HomeMy WebLinkAbout20073019.tiff Esther Gesick
From: Bill Jerke
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:26 PM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: Stop Uranium Mining in Northern Colorado
Original Message
From: Nick Bair [mailto:bairinc@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:16 PM
To: Dave Long; Douglas Rademacher; Rob Masden; Bill Jerke; William Garcia; Bruce Barker;
Trevor Jiricek; Monica Mika
Subject: Stop Uranium Mining in Northern Colorado
To whom it may concern,
I have serious concerns about the proposed uranium mining project in northern Colorado
near Nunn. Everything I have read about uranium mining in the west indicates it cannot be
done without significant risk to both local and regional water supplies. There are also
potentially dire consequences to human health in the immediate vicinity of the mining.
We don't need a uranium mine in northern Colorado. As my representative, I urge you to put
a stop to it now.
Thank you.
Nick Bair
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1 2007-3019
Dear William Jerke,
In November of 2005 we were able to move into our new home.The dream of living in the country away from city
lights,air and noise pollution had come true.we have wanted this life style for several years in hopes of having a plan
for our retirement years and gave up our last dime for the investment of this acreage for our future.We were glad and
compliant to the CRP restrictions we bought into.
Now,only a few months later we find that a Canadian company had bought the adjoining land and wants to mine it.
WHY DIDN'T THE TRUSTED SERVANTS OF WELD COUNTY INFORM US OF THIS!We would NEVER have
come here!
Our property value will surely decline dramatically with a`gravel pit'in our`front yard'. We face a future of light
pollution,water pollution,noise pollution,and air pollution.More so than any urban owned homes.Powertech offered
us$100.00 to come onto our property via a sweet and syrupy contract,to test the soil and vegetation. This is truly rude
to the property owners of who's lives they are disturbing.We asked for contract changes,but they said`We'll just put
you down as unwilling to cooperate'.This is not true,but it did show their selfishness and non commitment to their
project.
Hoping for some answers at the Nunn/Powertech town meeting,on July 19'",we only walked away emotional and
confused.The'spin doctors'they sent could or would not answer our questions adequately and alleviate our concerns
on what`treatment'they would use in their ponds waste water and how they would protect our life giving waters:only
stating"We have put up Bonds to insure this doesn't happen"Does that mean we will filter the toxins through wads of
money? Do you know that the Nunn aquifer flows into the front range of Fort Collins,Boulder,and Greely?When
asked about light pollution Mr.Blubaugh stated:"I'm sure we will do everything we can to keep the glare down"Do
YOU believe that?When asked about the noise pollution there was no answer. The clouds of dust will choke the air
and the gravel roads could become washboards and rutted.How will Weld county's economy deal with the polluted air
and water,the damaged roads,and scaring of the landscape?I believe the inner conflicts of the Federal government do
not allow them to sufficiently commit to the research and challenges of the mining industries,and are often woefully
inadequate.We need to know how Powertech will hold themselves exempt from its obligations.So far they have
offered only far-fetched dreams.How will they respond if they fail to deliver?What about the occasional`accident'?If
we can not thwart them.Lets ask them to double reinforce their containment structures.County employment will be
limited to a few short months.Then only a few maintenance employees will be needed.
Already in the last two weeks of their'test drilling',our water has turned from a light sandy brown to a ash gray! We
are building a neighbor hood out here of good productive members of the Weld County community. Come and see
how beautiful it is.Have you driven here to see what's going on?Meadowlarks abound.Antelope have been counted to
over 300 in a herd.
Please,please do not allow this neighborhood to become an industrial site! With Colorado gaining a reputation as up
and coming Green conscious state this is a slap in the face to those intelligent hard working people that are working on
the'cool fuels'of our future.There should be a promotion of energy efficient products such as light bulbs and building
materials along with clean energy technologies. We know that farms have one of the lowest failure rates of any industry
even if the farm subsidy dollars do go to the millionaires.
The boom and bust cycle of this industry is often out of sync with our government revenue.Can we set aside money
to cover an economic dip with out raising taxes?
U3O8 is a finite resource and Weld county needs to plan for the future.The county owned roads should be
maintained by Powertech to Weld County standards.U3O8 is not cheap,and extremely more dangerous that wind,
solar,and other forms of power generation. Who will ensure public safety and who will pay for any untoward effects?I
for one will expose Powertech for any and all damages that might occur.The essay from Gorski and Voss claim that the
native ground H2O must be returned to the same quality. What is it going to become?!
Your knowledge and powers are direly needed.And,not only should Weld County should be protecting its
occupants,but the State as well.
Frightened and hopefully not alone,
Jody Shine
47059 WCR 23
Nunn,Co. $ n
80648 O
Sshines@peoplepc.com (Tl 3�
August 8,2007 C) O
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P.S. I've sent this via postal mail,since there was no response to my e-mails. M J —O
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Esther Gesick
From: Bill Jerke
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 11:24 AM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: Proposed Uranium Mining
Original Message
From: hughesnet user [mailto:thunderclap@hughes.net]
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 10:08 AM
To: Bill Jerke
Cc: William Garcia
Subject: Proposed Uranium Mining
I would like to know what the county's position is on this subject! I would also like to
know why there has not been anyone attending meetings or letting the people affected know
what the county is proposing to do (if anything) ? From everything I have read and heard it
seems this subject is being ignored! I hope you can inform me otherwise. There are a lot
of un-happy people including my self. This is not going to benefit anyone except Power
Tech. I would appreciate a response. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Lindsey R. Hauger
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9/10/2007
Mr. Long:
I am writing to you regarding the proposed uranium mining here in Northern Colorado. I live in
nearby Fort Collins and work in Wellington as a chaplain on a 100-acre farm that doubles as a drug and
alcohol rehabilitation program. Obviously,this mining operation hits close to home both figuratively
and literally.
I am confident that you have heard about all of the damaging environmental impacts that this
process will surely have; I assume you know that uranium mining, no matter what the process might be
(there is no such thing as "safe mining"), will not and cannot benefit the soil, the water supply, and the
lives of the residents and farmers who live on this land. So if this project does not benefit the soil,
water, and residents who actually live here in Northern Colorado,who or what will this mining help?
The only benefactor in this scheme, I'm afraid, will be Powertech Industries, a mega company
that has no relation to Colorado and is not even based in The United States. This is a company driven by
greed and nothing more; their goal is to drain the resources from Colorado's land and leave when they
have sucked us dry. Let's not kid ourselves here: Powertech does not give a damn about Coloradoans
and our land, heritage, and lifestyle. If we allow them,they will bleed us dry, leaving any number of
contaminants, poisons, and toxins in their wake, and we as well our children and grandchildren will have
to deal with the consequences.
The biggest defense I've heard from Powertech is that their mining will "create more jobs." We
in Northern Colorado do not care. We have enough jobs—we're doing just fine up here. Even so, if we
think that these "jobs" are actually going to stick around once the uranium is gone, we are fools. These
are jobs that are only created because Powertech cannot find machines to do these jobs more cheaply.
Powertech, despite their claims, is not a company of heroes and saviors coming down to save us from an
economic quagmire. This is exploitation and disrespect, plain and simple.
In closing, I need you, an elected leader, to know that we in Northern Colorado are depending
on you and putting our trust in you. We need you to step up NOW and be a voice for us here in the hot
zone. These are our homes, this is our land, and this is our way of life that is being threatened. We
need to continue to be stewards of this great land, not mere takers. I, along with numerous other
Coloradoans, hope and pray that you will do what is right for our state.
Sincerely, �/f
A.,(7.G/vim—
Brad Rhoda
2022 W.Vine Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80521
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Esther Gesick
From: Bill Jerke
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 8:54 AM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: Uranium Mining
Original Message
From: Kevin Hettinger [mailto:kevinhettingerl@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 9:31 PM
To: Dave Long; Douglas Rademacher; Rob Masden; Bill Jerke; William Garcia; Trevor Jiricek;
Monica Mika
Subject: Uranium Mining
I have serious concerns about the proposed uranium mining project in northern Colorado
near Nunn. Everything I have read about uranium mining in the west indicates it cannot be
done without significant risk to both local and regional water supplies. There are also
potentially dire consequences to human health in the immediate vicinity of the mining.
We don't need a uranium mine in northern Colorado. As my representative, I urge you to put
a stop to it now.
How can you allow so many families to be effected by one terrible decision. You will
force people to live next to such a hazard, or walk away from their homes and start from
scratch. To cause peoples properties to become so devalued is a crime! There is no need
for uranium mining in such a populated area, it does not belong in our county or state! I
expect you will make the right decision and not allow the mines.
Thank you
Kevin Hettinger
Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=
48252/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/oneSearch?refer=1ONXIC> , not web links.
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From: Vicky Sprague
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:02 PM
To: CTB
Subject: FW: uranium mining
For the file please.
Vicky Sprague, Office Manager
Board of Weld County Commissioners
915 10th Street, 3rd Floor
P. O. Box 758
Greeley CO 80632
Telephone: 970-336-7204
Fax: 970-352-0242
vsprague@co.weld.co.us
Original Message
From: curt martin (mailto:curtgracemartin@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 11:59 AM
To: kevin@kevinlundberg.com; wqcd@state.co.us; ggibson@larimer.org; krennels@larimer.org;
jackson.dan@epa.gov; Trevor Jiricek; reubanks@larimer.org; steve.tarlton@state.co.us;
governor.ritter@state.co.us; steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us; Vicky Sprague
Cc: curtgracemartin@hotmail.com
Subject: uranium mining
my name is grace martin, and I have several health problems including MS. I am concered
about this uranium mining I have heard about in northern colorado. Please don't let them
do it. I need clean water to drink, if nothing else. I'm also concerned about everyone
else's health, and the environment.
grace
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Sept. 3, 2007
David Long,
"The County Commissioners are responsible for the public health policies of all
the public health programs county wide."
"... Commissioners are required to ... deal in ... personal property... approve and
execute contracts ... in the name of the county.
Furthermore, "Each Commissioner has primary responsibility for one of the
county's five departments, two of them being; Health Services, and Planning
Services."
This is what is written on the Weld County Public Health web-site, and the Weld
County Commissioners web-site.
A meeting was held on August 22nd in Ault CO, in which presentations were
given regarding potential health impacts, not only for the public, but also for a highly
valued underground resource lying beneath Weld County, specifically; water, as it is
found, and drawn from, in the Laramie/Fox Hills water bearing sedimentary rock
aquifer.
Tens of thousands of rural residents depend and rely upon this source for their
drinking water, for livestock water, etc.
As you well know, Powertech Uranium Co. is seeking permission to extract
naturally occurring uranium oxide, that is contained in very minute, extremely low
concentration levels, as it is found in the Laramie/Fox formation, using a chemically
laden liquid injection pumping process called in situ mining.
Had you attended the Ault meeting, you would have been informed of the
ominous nature and complex problems associated with the in situ mining process.
The difficulty of interpreting and predicting multiple varying factors is not an exact
science. The end results of missing even only one detail will result in disaster.
Disturbing this sedimentary rock water bearing aquifer via an in situ mining
process, that is to say; by pumping chemically laden fluids into that aquifer, and
thereby releasing other more concentrated unwanted existing minerals, including
selenium, arsenic, radium, etc. to name just a few, of which may not be extracted
along with the desired low concentrations of uranium oxide, is not only unwise, but
should never even be considered in a drinking water aquifer to begin with!
Furthermore, special attention was brought forth and notice made that no Weld
County Commissioners were in attendance at the August 22nd meeting. Even the
Greeley Tribune reported the lack of attendance by the Weld County Commissioners,
in a news article the following day.
The radioactive nature of uranium, specifically of it's harmful consequences upon
being exposed to it's varying forms, places it into an extremely high level category of
importance regarding health and safety issues.
For this reason, with regard to the other negative factors involved in the in- situ
mining process, the County Commissioners being responsible for the public health
policies of Weld County, should be seen attending public meetings that address
problems and health risks that would result. A /
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Therefore, attending informative meetings pertaining to issues that threaten the
health of the public and the well being of any and/or every water bearing formation
that supplies water to the public in your county, would indeed fall into the very same
category of"responsible" duty on the behalf of the members of the Weld County Board
of Commissioners.
David Long, District 1 has been assigned directly under your jurisdiction
regarding your role in the board of Weld County Commissioners. The lack of
attendance by not even one member of the board at the public meeting held on
August 22nd, has been seen as a missed opportunity on the County Commissioners
behalf by concerned citizens who not only attended, but by those who are watching
in the background.
Now is the time to be seen and to show concern regarding these issues that
stand before you, that undoubtedly will shape the future of not only Weld County, but
the State of Colorado as well.
Be therefore encouraged not to send a similar message of apathy to the public
regarding upcoming future opportunities, rather, become involved and be seen as
being informed, not only to the pertinent subjects relating to the well being of the
underground reserves of water in your county, at such public gatherings, but also,
just for the reason of respect for the general public that elected you into your job.
Sincer y,
acit. not '"
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Wel County, CO P.J. POPPE
22620 WCR 64
GREELEY, CO 80631
PROTECT NORTHERN COLORADO S,,
r FROM URANIUM MINING r
WELD COUNTY COULD BE COLORADO'S GATEWAY TO URANIUM MINING
• Overseas demand is driving the price for uranium to record highs.
• Low-grade uranium exist,g, vast areas of Colorado and when left un ; • rbed poses no danger.
ire
INING WILL BE IN YOUR •
• Powertech Ur as obtained mineral rights to 6,0, - ' Colorado
to mine ur, •, ellington,11 miles of Fort C= ` reeley.
• Open p hem portion of the mi
Col& S , it
r•L"
♦ In- uranium is im, -A ns.
N DANCE ' ,
♦ f as a bee • mine °
ceasit
• Paa., d with N r -s E :,�{ a
s into ,< , r= .. ... -from its
sandstone layer then the resulting uraniu c # 3r, '-n with heavy metals,is pumped to the surface.
• Powertech's mining will take place within and using water from the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer. This aquifer
covers most of the Denver Basin area,a% ;:d imately 7 1'.:';a quare miles along the Front Range from
Wyoming to Colorado Springs and eas I.municipal,agricultural and residential wells
use the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer e, • `;2001,prior to northern Colorado's population
explosion,33,700 recorded wells ; , „,
E THE NVI ' ' 1 •
* � KS ARE HIGH
,k�:
• Spills,leaks,mechanical f ,1 r' ` all types of uranium mining.
I'd 4" i*"'xrtj xr ke tY I.
•A trail of hazardous m„ s mining of radioactive
uranium through to opium contained in the spent fuel
of nuclear power plant .
• Uranium mining will pollute r ,, ans livestock, wildlife
Y m
and crops to radiation and heat/ % `L'1 ' `**' '`t�;
?i ure*�
STOP THE URANIUM RUSH TO COLORADO
FORT COLLINS TOWN MEETING
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH 7:00 PM TO 9:00 PM
CANYON WEST ROOM AT THE LINCOLN CENTER
417 WEST MAGNOLIA STREET, FORT COLLINS CO 80521
For more information go to www.nunnglow.com
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction P.O.Box 271,Nunn, Colorado 80648 '2
August 29, 2007
Weld County Commisioner
David Long
905 10th Street
Greeley CO 80631
Commisioner Long,
I am writing you this letter as a concerned citizen of Weld County. You as our
elected officicals need to be aware of the health and safety issues facing Weld
County residents, that is being proposed by a uranium mining company named
Powertech out of Canada. The proposed methods of mining are unclean, unsafe
and unwanted. Please adopt resolutions that will prevent uranium mining in Weld
County and surrounding counties, even the entire state of Colorado!
A meeting was held in Ault, CO on August 22, 2007 of which I attended. There
were no elected County Commissioners in attendance. Therefore I am sending you
a couple of flyers that were handed out by other concerned citizens of the county so
that you may be aware of the seriousness of this project. One is a short history of
the uranium industry and a few of it's problems, the second is a letter that was
written by a concerned citizen who heard Governor Ritter speak the morning of
August 22 on 7News and responded with the enclosed letter for all to sign and send
to the Governor.
4Th you for your time,
®( /1�p
Lan S. Poppe LANA POPPE
A citizen of Weld County 22620 WCR 64
GREELEY, CO 80631
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08-22-2007
To: Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
(303 866-2471
Fax (303) 866-2003
Gov. Ritter,
Today you addressed a group of people and spoke of the necessity and
importance of health care for kids. Your exact words were "...before it's chronic, or
God forbid, before it's terminal...".
Kids, as you well know, and as you have addressed, are Colorado's future.
Insuring that their environment is healthy, is just as important as health care, if not
even more so!
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you take steps now, to insure just that !
You are the Governor, you can do something about it, now is the time to act.
A mining company by the name of Powertech Uranium Co., is seeking permission
to extract naturally occurring uranium oxide, that is contained in very minute,
extremely low concentration levels, as it is found in the Laramie/Fox Hills water
bearing sedimentary rock aquifer.
Disturbing this sedimentary rock water bearing aquifer, that provides tens of
thousands of people drinking water, and of those - "kids" - included, via an in situ
mining process, that is to say; by pumping chemically laden fluids into that aquifer,
and thereby releasing other more concentrated unwanted existing minerals,
including selenium, arsenic, radium, etc. to name a few, that may not be extracted
along with the desired low concentrations of uranium oxide, is reckless to say the
least!
Bill Ritter, as the elected Governor of the State of Colorado, it is your duty and
responsibility to further insure the health of kids, not only by the measures of health
care that you have spoken of today, but by also insuring the safety of the water from
which they drink, regardless of the source! An ounce of prevention is worth more
than a thousand pounds of cure!
Put an end to the proposed in situ mining process by Powertech Uranium Co., not
only at the proposed Centennial site, but in all other water bearing areas of the State
of Colorado as well !
The Laramie/Fox Hills water bearing formation, is part of the Denver basin
sedimentary rock aquifer complex, and as the Colorado Ground Water Association
has clearly written - "the City of Denver, for example, would not be what it is today
without the presence of the Denver basin aquifers beneath it."
As you yourself have clearly stated - "...before it's chronic, or God forbid, before
it's terminal."
Sincerely,
A citizen of the great
State of Colorado
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE URANIUM WIDUS'f'RY-
AND A FEW OF ITS PROBLEMS
Uranium was first used as the"mother element for the atomic bomb. In the 1950s and 1960s,tthe
nuclear power industry ryas developed. Uranium miningtook place across the West After the Three Mile
Island accident in 1979 and the end of the arms race with the Soviet Union,the price of uranium dropped.
Uranium miring shut down, and no nuclear power plants were started. The Chemobyl power plant
disaster in 1986 sealed the nuclear power industry's tale—the technology was simply judged to be too
expensive and too dangerous.
Uranium miring has become"hot again in the last few years with talk ahcvit re-starling the nuclear power
industry. Prospecting is going on across the West, and mining has restarted in a few locations. Most
proposed new mines use"in situ leaching'technology,which involves using an alkaline sotr,n to
remove uranium from underground deposits,then pumping it b the surface
This fad sheet includes just a few of the problems that have resulted from the uranium industry. It does
not pretend to cover the thousands of Incidents'associated with riuclear power plants each year. It does
not include the pollution and health problems associated with the enrichment of uranium b prepare it for
nuclear power plants.
Mining
As the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission noted in a report issued in early 2007,"Atftough these In-
situ'leach mining techniques are considered more environmentally benign then traditional miring and
milling practices they still tend to contaminate the groundwater:
Uranium companies have been known to start mining before getting the rosary perms.
Hazardous wastes from decades-old uranium mines have entered the water, air, and soil in northwest
South Dakota.
In Texas and Wyoming,in situ projects contaminated the groundwater. State officials obliged by lowering
the water quality standards,so the mining codes could say they didn't do anything'wrong.'
Uranium mining in the 1950s—1970s caused widespread water contamination in the Southwestern U.S.
Transportation
Trucks carrying uranium are just as likely to have accidents as anyone else. In a rural area near Bowdon,
N.D., a truck carrying enriched uranium hit a train. The driver was apparently taking back roads to avoid
regulation. The driver was killed,and the truck wasn't marked as having radioactive cargo. 45 people—
most of them first responders—were exposed before anyone knew they were dealing with radioactive
materials.
During the first 25 years of the nuclear industry,there were over 200 reported accidents involving nuclear
materials.
Milling
While Powertech says it does not plan to build a uranium mill in our area,there will be retention ponds
and radioactive materials on the surface of the ground. So the conditions will be similar as for the
situations listed here under"Milling:
Uranium mill wastes in the Southwest seriously contaminated drinking water for 50 miles downstream.
Plants there were 100 to 100,000 times as radioactive as the water. (Plants concentrate radiation)
A retention pond burst in South Dakota in 1962, sending 200 tons of radioactive solids down the
Cheyenne River. .
On Utah's Green River, a flash flood washed 14,000 tons of tailings downstream.
In 1979,a dam in New Mexico broke,and 100 million gallons of radioactive water rushed down a
streambed_ Officials estimated that 90 miles of the stream were heavily contaminated. People lost their
water supply and were advised not to eat or sell their ivesthek The darn break was the sixth in 20 years.
In 1977, a pipeline failure at a New Mexico facility resulted in the spill of 50,000 tons of solids and
2,200,000 gallons of liquids.
Taxpayers
Tahipayers have footed the bill for the nuclear industry's problems. We paid for the creation of the nuclear
industry from the start
When uranium companies lett radioactive milt tailings at 22 sites across the West in the 1950x-1970s,
taxpayers paid to clean them up.
We are still paying for the heath costs for thousands of uranium miners and other nuclear workers who
got sick due to exposure to radiation.
When a million cubic feet of garbage began to leak from a nuclear repeocessing plant in Buffalo,NY,the
company had gone bankrupt Taxpayers p $2 Mon to dean up the mast
In case of a nuclear power-related accident,nuclear companies pay a limited portion of the costs of the
accident They pay no more than$10 billion—the Chernobyl accident cost just Russia, Ukraine, and
Belarus$358 btlion By federal law(the Price-Anderson Ad),we pay the rest
Taxpayers have footed the bill for the now 65-year-old search for some way to dispose of nuclear waste—
there is sill no permanent disposal fadity for materials that must be aimpletely isolated from oxygen and
the environment for tens of thousands of years.
For more information or to get involved to help stop uranium mining in northern Colorado, see
www.nunnglow.com or call Jay and Robin Davis at 481-6539 or Daryl and Cynthia Burkhardt at 223-1045.
For the sources of this information,contact Lilies Jarding, Ph.D., at Iiliasj@hotmail.00m.
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