Law Center News:

Research Shows High Levels of Community Wide Benefits on Grantmaking Investments Dec 4, 2008 - "According to a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), for every dollar invested... New Mexico’s residents reaped more than $157 in benefits. That’s a total of more than $2.6 billion of benefits to the broader public as a result of the $16.6 million of support from foundations and other sources that went to these nonprofits to support their advocacy efforts." Read Report's Executive Summary

"Uranium mining: Economic, Environmental Dead End" Nov 15, 2008 - Commentary by Staff Attorney Eric Jantz.

Comments Submitted on Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities Nov 7, 2008 - Read comments submitted on behalf of Southwest Research and Information Center’s (SRIC), the Bluewater Valley Downstream Alliance’s (BVDA), Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining’s (ENDAUM) and the Haaku Water Office of the Acoma Pueblo, and with the support of other organizations and individuals.

Comments Submitted on Santa Fe County's Draft Oil and Gas Ordinance Nov 6, 2008 - On behalf of Drilling Santa Fe, the Law Center submits comments on the draft oil and gas ordinance to the Santa Fe County Development Review Committee.

Cost Analysis of Uranium Mining In New Mexico Shows No Economic Boon Oct 28, 2008 - In a response to the industry’s exaggerated claims that renewed uranium mining would be a multi-billion dollar economic bonanza for New Mexico and the Grants area, the Law Center commissioned Dr. Thomas M. Power to evaluate the true economic impacts of uranium mining in New Mexico

"Should Uranium Mining Return to Grants?" Videos by KNME Oct 14, 2008 - Originally broadcast on New Mexico PBS station KNME.

"Uranium Development Impacts in the New West Economy" by Dr. Thomas M. Power Oct 2, 2008 - Dr. Power speaks at a public education event to present the economic impacts of uranium mining and development.

"Uranium mining: Economic, Environmental Dead End" Nov 15, 2008 - Commentary by Staff Attorney Eric Jantz.

Mike Bowen's Nov. 7 commentary, "Uranium mining study is based on wrong data," is inaccurate and misleading in three important ways.

First, the Arrowhead report that Mr. Bowen touts as nonbiased is actually based on assumptions provided by the Uranium Producers of New Mexico. The authors of that study have publicly conceded that they did not question the assumptions they were given.

One of those assumptions is that worker productivity from the 1970s — when uranium mining was not highly automated or computerized — has not changed and will not change for the next 30 years. Another assumption is that every pound of uranium in New Mexico will be recovered, even though at least 150 million pounds of that uranium lie beneath the Navajo Nation, which outlawed uranium mining and processing in 2005. Further, the Arrowhead report draws some truly incredible conclusions, for example, that the uranium industry will bring 250,000 new jobs to New Mexico — a number that is about a quarter of the current total workforce in the state.

Second, the industry report does not account for the substantial costs of uranium mining. While some aspects of the uranium mining industry have changed since the last "boom" ended in the 1980s, it is still fundamentally a heavily polluting and dangerous industry. For example, in situ leach or ISL mining, which is hailed as the most "environmentally benign" form of uranium mining by the industry, involves intentionally polluting groundwater, much of which could be used as drinking water, to flush out uranium.

In the history of ISL mining in America, not a single operator has been able to clean up an aquifer where mining has occurred to pre-mining conditions. Additionally, spills and leaks of radioactive and toxic pollutants are still commonplace in the industry.

In March, 2008, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality levied a fine against Power Resources, Inc. of $1 million for violating state environmental laws for years, including failure to implement groundwater restoration in a timely manner and for radioactive spills.

In September, 2008, a report found that in Texas, when ISL operations failed to restore groundwater, state regulators almost invariably relaxed restoration standards. This pattern of behavior seems very similar to how the industry operated in the last uranium boom.

Finally, Mr. Bowen's assertion that each mine or mill project in New Mexico will be required to produce an environmental impact statement is patently false. Only projects that require federal approval or involve federal money are required to have EISs. So, open-pit and shaft uranium mines, which are the most polluting, will not require an EIS because they are not regulated by the federal government.

Further, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has just issued a draft generic environmental impact statement that will have the effect of limiting the site-specific environmental analyses required for future ISL mines in New Mexico.

This effort was fully supported by uranium mining companies hoping to do business in New Mexico, and their trade associations.

New Mexicans are still living with the consequences of the last uranium boom. The communities faced with new uranium mining must at least be given the courtesy of complete and accurate information before allowing uranium mining in their communities again.

When communities get the whole picture of the industry, it is clear that uranium mining is a bad bet for New Mexico's economy and environment.

More information can be found on the Web site at www.nmenvirolaw.org.

Published in the Santa Fe New Mexican

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Cost Analysis of Uranium Mining in New Mexico Shows No Economic Boon

Oct 28, 2008 - In a response to the industry’s exaggerated claims that renewed uranium mining would be a multi-billion dollar economic bonanza for New Mexico and the Grants area, the Law Center commissioned Dr. Thomas M. Power to evaluate the true economic impacts of uranium mining in New Mexico. The result is the only independently reviewed analysis of the subject in New Mexico entitled An Economic Evaluation of a Renewed Uranium Mining Boom in New Mexico.

Read Press Release

Get Complete Economic Report

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"Should Uranium Mining Return to Grants?" Videos by KNME

"In Part One, we get a glimpse of the history of Grants and the area's need for economic development."

See Video of Part 1

"In Part Two, we will see some of the health and environmental effects of past uranium retrieval efforts, as well as learn how future uranium development would be conducted." Law Center staff attorney Eric Jantz is one of the experts interviewed.

See Video Part 2

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"Uranium Development Impacts in the New West Economy" by Dr. Thomas M. Power Oct 2, 2008 - Dr. Power spoke at a public education event to present the economic impacts of uranium mining and development.

Read the DRAFT An Economic Evaluation of a Renewed Uranium Mining Boom in New Mexico Executive Summary by Dr. Power

Dr. Power's slide presentation: "Thinking about the 'Economics' of Mining" (PDF format)

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Navajo Fight Against New Uranium Mines Explained May 12, 2008 - Listen to Eric Jantz speak to KSFR News Director Bill DuPuy about his oral argument before the US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Go to the KSFR May 12th podcast to hear the interview.

Apr. 30 , 2008 - Listen to Max Lindberg of PlanetSave interview Law Center attorney Eric Jantz regarding the lawsuit and our role in other uranium related issues. Go to PlanetSave to Hear Interview

Navajo's Fight to Stop Uranium Mining in the Press:

Canaries in the Uranium Mine In These Times, June 23 2008

Uranium Frenzy in the West Mother Jones, June 19 2008

Judges Express Surprise at Mining Plan
New Mexico Independent, May 13 2008

Mining Challenge Heads to Court
Santa Fe New Mexican, May 13 2008

Court Hears Uranium Mine Challenge Casper Star-Tribune, May 13 2008

Mining Challenge Goes to Court
Gallup Independent, May 12, 2008

Group Challenges Uranium License
Casper Star-Tribune, May 12 2008

What Nuclear Renaissance?
The Nation, May 12 2008

NM Firm [HRI] Challenges EPA Ruling on Uranium Mining Permit
Santa Fe New Mexican, May 10 2008

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:: PRESS RELEASE :: Navajos Vow Fight Against New Uranium Mines

Apr. 19, 2008 - Santa Fe, New Mexico—For the first time in United States history, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will be challenged in Federal appeals court for its approval of a source materials license for an in situ leach uranium mine.

The Navajo communities of Crownpoint and Church Rock, New Mexico, with the assistance of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC), Eastern Navajo Dine against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM) and Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC) will fight the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Hydro Resources, Inc., demanding that they stay off of Navajo lands in New Mexico. NMELC will present oral arguments on May 12 to a panel of Federal judges in Denver asking that the NRC decision to allow mining be set aside.

“The importance of our hearing on May 12 cannot be overstated,” states Eric Jantz, New Mexico Environmental Law Center attorney. “We are talking about the land, water, air and health of two whole communities. There are people on this land grazing their cattle and hauling their daily drinking water.”

ENDAUM is the first community group ever to fight the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on a source materials permit for an in situ leach uranium mine. This fight is becoming even more significant, as the price of uranium has increased tremendously during the past seven years, rising from $7/lb to $68/lb. Subsequently, the state of New Mexico has seen a dramatic rise in the number of exploratory permits requested by mining companies during the past year, with a dozen applications currently under review.

Hydro Resources, Inc. has four proposed mines in the Church Rock-Crownpoint region. In 2006, the NRC approved the license for all four sites. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit in 2007 against the NRC to overturn the license. The NMELC argues that the NRC has violated the Atomic Energy Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and its own regulations when it issued decisions on numerous issues. The NMELC’s clients are appealing the following points:

• Hydro Resources failed to prove that it will protect groundwater from contamination by uranium and other toxic heavy metals
• The company failed to ensure that the health of residents near the mines would be protected from damaging radioactive air emissions
• Hydro Resources’ proposed financial bond for the site is inadequate to ensure that the site(s) would be cleaned up in the event that the company is unable to undertake reclamation of the land and/or water impacted by the mining

Because of the NRC's bias in favor of industry, a victory for NMELC’s Navajo clients would set a major precedent in New Mexico.

Read complete Press Release in PDF format

Click below for high resolution images

Church Rock Bus	Church Rock Sheep Grazing	Mr. King w/ Cattle
Church Rock	Crown Point Well	Mr. Mitchell

INTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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