SPEAKOUT: Judge us on the facts

By Richard F. Clement,

Published December 28, 2007 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size

More Speakout

On Dec. 19, the Rocky Mountain News published "Vote against uranium mine a state first," a Speakout commentary by Gary Wockner and Becky Long, stating their opposition to Powertech (USA) Inc.'s proposed uranium mining operation in Weld County.

Like any mineral rights owner in the state, Powertech carries a heavy burden of proof to support its applications, as established by law and promulgated by regulatory agencies. The company is still in the portion of the permitting process where our team of scientists, engineers and health physicists are gathering initial baseline environmental data and other information for a year or longer, as required by regulatory agencies.

While the opportunity for public participation is an essential part of the permitting process, it is Powertech's position that those who object to the granting of permits have an equal ethical obligation to base their opposition on sound science and accurate information.

The authors of the Speakout make several misleading assertions, as if those statements were established in fact. Powertech challenges the authors to present openly any and all scientific information and data that support their statements and conclusions. By sharing any definitive information related to their concerns, Powertech's team can analyze and address those issues.

The authors refer to "potential" health risks, yet neglect to substantiate that claim. They imply that the in-situ recovery (ISR) process will negatively affect the aquifers used for drinking water, livestock and irrigation. The truth is, ISR is expressly prohibited from negatively affecting drinking water sources, and no such operation has ever contaminated drinking supplies.

The authors do not clarify the aquifers to which they refer, nor offer technical information about the wells' depth or location of concern. Such information could be submitted to our geologists and water engineers for analysis.

The authors refer to the track record of ISR mining, but do not place in evidence any such projects that have negatively affected public health or the environment. It is our understanding that none of the more than 30 in-situ mining operations in the United States over as many years, including those that have ceased operations, have been problematic or left a clean-up problem.

In fact, two in-situ uranium operations were successfully conducted and closed in Weld County (near Keota and Grover) in the 1970s, to the total satisfaction of the state of Colorado, with no negative impact on the public or environment.

We believe that an informed public is essential to the integrity of a science-based regulatory review process. Powertech fully supports the close scrutiny of its operations and welcomes the rigorous review of our scientific and technical plans by authorized and capable licensing agencies and the public.

The company does not expect a free pass, but insists upon a fair and lawful hearing before licensing agencies and the due process of public review as required by law. Challenges to that process should be equally based in science and judged for their factual merit.

Richard F. Clement is president and CEO of Powertech (USA) Inc. He is a resident of Albuquerque, N.M.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News