Uranium mining in Colorado: Focus on facts, not fear

Powertech (USA) Inc.'s proposal to recover uranium in Weld County has created lots of media ink -- and even more misinformation. We understand there are concerns among northern Colorado residents and legislators about our plans, and we encourage all interested parties to focus on facts, science and regulation from reliable sources, rather than innuendo and fear.

Opponents will have you believe that our proposed operations at the Centennial Project would be overlooked by regulatory agencies, thus contaminating the entire Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer and releasing harmful radioactive dust, and that Powertech would pocket millions in profits without spending a dime to remediate the site. This information is not only false and inflammatory, but it is continually disseminated by individuals who have been provided with the facts, but thus far have chosen to ignore them.

Uranium mining is a legal and highly-regulated business in Colorado. The State's Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety (DRMS) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) hold authority over permitting and regulatory oversight of the Centennial Project and other uranium operations. Powertech will follow all regulatory requirements for its permit applications and uranium recovery operations, and will secure the required bonds to guarantee up-front that funds are available for the full restoration of the site.

Powertech plans to utilize in-situ recovery (ISR) to extract uranium, which involves piping groundwater with non-toxic oxygen and sodium bicarbonate-not acidic or caustic solutions into underground ore to dissolve the uranium, and then pumping it to the surface in a closed recovery process.

Before you decide for yourself about this project, consider the facts:

» The groundwater in the uranium ore zones is not used for drinking and likely never will be. It is already heavily contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides, which may become more concentrated at the mine site during recovery but will be confined and restored as required by law.

» Powertech will control, contain and monitor all mobilized elements within the mine site. Opponents' comparisons of the project to Rocky Flats, Chernobyl, Mount St. Helens, or the Summitville acid-leach mine are deceptive and demonstrate an alarming misunderstanding of low-level natural uranium and the ISR process.

» Uranium mining operations do not increase the risk of cancer mortality or cause adverse health impacts, as alleged by the Larimer County Medical Society. Colorado State University's Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences has independently compiled over 140 peer-reviewed scientific studies that challenge these allegations at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/erhs/uranium_mining_ info.htm.

» Powertech has not engaged in unapproved activities and will not begin mining operations until it receives all appropriate federal, state and local permits.

» Powertech is not lying or withholding information. Opponents continue to disregard our responses to their questions and science that compete with their myths. Read them for yourself at www.powertechuranium.com.

Uranium from the Centennial site likely would be processed in Wyoming, and used for nuclear energy generation in U.S. power plants. The U.S. obtains 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants, but about 94 percent of the uranium used is imported from countries including Kazakhstan, Australia and Canada. As concerns grow about global warming and energy independence, nuclear power is a key solution as a domestically-fueled energy source that doesn't spew carbon dioxide.

Powertech is here to stay. The company plans to submit its permit applications in late 2008, and will continue to be a good corporate citizen and neighbor. The company anticipates a life-of-project investment of about $230 million, with an anticipated tax infusion of $44 million in tax dollars into the local and state economies.

Don't fall victim to the propaganda frenzy. Get educated about Powertech, uranium and recovery methods. Talk to unbiased third parties, such as regulators or scientists. Visit www.powertechuranium.com for information, science, updates and -- most importantly -- facts. If you have questions, call us at (877) 798-4240.

Richard Blubaugh is the vice president of Environmental Health and Safety Resources for Powertech (USA) Inc.