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Uranium mining bill heads to Ritter

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

Opponents of uranium mining on Tallahassee Pass today hailed new rules that would govern uranium mining in Colorado if signed by Gov. Bill Ritter.

House Bill 1161 would require uranium mining companies to clean groundwater at their sites to pre-mining quality after mining the radioactive material.

“That helps protect the water in the designated mining areas,” said Jim Hawklee, president of Tallahassee Area Community, Inc.

“It helps protect our water wells and the quality of water in the streams in the area,” Hawklee said.

The Colorado House approved the bill Monday, after it swept through the state Senate on Friday. The bill now heads to Ritter, who can sign it into law, allow the bill to become law without his signature, or veto it.

A second bill, Senate Bill 228, would make prospecting for minerals a matter of public record while protecting the proprietary rights of mineral owners.

Hawklee said SB 228 would help with disclosure and notification because the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety could release information related to the notices of intent for prospecting and exploration.

“Before, all information was kept confidential,” Hawklee said. “Now, they can let some info out on the DRMS Web site.”

SB 228 passed the state Senate on Monday and is on its way to the House for consideration. If it passes there, it also will head to the governor’s desk.

Uranium opponents called both bills major victories for protecting Colorado’s groundwater and communities.

“I think it’s a very beneficial thing for the local residents of each of the areas that will be affected by mining,” Hawklee said.

Hawklee and other members of TAC, which organized to protest against potential uranium mining in western Fremont County, testified in support of both bills.

Black Range Minerals, an Australian company, is proposing to mine uranium near 44 property and homeowners on Tallahassee Pass.

If Ritter signs both bills into law, proposed uranium mining operations in Fremont, Weld, Park and Grand counties could be affected.