Published on Monday 13th Sept 2010
In a 4-2 decision Wednesday, the Fremont County Planning Commission voted not to recommend approval of the expansion of Black Range Minerals’ exploration in the Tallahassee Creek area.
Joe Caruso and Herm Lateer voted for the recommendation. Mike Schnobrich was not present.
The company has applied to amend its 2008 conditional use permit to include an additional 2,210 acres of property south of CR 2 and west of CR 21 and 21A. The property is leased from various land owners.
Consideration of the application was tabled Aug. 3 after multiple citizens expressed concerns about the project.
Tuesday, additional citizens were permitted time to speak.
“It looks like a major change as opposed to a minor change,” said Nancy Seger.
Lee Alter expressed concerns about the number of changes in the application.
“This cannot be considered a simple amendment,” Alter said. “The only thing that’s similar is that it’s Black Range Minerals.”
Alter also expressed concerns about water quality in the area.
“Black Range’s own data shows contamination has increased,” he said.
Ben Vallerine, exploration manager-USA, Black Range Minerals, and hydrologist Susan Wyman responded.
“We are monitoring ground water,” Vallerine said despite the company not drilling monitoring wells.
“We’ve collected a significant amount of ground water data from domestic wells and surface water,” Wyman said. “Water varies a bit, within the range of natural variation.”
Wyman said a few of the wells naturally have elevated radiation levels because of the uranium in the surrounding rock.
“My ethics would not allow me to misstate what the data is saying,” she said.
“Right now, all they’re doing is drilling a hole,” Caruso said. “I see it to be done in a very responsible manner right now.”
Leslie Suleiman and Anita Minton each expressed concerns about statements that the domestic well testing could be called baselines because it was begun after initial testing began. Minton indicated that data from 1976 would be a true baseline.
Wyman said the company has the 1976 data and that it shows the current levels are within the natural range.
“As a scientist, I’m not seeing a difference,” Wyman said.
Vallerine said the area was first mined for uranium in the 1950s.
“We’re never going to get a baseline that’s satisfactory,” he said.
“I’m not sold on tests that have been done,” said Commissioner Tom Doxey.
Commissioner Byron Alsup also was not convinced about the issues of water contamination.
“I’m not discounting what’s going on up there,” Caruso said. “There are differences in how mining is done now than 50 years ago.”
Chairman Dean Sandoval said the company has done “an excellent job” presenting its application, however, he allowed the Master Plan to direct him in making his decision.
The application will go to the Fremont County Commissioners for a public hearing on Tuesday 14th September 2010. In 2008, the Planning Commission also voted against Black Range Minerals’ CUP and the county commissioners voted for it.
In a 4-2 decision Wednesday, the Fremont County Planning Commission voted not to recommend approval of the expansion of Black Range Minerals’ exploration in the Tallahassee Creek area.
Joe Caruso and Herm Lateer voted for the recommendation. Mike Schnobrich was not present.
The company has applied to amend its 2008 conditional use permit to include an additional 2,210 acres of property south of CR 2 and west of CR 21 and 21A. The property is leased from various land owners.
Consideration of the application was tabled Aug. 3 after multiple citizens expressed concerns about the project.
Tuesday, additional citizens were permitted time to speak.
“It looks like a major change as opposed to a minor change,” said Nancy Seger.
Lee Alter expressed concerns about the number of changes in the application.
“This cannot be considered a simple amendment,” Alter said. “The only thing that’s similar is that it’s Black Range Minerals.”
Alter also expressed concerns about water quality in the area.
“Black Range’s own data shows contamination has increased,” he said.
Ben Vallerine, exploration manager-USA, Black Range Minerals, and hydrologist Susan Wyman responded.
“We are monitoring ground water,” Vallerine said despite the company not drilling monitoring wells.
“We’ve collected a significant amount of ground water data from domestic wells and surface water,” Wyman said. “Water varies a bit, within the range of natural variation.”
Wyman said a few of the wells naturally have elevated radiation levels because of the uranium in the surrounding rock.
“My ethics would not allow me to misstate what the data is saying,” she said.
“Right now, all they’re doing is drilling a hole,” Caruso said. “I see it to be done in a very responsible manner right now.”
Leslie Suleiman and Anita Minton each expressed concerns about statements that the domestic well testing could be called baselines because it was begun after initial testing began. Minton indicated that data from 1976 would be a true baseline.
Wyman said the company has the 1976 data and that it shows the current levels are within the natural range.
“As a scientist, I’m not seeing a difference,” Wyman said.
Vallerine said the area was first mined for uranium in the 1950s.
“We’re never going to get a baseline that’s satisfactory,” he said.
“I’m not sold on tests that have been done,” said Commissioner Tom Doxey.
Commissioner Byron Alsup also was not convinced about the issues of water contamination.
“I’m not discounting what’s going on up there,” Caruso said. “There are differences in how mining is done now than 50 years ago.”
Chairman Dean Sandoval said the company has done “an excellent job” presenting its application, however, he allowed the Master Plan to direct him in making his decision.
The application will go to the Fremont County Commissioners for a public hearing on Tuesday 14th September 2010. In 2008, the Planning Commission also voted against Black Range Minerals’ CUP and the county commissioners voted for it.
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