Another Hearing Set for Montrose on June 10

NUCLA – There was no agreement between those for and those against a proposed uranium mill at a public meeting here on Tuesday night, but in the end, those in favor won a minor victory.

The 4-1 vote by the West End Planning Advisory Committee to recommend approval of a special use permit to build the Piñon Ridge Mill to process uranium in Paradox Valley came in the last minute or two of the hours-long meeting, followed immediately by adjournment around 10 p.m.

Montrose County Planning Commission members shared the onstage dais with the West End group, which serves in an advisory capacity to the planning commission, just as the planning commission makes recommendations to the Montrose County Commissioners. The commissioners will ultimately decide whether to issue the permit.

Montrose County will hold a second public hearing on the permit application on June 10 at 6 p.m. at Friendship Hall in Montrose.

At the beginning of the meeting, which began at 5 p.m., more than 200 people filled the Nucla High auditorium, and more than 30 signed up to speak.

Following a 40-minute presentation on plans for the mill by representatives of Energy Fuels Corp., planning commission chairman David Laursen gave each speaker three minutes, with more time for people representing groups.

Those speaking for the mill only slightly outnumbered those speaking against it, but most people in the auditorium were in favor of the mill, with some holding small signs that read, “We need jobs here!”

Even though Laursen tried to stop applause from the audience, it continually erupted throughout the meeting for speakers who wanted the permit approved.

For Rick Weaver, who said he has owned a business in Montrose County for 21 years, putting the mill near the source of uranium makes good sense.

“This is the location where this mill should be – it’s where the ore is,” he said. “There is widespread acceptance in the community and it would bring jobs.”

That the ore is there is undisputed. The Uravan Mineral Belt formation under Paradox Valley contains one of the country’s largest concentrations of high-grade vanadium and uranium.

Uranium mining was big business in the county’s West End until a “bust” cycle began 30 years ago and it’s been decades since mining activity in the area was vibrant.

The last uranium mill in the area, in Uravan, was only recently completely cleaned up by the Environmental Protection Agency, after 20 years of work and a cost of $120 million, with the removal of 13 million cubic yards of contaminants and treatment of 380 million gallons of liquid.

If Energy Fuels CEO George Glasier gets to build the mill, it will produce yellow cake uranium for nuclear reactors and processed vanadium, while the Uravan mill produced most of the uranium for development of the first atomic bombs.

Martha Burgess of Bedrock objected to the mill because she sells organic produce from her ranch just seven miles west of the proposed 880-acre mill site on state Highway 90 between Naturita and Bedrock.

The land in Paradox Valley is zoned agricultural, Burgess said, and that’s why she bought in the area and why she objects to the mill.

“Airborne contaminants would dangerously compromise our ag operations,” she said.

Julie Schneider of Paradox said the mill has already hurt her family’s attempts to sell their ranch. She said several people had shown interest in buying the ranch, but once plans for a mill were announced last year, the deals fell through because of “a perception of contamination.”

“It should not be approved because it’s in conflict with existing agricultural zoning,” Schneider said.

But many in the audience remembered the “boom” times and want them back, even if there are risks. Among them was Tammy Sutherland of Naturita.

“I’m a miner’s daughter, miner’s granddaughter and miner’s wife,” Sutherland said. Her father, who also smoked, died at 50, she said, but the industry is more highly regulated and safer now.

“People come here and buy property in a mining community, but if they don’t like it, they can go home,” she said.

For Tony Labato, who was raised in Uravan, having a mill is also about the area’s history.

“For us, it’s about heritage – mining, drilling and milling,” he said.

Those against the mill cited damage to the environment and public safety and water resources as major concerns.

Mike Rozycki, San Miguel County planner, asked the planning commission to look at potential impacts on water use, and said approval should be first obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment before the county issues a permit.

Others speaking against the mill included San Miguel County Commissioner Joan May, who said air pollution from the mill can spread radioactive dust up to 50 miles away and that the proposed mill would be located on a “major seismic zone.” She also recommended waiting until an environmental report from the CDPHE was complete.

But Michael Moore, president of the Western Small Mines Association, said Energy Fuels will be able to finance the mill after it gets approval from other agencies and the county.

“This area has been a mining community for 70 years,” Moore said. “Our children graduate and then they have to leave.”

Ryan Farmer, a graduate of Nucla High, was even more passionate and asked supporters of the permit to raise their hands if someone close to them had died or been hurt by working with uranium, and several raised their hands.

“They understand the long-term effects but they still want it,” Farmer said. “To them the risks are worth it.”