Uranium policy groups calls on state and feds

GRANTS - The New Mexico Uranium Policy Subcommittee met in Grants last week at the Cibola County Complex. The committee was formed to provide advice and guidance regarding two items: (A) what the Interim Committee on Indian Affairs might recommend be done regarding the legacy impacts of uranium mining and; (B) direction for a prospective New Mexico Tech Decision-Makers Conference on uranium mining.

The committee is comprised of legislators, city and land grant officials, tribal government, uranium industry representatives and advocates for and against uranium mining.

First Co-Chairman Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup welcomed participants, noting that a meeting the day prior in Gallup was successful, stating, “The cooperation between committee members was excellent.”

The meeting was facilitated by a neutral party which kept committee discussion on the set agenda.

Three thoughts were consistently mentioned during meeting: need more attention from the governor's office; the federal government needs to step up to the plate and take part of the blame for the uranium legacy issue; a neutral study on the issue needs to be done.

The group obviously feels it needs more support from the governor's office. At one point of the meeting, Chairman Lundstrom visibly looked frustrated as she noted to committee members that the governor's office was invited but no representative was at the table.

However, a representative from the governor's cabinet twice spoke on behalf of the Richardson and emphasized the governor's interest on the matter. “I wouldn't be here if it was not important,” he stated to the committee. “The governor is on top of the issue. He regularly asks about it and his participation is increasing.”

Committee members suggested several strategies in order to draw more statewide attention about the uranium legacy issue.

Co-Chairman Lynda Lovejoy slammed the state and federal governments for shying away from the legacy issue.

“We can't keep talking about it (the legacy), we need to do something about it,” Lovejoy said. “The state and federal government need to step up to the plate. To the federal government,” she narrowed down her target, “quit dragging your feet. You were part of the problem and now you need to own up to it.”

Joe Lister, manager of Rio Grande Resources, a uranium mining company, agreed with Lovejoy stating, “The federal government withheld information from the operators. The industry does not deny legacy . . . we live here and see loved ones die because of it. The industry has a seat at the table and will help develop good procedure.”

Lastly, another thought that was regularly brought up was that a neutral detailed study needed to be done on the uranium legacy issue.

Lovejoy said, “One research says one thing and another says another thing, it confuses me and the public. We need one good study.”

State Representative Thomas Heaton, also a member of the committee, said, “There is a lot of garbage out there, we need a study that is unbiased with just the facts.”

Tawnya Gallegos of the United States Geological Institute stated that such a study can be performed through scientific method. Gallegos, also a member of the committee, is the daughter of Cibola County Commissioner Tony Gallegos.

Time for public comment was available from 3:30 to 4 p.m., however, there was little response compared to other recent uranium related meetings.

The committee will soon report to the Indian Affairs Committee and the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee.