nuclear-news

Despite nearly an hour of testimony, the Legal and Finance Committee declined to take a stand on a resolution opposing the project near Edgemont that needs state and federal approval. The resolution will now be considered Monday night by the Rapid City Council…… opponents to Powertech’s proposed Dewey Burdock mining project were concerned the meeting may have watered down the council’s original opposition, which was discussed at a meeting where council members say they wanted assurance the proposed project wouldn’t hurt the local water supply……

Project opponents voiced concern over the mine’s potential impacts on regional water quality and contamination from heavy metals and radioactive material that they said would pose a risk for 4.4 billion years, which is the half-life of uranium.

If a state water permit is granted, the mine would take water from the Inyan Kara and Madison aquifers at a rate of around 9,000 gallons per minute. Most of the water would come from the Inyan Kara Aquifer, which has lower quality water.

“Water is precious thing, a gift of life,” said Mark Kammerer, an area rancher who opposes the operation. “I hope you go ahead and come up with a good resolution denying Powertech the use of this water. You have that responsibility to my kids, your kids and kids not yet born. Water is the gift of life. Without it, all life dies.”

Opponents also feared that once Powertech gets approval, it would invite other mines to come to the Black Hills. They charged that no mining operation has surfaced without leaks or spills and that Powertech representatives have no “skin in the game.”

Opponents said that Powertech representatives have also had an unwelcome hand in removing South Dakota’s regulatory oversight of the mine……. http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/uranium-mining-opponents-swarm-council-committee/article_e3057078-786f-5ff6-9ad2-cb50e4f5e5b2.html

runswithhorses -comments – How proud we are of our Rapid City Council and the residents of Rapid City to realize that uranium mining is not what we want to be known for in our area. We want to retain our real estate prices, our wonderful, healthy place to raise our kids. Good economic development doesn’t happen in devastated areas and superfund sites. Nor will tourists come and bring their families. Other towns in the Black Hills need to sit up, take notice and follow good leadership we are seeing in our RC Council. Water is more precious than gold or uranium.