Longhorn groundwater until last summer when uranium explc Since the water turned bad in 2007, the Duderstadts h material and will probably do it again, but each time district, the Duderstadts fork over$400. Some tests h Duderstadts can't afford to test it as regularly as they Their friend Mark Krueger, who lives in neighboring will betray any particles in the water invisible to the c kind used to assist in PowerPoint presentations, throu the laser beam is visible all the way through the wate] is only visible where it enters and exits the glass. The because there's nothing in it to reflect the light. But the trick is only comforting to a certain level—w seen? The mining company and the Texas Railroad Commi file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31W... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 4 of 15 exploration, have told the Duderstadts the uranium er in their well water, and that in the areas near where tf anyway. But Duderstadts and generations of many other famil drinking the water for a hundred years, and their relat The families said any changes that are directly relate( luck. There is no recompense. "You don't see them paying the Culligan man for brio coming to my door to ask me, either,because they do The Duderstadts have about 15 cattle on the 150-acre has been slowly moving them to other ranchland. But Mary and Tom Anklam can't do that. The couple moved from Michigan to Victoria in 199; down the road from the Duderstadts four years later. The Southern Comfort Ranch is now home to Boer go show. The animals fetch between$150 and $400 a he nobody wants to buy them. Mary Anklam said she tal only get $30 to $60 a head. "People are afraid to buy them," she said. They see ft questions. "I have to tell them; I can't lie to them." Loss of livestock income is not an option in historic ( of Texas ranching. The town, whose population was municipalities in Texas. In 1749, Spanish settlers est- was then called Santa Dorotea. Presidio la Bahia, the southern bank of the San Antonio River. In February 1829, the town's name was changed to G name of a missionary priest, Miguel Hidalgo, a father About a 90-mile drive upriver is the famous Alamo— Crockett died but Goliad is the site where Texians troops and first declared their independence from Me Now, as they fight to keep their land from a more mo prepared to make another historic stand. It's one that is bound to be repeated throughout the U northeast of Fort Collins, as uranium mining—an ind the fields that will be drilled—enjoys a resurgence on renewed interest in nuclear power. file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 5 of 15 sss Goliad's fight started almost two years ago, when UE Not all residents had an intrinsic bad feeling about ur after all, and residents are more than accustomed to ti landscape. Mineral extraction is nothing new to Goli2 What's more, the company arrived with promises to 1 scholarships for local high school students and, some to landowners. But then they poisoned the land, some believe—UEC holes, resulting in radioactive soil around the borehol Residents started to worry, and the history of south T their fears. People knew of uranium mining operation 1980s, and a history of spills and contamination fears County's Kingsville, about two hours' drive south. UEC started drilling exploration boreholes in Goliad of the town. Opposition and concern grew that summ resolution opposing the proposed mining operation. I: decided to form a uranium research and advisory boa district and farm bureau are among the members. The commissioners also voted to spend $150,000 to 1 Blackburn, anticipating a contested case hearing in th hearing would be similar to a civil trial in terms of ev intended to fight the state's decision, if it is so made, forward. Commissioner Jim Kreneck said he's lost some supp( outspoken opposition to the project. But as a rancher supersedes any political ideology that might otherwis taxpayers are the ones who must ultimately pay, he st After the uranium committee formed, local oppositioi president of the Goliad County Groundwater Consen The bad blood began flowing in earnest in spring 200 That April, several residents, including the Duderstad wells were being plugged up with slimy red sediment The water district tested the residential wells and foul mineral content in four of the wells; a fifth had only t On top of that, the Texas Railroad Commission fount majority of its boreholes as it said it would. GPS cool file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 6 of 15 wells they were able to find were surrounded by piles been improperly refilled. Residents seized upon those violations as proof that 1 responsibility and would continue to do so. Harry Anthony, chief operating officer of the uraniun meeting Jan. 24 that those violations happened becau previously chosen to plug the holes. The new method had expected something different and that's why the permit has been modified to reflect the change, and tl But residents' concerns took off from the first violati when, last August, the Texas Commission on Enviroi had applied for an underground injection control pen leaching of uranium from the rock. Powertech Uranium Corp. is about a year away from Colorado. Dohmann, the county's groundwater conservation dis exploration wells are being drilled in a concentrated ore body is 157 acres, and Dohmann said test wells As in recent weeks, new testing began in other areas oft] permit. "It's like a fire. It's just going to keep spreading,"he That kind of language is common among the opponei but to say they're scared is an understatement. Resident Margaret Rutherford, who started a group ci she has felt intimidated. Health problems led her to st but she's still involved and said her newspaper, for w been repeatedly stolen. She even thinks someone ma} Rutherford said she worries about her water and healt late husband's carvings are still embedded in the woc want to abandon them. She has nowhere else to go. That comment surprised Luann Duderstadt. "You're gonna live here if they get a permit?" she sai "What am I gonna do?"Rutherford shot back, throwi "I'm not living here," Duderstadt replied. Anklam said she'd considered packing up and going s "Can I live with you?" Duderstadt asked her. file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 7 of 15 "Sure, we'll have a little house on the prairie,"Ankla The women all chuckled at the fantasy. "At least we can still laugh," Rutherford said. Although the company's opponents find comfort in e community. Members of Rutherford's own family ha UEC, to her great chagrin. Her aunt and uncle, Joe and Betty Jacob, even had thi newspaper ad UEC took out in the Victoria Advocate "I think the project is a great blessing for the county. real good about it," Betty Jacob is quoted as saying. Luann Duderstadt and Rutherford scoff that they're ji outnumber the willing participants. They say even some who have leased their land now Across the road from the Duderstadts, Elder Abramei the early 1980s. Soon after, a precipitous drop in urar three years ago. Now Abrameit is saddled with a dec of 8.25 percent royalty on the ore extracted from beni County Commissioner Kreneck wondered how the cc properly pay royalties—it's not like oil and gas, whic payment of royalties isn't payback for the loss of thei So the opponents hope the state can help. The Duderstadts, the Anklams, Rutherford and about meeting with state officials Jan. 24, the one in which violations. a. The meeting was sponsored by the Texas Commissio with the mining company. During exploration, which is ongoing, the Texas Rail requires a separate permit from the TCEQ, which is s questions and accept formal comments from resident: The complexity of the permiting process is similar to Colorado. Texas and Colorado laws are different,but regulations apply, and it takes several months to com and final approval. file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 8 of 15 UEC's application in Goliad is about a year ahead of Collins. TCEQ geologist David Murry told the crowd he was mining could take place until a permit was granted. Several residents wondered how well TCEQ could pr funded mostly by permit fees from the industries it re At one point, Murry answered a question about water company would provide the samples to be tested. Sor "You obviously don't find that very comforting," Mu There weren't enough chairs in the auxiliary hall at Ir many people turned out that the Texas Rangers came Brumby, who is running for county sheriff, said earlic meeting to discuss logistics. In fact, so many people were there in opposition, She support for the mining operation was nervous to spea She appeared in that newspaper ad with Rutherford's stick her neck out in favor of UEC. "We don't have the money to hire lawyers to come in figures, but there are a bunch of us," she said. Her said her elderly parents have been harassed becai unacceptable and was motivated to speak in favor of "I don't feel like I've been lied to. There are a lot of I here,because they're afraid to come in here and face Sidney Braquet, an attorney who owns land in Goliac roots in the county go back to the 1800s and he woulc He said Goliad residents should not fall victim to mis "There are risks involved in all aspects of life,"he sai He also talked about the potential growth of nuclear I "Why not use what south Texas has to offer to reduce energy future?"he said. A few clapped for Arnecke and Braquet, but most of statements opposed the company's efforts. They argued in-situ mining was unsafe, unproven am and that the state was the only entity that could help t file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 9 of 15 Pat Calhoun, a barrel-chested ex-Marine and presider boomed agricultural statistics into the microphone, es would be denied thirsty lactating cows if the mining c should deny the permit. "There (is) historical evidence that no unconfined aqi change and damage to it,"he said. Even before the residents spoke, Anthony said those i echoes of the arguments used by Powertech to quell c Nunn. "This project will not adversely affect the groundwat "We're well aware that many people have concerns a and so does the company. We wouldn't have underta] partially true." Anthony is among a small group of people who blaze saying it is better for human and environmental heals] is not even really mining in the traditional sense, but reverses the work of millions of years. Those in the field trust the method and say it is the be resource that can help power the world. Anthony said UEC just wants to recover some of Gol power potential nuclear power plants in the U.S. in( application in Victoria, the first newly licensed nuclei "The U.S. is trying to achieve energy independence— can do this by finding clean sources of energy,"he so Whether residents agree with nuclear power or not, tt is far from the only one promoting nuclear as a home Texas has bountiful uranium reserves, about 18 milli( ore, equating to 23 million pounds of yellowcake, acc U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency reserves based on cost in 2003, and the 18 million fig on a price of$50 per pound. But last summer, uranim more than doubled that amount, and were hovering at pound the week of Jan. 28. It's evidence that investors and private and public uti uranium is an increasingly feasible alternative to coal fired power plants, especially since nuclear power ph generate greenhouse gases in the process of creating 4 file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now (Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 10 of 15 That is what led Paul Moore, a co-founder of the glol environmental group Greenpeace, to advocate for nuc now a paid spokesman for the industry-funded Clean Energy Coalition, whose logo includes a 70's-style ni plant protest pin with the phrase"No Nukes,"but the crossed out and"yes"is scratched in. On the group's Web site, several national lawmakers saying good things about nuclear power, including Sc Majority Leader Harry Reid, from Nevada, who repo "I'm cool with nukes," and GOP presidential front-ru McCain, who is quoted saying, "We need to go back power." Talk of a nuclear resurgence is being phrased in the L national security, even patriotism—the United States harvested material like uranium to survive, advocates a renewable resource,but advocates say it could prole stockpiles of fossil fuels that some say are right now their peak. In large measure, fears about nuclear meltdowns have since the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant incid when a malfunction caused the reactor core to overhe Although no one died, or was even hurt, the incident sweeping changes to the nuclear power industry. It al enough public mistrust and trepidation to help quash same time, uranium prices plummeted, and industry i resources dissipated. Darn McCoig is evidence of the three-decade gulf in interest. A 2002 Colorado School of Mines graduate, works as senior engineer at Uranium Resources Inc.'; Texas, in-situ mine and processing facility. There's a generation gap in his profession—some of his colleal enough to be his parents—but the field is again ascen prices in uranium and even precious metals like gold a resurgence in mining education and employment. It's tied to the potential "nuclear renaissance"many Y would begin after the 2005 energy bill, which promis credits for new nuclear power plants. South Texas seems to be the modern-day Florence in renaissance. In the past three years, NRG Energy, Energy Future I Corp. and Exelon Corp. are among companies in Tex proposed eight new reactors,one-fourth of the total p U.S., according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commissli file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 11 of 15 Exelon proposed the new plant in Victoria. Julian Reed, a public relations expert hired by UEC, mined yellowcake for power. "It so happens that this area has very extensive uranit Many Goliad opponents don't believe that's where th saying they know the biggest markets for uranium an Reed said much of the opposition is fueled by misinfi "The scientific facts are that this can be done without Residents in Kingsville, Texas, would beg to differ, h The rapid rise in uranium prices led URI, where Dain uranium operation in Kingsville in 2005 and drill nev The Kingsville Dome—actually a visible dome-like s mineral deposit was mined for uranium from 1988 1 low prices made it uneconomical. Some also say poll partly to blame. The operation restarted after a controversial decision Administrative Hearings, which had tried to stop new up its previous wells. Teo Saenz started a group called STOP, South Texan awareness of its previous actions. Saenz, a pharmacist in Kingsville who also owns a ra the mine production area, and worries about arsenic, : The fields look fine, with white PVC pipes sticking u far uglier, according to Saenz. "The reality is they can't clean up, they can't restore The mining companies say they can, and that Mother The uranium came to rest under Kingsville, Goliad at other elements in the rock that"reduced" it from a m( ancient river sands (in Colorado's case, sands from a reducing agents are still there, and when the uranium only move so far before the Earth will bring them bat But Saenz has done his own research, rattling off met and saying scientists have told him the cleanup can't file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 12 of 15 There are key differences in the geology of South Te; Powertech says will safeguard this region's water mo (For more on the scientific aspects of in-situ mining, their operations will be safe and how the two regions Fort Collins Now.) Saenz said TCEQ has abdicated its duty by not forcin believes regulators have made things easy for the indi would be a"sham." "You're not only going against the business, you're g In what appears to be a common industry refrain, Pos they have not yet devised the exact method for cleani company officials have worked for other in-situ open hasn't done it yet. They have promised to figure it ou Saenz said URI told Kingsville the same thing. "They keep saying, `We'll figure it out, we'll clean it not a little poker game. You're dealing with people's He said potential problems from materials in the aqui URI, or any other company, is mining; it could be ye; He is so against in-situ mining that he even traveled t region. In Cibola County, N.M., county and municipal offrci; to mine in that region, despite a history of pollution p came up with the phrase Luann Duderstadt remember residents in sparsely populated areas seem supportive Saenz said he's heard about the brewing battle in Not luck. "I hope that maybe you can learn something from out That solidarity is common among opponents of urani formed in this field. There's Moore, from Greenpeaca conservative-minded ranchers like Kreneck are active share environmental beliefs with liberal types who ch their lives raising. Dr. Richard Abitz, a geochemist from Cincinnati hire common for such matters to transcend politics or pen "What's that quote from `Oklahoma!"`The farmer; file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 13 of 15 "Everybody should be friends when it's the right issu Fear seems to be a unifying one. McCoig, the URI engineer, said fear drives a lot of th "A lot of people just don't want us here in the first pl. scary,"he said. He lives a 50-minute drive away in Corpus Christi wi in a matter of weeks, and he cares about the land and live in Kingsville or nearby towns, and wouldn't harr said. He said many opponents make up their minds before If they learned about the careful regulations the indus learned the science, which explains how the earth itst as afraid, he said. In fact, they might embrace the mei "If everything could be mined this way, you wouldn' shafts, you wouldn't have any mountaintops removes pillaged," McCoig said. "When we're done here, it w same water is going to be there and the same land is Some Goliad residents who oppose UEC agree that tl they support mining; the difference, they say, is that t On his Web site, Goliadproject.org, Mark Krueger, tt laser pointer to the Duderstadts', said he is not agains "Please keep in mind that I do not oppose mining as i development of our technology-based society. I DO c drinking water supply! In-situ leach mining needs to 1 water supply until it can be proven to be 100 percent At the meeting last month, he asked if that was possil Krueger waited until the end of the question period tc In his soft-spoken way, he asked TCEQ and Anthony wells were situated within a quarter-mile of the mine to clean the water and how long it would take. His last question: "Is it possible that one well, one well for human wate Goliad County? Yes or no question. Does the possibi The audience watched expectantly. file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 14 of 15 Tara Drissell, with the office of public assistance for left and to the UEC table on her right. She paused for uneven, almost exasperated expression, as if knowin€ "Nothing is 100 percent," she said. • Latest Comments • Post Your Comment • Discussion LATEST COMMENTS Subject: Message: I Post Comment By posting you agree to the tent Click to see all comments (2) safest food? Safest food, from corn? Like high fructose corn syrul by tadowguy on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:40:44 PST PowerTech Proposal Last week I was in Boulder when I overheard two we campus of choice for their children, since CSU is in t mining field. Next I learn that PowerTech has funded controversal nature of this proposal seems to smack c The University, above all other institutions stands to I doesn't really work well to attract students, who usual members apparently at least in this case. Stop the ura: from this hit-and run operation by a Canadian Compa mining and you decide if it is "safe". Right. file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Power Struggle - Local News - Fort Collins Now 'Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Page 15 of 15 by nonukesnow on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:49:54 PST Privacy Policy I Code of Ethics I Advertise Contact Us I Archives I Classifieds I RSS Feeds 0 Fort Collin Visit our other news and portal sites. All contents© Copyright 2008 fortcollinsnow.com Fort Collins Now - 400 Remington St. Suite B, Fort Collins, CO £ file://C:\Documents and Settings\egesick\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK31\P... 2/7/2008 Hello