Musgrave Concerned About Uranium Development

Musgrave Concerned About Uranium Development

Wednesday, August 8th 2007

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave sent a letter Tuesday asking atomic energy regulators to consider water quality as they decide whether to allow uranium mining in Larimer and Weld counties.

Musgrave, R-Colo., said she’s heard from residents concerned about water quality as a Canadian company prepares to prospect for uranium near the town of Nunn.

Powertech Uranium Corp. last week said it received approval from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources for its plan to drill test holes and wells on a 5,760-acre parcel of land.

The state’s OK excludes any mining activity.

Musgrave sent her letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in advance of two public hearings planned in Casper, Wyo., and Albuquerque, N.M.

“I vehemently oppose any effort by the NRC to usurp the authority of state health departments and the Environmental Protection Agency over water quality,” she wrote, adding that: “mining operations must not be allowed, under any circumstances, to flaunt either state or EPA water quality standards.”

Her letter asks the NRC to consider the issue as it prepares a Generic Environmental Impact Statement for uranium milling facilities.

Powertech, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has proposed a $20 million uranium mine near the farming and ranching community of Nunn about 70 miles north of Denver.

Company officials have said the mine could produce as much as 8 million pounds of uranium for use in nuclear power plants.

Area residents are concerned about environmental damage and potential health issues.

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