HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071391.tiff April 28, 2007
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
William Jerke:
Weld County Commissioner jeAll APR 31 A 11
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632 RECEIVED
Dear Mr.Jerke:
My name is Richard Shively. My wife and I own a 320 acre parcel of agricultural land
near Keota(S1/2, 9-8-60) two miles north of Highway 14 on WCR 103. I have been
approached by a representative of Powertech Uranium Corp. offering to lease the mineral
rights on the property for the exploration of uranium. I was taken by surprise by this
since we have been away from the area for the past several months at our home in
northern Idaho. I seem to remember a number of years ago when some exploration for
uranium took place in the area.
I have been in contact with a couple of the neighbors in the area and have found that
there is some concerns including health and environmental effects, contamination of
wells, grazing of livestock, etc. Our property borders on two sides, north and east, by
the Pawnee National Grasslands. In addition to the health and environmental concerns,
I also have a concern over the effect of my CRP contract with the Department of
Agriculture. I have already been in contact with Debbie at the FSA office in Greeley
concerning my current contract.
I realize that I could refuse to lease the minerals to the company; however, I find that I
only own half of the minerals. It could get somewhat complicated if the other party
wishes to lease and I don't. I will be contacting an attorney for further advice on this
matter.
At this point I would be interested in any information as to what direction the potential
exploration for uranium will possibly take and a time line for the issue to be settled.
1. Who at the county level will be involved?
2. Will there be public hearings for landowners to be heard?
3. What will be the consideration by the county to protect the health and
environment, especially the contamination of domestic wells?
4. Will other government agencies have to sign off as well?
5. What will be the requirements for any clean-up and reclamation once
exploration and potential mining is completed?
6. What part will the forest service and grasslands play in the decisions
to issue any potential permits?
2007-1391
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I am sure there will be a lot more questions concerning this issue. I don't expect
answers to a lot of my questions at this point, but would like to know the process
involving the input of the landowners in the area and the timeline for the decision-
making process, as well as the general feeling on the issue.
Even though we haven't been living in the area for the past several months, we still
have a strong interest in the decisions that may affect the property we now own and
depend on for a major portion of our income. We first became involved in Weld
County in 1957 as a student at UNC and lived in the surrounding area for a number
years. My parents moved to Greeley from their farm in Yuma County in 1962 and
operated a wheat farm south of Briggsdale for the next 30 years.
We lived in Mesa and Garfield counties for several years while my wife was finishing the
final years of her teaching career. During this time I was involved in the home
building business and had the opportunity to view, first hand, what happens when the
leftover results of mining are used carelessly and inappropriately. A part of the building
permit process was testing the soil for radon gas. The federal government spent hundreds
of millions of dollars to clean up the mess including excavating foundations of many,
many houses in Grand Junction replacing the uranium tailings. Many houses had to be
abandoned and destroyed. At Parachute, we lived near the uranium mill near Rifle.
When they abandoned the mill and cleaned up the mess, again the federal government
spent millions and millions to take care of it. My wife and I both feel that the death of
her father was caused somewhat due to his working at the Atomic Energy Commission
and his exposure to radiation. I have talked to a number of individuals in the science
community about such a proposed project and do not like what I hear. Of course I am
aware that the mining company probably has another opinion. With this experience with
the mining and milling of uranium in an area, I have some very strong concerns over
Weld County permitting such an activity. I realize that Keota is a long ways from
anywhere and not many people live in the area. This and the proximity of the grasslands
is what drew us to the area.
I would appreciate any information and feelings you would care to offer at this time.
Thank you very much.
Richard H. Shively
1050 Harris Road
Deary, ID 83823
208-877-1641
rrshively@greeleynet.com
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