HomeMy WebLinkAbout20072163.tiff Page 1 of 2
Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: Uranium Mining
From: Rob Masden
Sent: Monday,July 23, 2007 9:45 AM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: Uranium Mining
From: Skip Smith [mailto:fwsmith@ezlink.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 5:43 PM
To: Rob Masden
Subject: Uranium Mining
Dear Commissioner Masden
We are landowners and residents near the proposed Powertech Centennial uranium mining project. Since
learning of the Powertech,we have investigated the proposed uranium mining techniques. What we have found
greatly concerns us. The mining technique(in situ recovery or ISR)poses a real and substantial threat to the
domestic and agricultural water supply in northern Weld County.
In short,the ISR process makes uranium and associated heavy metals soluble in water by injecting chemicals into
the aquifer(specifically the Laramie-Foxhills aquifer). The ISR process makes uranium and other heavy metals
dangerous,because it makes them soluble in water and able to move outside the mining area to contaminate our
water supply. The uranium and heavy metals in these deposits are safe as they now exist,because they are not
soluble in water and can't move in the aquifer. The industry calls the escape of water containing uranium and
heavy metals outside the mining area"excursions". "Excursions"aren't planned,but happen. When they happen,
the contamination of the aquifer is irreversible and will persist for millennia.
The ISR process pumps thousands and thousands of gallons of water in a day. Some of this water containing high
amounts of uranium and other metals is unavoidable waste that has to be stored in ponds above ground for
subsequent disposal. These storage ponds are the cause of much contamination associated with uranium mining—
ponds can leak, they can overflow in a storm,pipes can rupture .....
ISR mining is not"environmentally friendly". Perhaps the surface disturbance is less than strip mining. But the
environmental consequences may be greater than for strip mining because the activity takes place out of sight
hundreds of feet below the surface and directly endangers our most precious life sustaining resource—potable
water.
Powertech argues that the ISR process is safe. But they must be held to a very high standard because the
consequences of an"excursion"of uranium contamination into our water supply or spill above ground are so
terrible. Money can never repair the damage of irreversible radioactive or heavy metal contamination of our
water and land. And,regardless of engineering and technical assurances, these accidents can and will happen in
the practice of ISR uranium mining.
We ask that you oppose the permitting of Powertech's mining proposal—the ISR process poses a real risk of
contamination of our domestic and agricultural water in northern Weld County. Whatever economic benefits may
be associated with mining,they are not sufficient to justify this risk to the health, safety and well-being of the
residents of northern Weld County.
Sincerely;
Frederick Smith and Katherine Sleavin
6550 WCR 106
Can, CO 8061
pL / 89
ammuNlroelS
O7 -30-0;'
7/24/2007 2007-2163
Page 1 of 2
Esther Gesick
From: Rob Masden
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 2:40 PM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: No Uranium Mining in Colorado -a neighbor of a proposed in situ site
From: Eve Tarbett CPA [mailto:evetarbett@ezlink.com]
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 1:40 PM
To: Rob Masden
Subject: No Uranium Mining in Colorado - a neighbor of a proposed in situ site
Dear Commissioner Masden,
I am adamantly opposed to uranium mining in Colorado and do not support Powertech from Canada's
proposals to mine uranium in Northern Colorado. My husband and I own 80 acres in Weld County next
door to a proposed in situ site a the crossroads of Weld County roads 110 and 17.
We have become familiar with many of the Internet sites related to uranium mining. We strongly
support the organization NunnGlow(nunnglow.com)based in Nunn, CO. We are against Powertech
poisoning our aquifer and destroying the water resource for thousands of homes relying on that aquifer
for their families and livestock. The property values have plummeted in this area already and mining is
only in the exploration stages.
We believe that the area of northeast of Fort Collins will be destroyed by uranium mining and the lives
of the people that live in this area will be destroyed along with the land. Many of us in this area have
invested not only money but blood, sweat and tears into our properties. My husband and I and our two
teenagers lived in a travel trailer for two years while building our home and have poured all of our assets
into our property. We have worked on three miles of fencing for several years. We now own an 80 acre
mini ranch that prior to the Uranium mining coming to light was valued at$700,000 now is unsalable.
PLEASE, SAY NO TO URANIUM MINING IN COLORADO.
Regards,
Eve Tarbett CPA
%I /VIa v/c fndil3
/ I
07- 32,007
-O7
Page 1 of 2
Esther Gesick
From: webmaster@nunnglow.info
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2007 11:37 PM
To: Robin.Davis@nunnglow.info
Subject: C.A.R.D. - Meeting With Powertech Leaves Many Angry and Frustrated
Meeting With Powertech Leaves Many Angry and Frustrated
At a meeting in Nunn, Colorado on July 19th, northern Colorado residents got a chance to meet with Powertech staff
and voice their concerns about Powertech proposed uranium mine near Nunn. Many of us, while amused at Powertech
attempt to turn the session into an Informal public relations fest complete with cookies and lemonade, came away
angry and frustrated at Powertech's inability to provide accurate and consistent answers to our questions or assurance
that their proposed mining operation will not cause irreparable damage to our water and land.
In addition to concerned landowners and citizens this event was attended by various county and state lawmakers. It
was also covered by Fort Collins and Greeley newspapers and both the Denver papers:
The (Greeley) Tribune (July 20, 2007): Nunn residents voice their concerns about uranium mining by
Rebecca Boyle
The Rocky Mountain News (July 20, 2007): Uranium plan raises concerns By Gargi Chakrabarty
The Denver Post (July 20, 2007): Uranium CEO finds mine plans unwelcome by Monte Whaley
The Fort Collins Coloradoan (July 20, 2007): Residents Grill Mine Company by Kevin Duggan
Here are some excerpts and quotes from citizens attending this meeting as reported in the above newspaper articles:
"This feels like a dog-and-pony show to me,"said Larry Williams, who lives near Nunn. "You ask a question and they
tell you to talk to someone else. Then you get an answer but you don't get a lot of specifics."
Some information presented by company officials and their consultants was contradictory, said Christy Staab, who
operates an equine rescue center off Weld County Road 102. "It's more listening to what they don't say,"Staab said. "If
they want this community to be open and receptive to them and to their plan, they need to be open and honest and not
give empty promises and sidestep the issues and give ambiguous answers."
"They're just saying, 'It's a safe process, and just trust us,"said Daryl Burkhart, who lives between Nunn and
Wellington, close to the site. "I don't trust anybody that wants to get rich."
When Dick Clement, President and CEO of Powertech told Gerrit Voschel"IfI were mining toothpaste out there,
nobody would care,"Voschel countered:"Yes, but toothpaste doesn't kill me. It doesn't give my kids cancer 25 years
down the road."
State Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said he was skeptical of any plan that gave more rights to the mineral
owners or the surface owners. Working out a plan that everyone would accept would not be easy, he said. "We've got
to strike a balance that's fair to all,"he said.
"This is like taking a jar of marbles and pouring it on the floor,"said Alex Rovang, 26, who drove from Fort Collins to
attend. "The information is so scattered, there is no central focus."
The main concern, Nunn board member Dan Rapelje said, is whether the proposed uranium mine would contaminate
the aquifer that runs through a big swath of northern Colorado into Nebraska. About 27,000 agricultural wells depend
on the aquifer for their water supply. Uranium mining could free other radioactive elements, such as thorium and
radium, and toxic metals, such as lead and cadmium, which could find their way Into the aquifer and make the water
too radioactive to use, Rapelje said.
"We don't want them here at all,"said Shari Hlibel, who, with her husband, bought 70 acres in Nunn two years ago
for a horse stable. "But there is no way we want to live here now,"Hlibel said.
"We have repeatedly asked Powertech for one example of a uranium mine that did not pollute,"said resident Robin
Davis, "and they don't seem to have any examples to give us."
i/Y1 AA u N l c/1-} eMS FL 18 9 ��
7/24/2007
Page 2 of 2
It Is also interesting to note some of the comments to the The Tribune article:
by Anonymous on Friday, July 20 @ 06:10:13 PDT
As funny as that may sound to you, I live in Nunn and what is most troubling is the fact that the communities that
could be affected by this project are sitting very quiet, if you think the ground water in Greeley would be safe with the
Uranium project in Nunn, well good luck with that brilliant assumption, get involved, it is your water too. If you know of
another water source lets hear about it!
by Anonymous on Friday, July 20 @ 07:27:26 PDT
Oh my gosh, I moved here from the LA area where one of the biggest aircraft companies contaminated the wells
there with hexavalent chromiun and who knows what else. They paid out millions to the citizens after it was found out.
Don't let it happen here, many people died and many live with Cancer and other problems. By the way, the aircraft
company moved out of California.
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7/24/2007
Page 1 of 1
Esther Gesick
From: Rob Masden
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 11:35 AM
To: Esther Gesick
Subject: FW: C.A.R.D. -Meeting With Powertech Leaves Many Angry and Frustrated
Attachments: C.A.R.D. - Meeting With Powertech Leaves Many Angry and Frustrated
From: Robin Davis [mailto:robin@mustanghollow.com]
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 10:59 AM
To: menunn
Subject: Fwd: C.A.R.D. - Meeting With Powertech Leaves Many Angry and Frustrated
Note: forwarded message attached.
7/24/2007
Hello