Uranium hearing draws sparse turnout

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

The Colorado Land Reclamation Board came loaded for bear, but the cavernous conference hall remained mostly bare during a public hearing on adopting new rules to more stringently regulate uranium-mining operations.

The need for new regulations arose from laws adopted in 2008 by the state legislature largely in response to plans by Powertech USA. The Canadian company wants to develop a uranium mine between Wellington and Nunn, 15 miles north of Fort Collins.

In the in situ, or in-place, extraction technology, water infused with sodium bicarbonate is injected into the ground to dissolve the uranium. The slurry is pumped to the surface, the uranium removed and the water injected back into the ground.

The proposal has drawn near-universal opposition from surrounding residents and local governments. Primary concerns are the potential for groundwater pollution and uranium dust from the mine site whipped by powerful wind. Powertech insists that those concerns are unfounded and that the in situ mining approach is safe.

Despite the intensity of opposition, just 26 residents registered their concerns at the April public hearing scheduled from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at a Loveland hotel's conference hall capable of seating more than 100. The lack of testimony prompted the board to cut the session short at 6:30 p.m.

The hearing may have been subdued in part because the board already had received some 3,500 written comments, which are posted on the board's web site.

Speakers urged the board to affirm proposed regulations developed to reflect the intent of three bills approved by the legislature applying to hard-rock and in situ uranium mining.

Notably, the regulations require in situ mine applicants to establish a baseline of existing conditions for ongoing monitoring of surface and groundwater. The state can hire an independent agency at the applicant's expense to oversee development of such plans.

Reclamation to those baseline standards must be completed within five years following the mining of each phase. Any effect on groundwater beyond the mined land that fails to meet established standards could require immediate reclamation.

Jay Davis, a Weld County resident who lives next to the proposed Centennial Mine project, urged the board to adopt the rules as proposed and resist any attempts to dilute them.

"Colorado water is far too valuable to be compromised from being used as a mining tool," he said.

"It is an injustice we must protect ourselves from a foreign-owned company at our expense," said Robin Davis, one of the fiercest opponents. Her ranch between Wellington and Nunn is located within the 5,760 acres of mineral rights purchased by Powertech.

"Please stand strong to protect the people of Colorado," said Alexis Hmielak of Fort Collins.

"I urge you to resist efforts by the mining industry to change the rules," said Weld County resident Jim Woodward.

Dennis Meader of Fort Collins admonished the board to take action. "The time has come for us to put our foot down," he said. "We don't need this."

Additional public hearings are scheduled in Salida and Grand Junction. The public comment period concludes in June, and the rules are set for release in July.