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March 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORGANIZATIONS FROM FIVE STATES JOIN TOGETHER
TO ADDRESS PROPOSED URANIUM MINING

Organizations from Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and =
Colorado are meeting in Casper on Saturday, March 15, to discuss their =
joint concerns about uranium mining in the Region. Citizens from nine =
organizations are voicing their concerns about surface and ground water, =
human health, and local property values.

Defenders of the Black Hills and ACTion for the Environment are =
attending from South Dakota, which faces mining proposals along the =
southern Black Hills. The Powder River Basin Resource Council and =
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance are attending from Wyoming, where =
exploratory and mining permits have been applied for in the state. =
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction are traveling from the northern =
part of Colorado where uranium mining is also proposed near Fort =
Collins. Western Nebraska Resources Council, Nebraskans for Peace, and =
Nebraska Sierra Club are traveling from northwest Nebraska where Crow =
Butte Resources is seeking to expand their uranium mining operations. =
Members of Dakota Resource Council from northwestern North Dakota are =
also facing new plans for uranium mining in their part of that state.

In all five states, companies plan to use 'in situ' leach mining (ISL) =
which injects a dissolving solution underground into suspected uranium =
deposits. The solution dissolves the uranium and its radioactive decay =
products, as well as heavy metals. This radioactive solution is pumped =
to the surface. The uranium is removed and shipped to a mill for =
concentration into "yellowcake." The water is re-treated and then =
injected back underground in a cycle that continues until all the =
uranium has been extracted. Reverse osmosis is often used to remove some =
of the toxics from the water, and the remaining liquid is either =
injected underground or retained in shallow ponds.

Numerous uranium mining companies are making plans due to the recent =
increases in the price of uranium.
"In Wyoming, there are significant questions about regulation and =
oversight of uranium operations," according to Wilma Tope, Powder River =
Basin Resource Council Board Member. "Citizens need to have a stronger =
voice in uranium activities." Wilma's family owns a ranch in Crook =
County and has joined other local residents to pressure regulators to =
ensure adequate protection of local water supplies and full restoration =
of mined areas.
In South Dakota, Powertech Uranium Corporation has started drilling more =
uranium exploratory wells in an area where they already have 4,000 wells =
in the southwestern Black Hills. "It's already been proven world-wide =
that ISL mining contaminates aquifers and then those aquifers cannot be =
restored to their previous state," said Charmaine White Face, =
Coordinator for Defenders of the Black Hills. "South Dakota relies very =
heavily on aquifers for drinking water and livestock use. We've been in =
a drought for the last ten years and the last thing we need to do is =
poison our water," she said.

ACTion for the Environment is very concerned that South Dakota taxpayers =
will once again have to take on the toxic messes that are left when a =
mining company leaves as happened previously with Canadian companies. =
Powertech is a Canadian company. "The Board of Minerals and Environment =
should remember what happened when they gave approval for the Brohm gold =
mine. Now SD people are paying for that mess. Are we going to have to =
pay for a radioactive mess left by another Canadian company?" said Gary =
Heckenliable of ACTion for the Environment. "Not only South Dakota =
residents but all the taxpayers of the United States are going to have =
to pay for this for many, many years to come," he said.
 Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction (CARD), formed last year in =
response to Powertech's proposal to mine in the rapidly-growing area =
near Fort Collins. "Of course uranium mining always causes some form of =
contamination. Water at in situ leach mining sites is not returned to =
its original condition," said Jackie Adolph, a member of CARD. "Most =
people don't know that federal policies that subsidize the nuclear =
industry aren't just about power plants. The nuclear industry's largest =
negative impacts have always been in uranium mining and milling =
processes."

In Nebraska, Crow Butte Resources (a subsidiary of the Canadian company =
Cameco Corp.) is seeking to expand one the oldest and largest ISL mines =
in the country. Organizations have intervened in the NRC's licensing =
procedures. "We are particularly concerned about protection of local =
water supplies and cultural resources," said Buffalo Bruce, Vice Chair =
of the Western Nebraska Resources Council. "The NRC has failed to =
fulfill its duties under the Trust Doctrine, which protects indigenous =
rights granted to Native American populations under U.S. treaties."
North Dakota just recently started public hearings to accept comments on =
ISL mining in that state. Ken Kudrna lives only a few miles from where =
uranium mining is planned to begin.

The groups have issued a common statement:
"We want the uranium industry to know that we stand together on this =
issue. Whether in a rural setting or a populated area, uranium mining =
causes radioactive contamination. Past uranium sites continue to =
contaminate the air, land, and water. Any bonds designed to pay for =
clean-up of former mining areas have not been sufficient, and taxpayers =
have been forced to pay the bill. We call on the public and all elected =
officials to do everything possible to protect the water, land, and =
local economies from proposed uranium activities."

More information can be found at:
Defenders of the Black Hills: www.defendblackhills.org
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction: www.nunnglow.com
Powder River Basin Resource Council: www.powderriverbasin.org
Nebraskans for Peace: http://www.nebraskansforpeaceorg/

 Contact:
Charmaine White Face: (605) 399-1868
Shannon Anderson: (307) 763-1816

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR]   Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
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