Uranium mining may get buried in Nunn

Definition of carpetbagger: refers to roving opportunists (Canadian uranium corporations in America)

Comment: We are all fighting against uranium mining all over America from the carpetbaggers of Canada! Why are the Canadian uranium corporations (plus the Country of Canada and the French connection) coming south to ruin of land with uranium mining? The Canadian people are tired of their land already ruin from uranium mining so they have placed uranium mining bans in their districts! America government, enact the same uranium mining bans now before you kill your people with uranium mining! Demand our leaders now to ban uranium mining and milling now!

Powertech says its process is safe but a vote by Nunn's town board could make permitting difficult.

By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post
denver and the west
Posted: 09/03/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT

NUNN — Opponents of a huge uranium- mining operation northwest of Greeley say they are ready for a showdown tonight before the Nunn town board.

Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction — a citizens group formed in 2007 — wants the Nunn board to back a resolution against a plan by Powertech Uranium Corp. to extract uranium from the windy plains that surround Nunn and two other small towns, Wellington and Carr.

Powertech, a Canadian company, owns 9,615 acres of mineral rights in the area. Company officials say they hope to extract the uranium using the in-situ method, in which a solvent solution is injected underground to dissolve uranium ore and pump it to the surface. They claim it is less environmentally damaging than traditional techniques that scar the landscape.

The company also said the operation would bring plenty of jobs to a struggling region.

But CARD claims the mining will damage air and water and bring other health problems. A negative vote by the Nunn board will make state and local officials more reluctant to approve any permits for Powertech's Centennial Project, said the group's spokeswoman, Jackie Adolph.

"The people who have turned out over this issue have so far, over and over again, opposed this project," Adolph said.

"The time is now for the town board to speak for the overwhelming majority of residents who think uranium mining this close to the town represents unacceptable risks," resident Dan Rapelje said.

The project, opponents say, may reap more jobs but would be a detriment to long-term economic growth in the area.

The governing bodies of Fort Collins, Greeley, Wellington, Timnath and Ault already have approved similar resolutions.

Powertech president and chief executive Dick Clement said a resolution against the project could harm the company's permit application.

Still, Clement said, he has faith that emotions won't sway state and local overseers of the project. "All we can do is give them the scientific facts and present them with the truth."

Nunn Mayor Jeff Pigue said he's not sure whether a vote will be taken tonight. The board may decide to call for a study session to examine Powertech's plans more closely.

Pigue has been harshly criticized for not coming out solidly against Powertech. The mayor said he wants to reserve judgment until all the evidence is in on the health effects of the mining.

"If it can be done safely, I have no problems with it," Pigue said. "If they can prove there will be no harm done to our citizens, then (Powertech) should be able to do what they want with their mineral rights."

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13256900