Fremont County board delays vote on uranium mining
CAÑON CITY - An eighthour hearing Tuesday wasn't long enough for Fremont County commissioners to rule on a request to drill for uranium in the northwest part of the county.
After hearing comments from more than 70 people, the board delayed a vote until June 9 on the permit request by Australia-based Black Range Minerals.
"During the day, I've changed my mind several times from information we've had," said Commissioner Larry Lasha.
The Tallahassee Creek area was drilled extensively for uranium through the early 1980s, until the price collapsed.
Black Range Minerals wants to pick it back up and drill 800 holes on 8,169 acres.
With a resurgence of nuclear power worldwide and uranium selling for about $70 a pound - up tenfold from five years ago - companies are racing to mine Colorado, which has the third-largest stores of uranium in the nation.
Black Range, the first company in recent years to seek an exploration permit here, has spent $1 million on the project, and some ranch owners hope to turn a profit by allowing drilling on their land.
Other residents, most of whom bought land for retirement homes in the mountains, see the drilling as a threat to their water, property values and rural way of life.
"Everything I've acquired in my life, minus one divorce, is on that 3.1 acres and the house I built. Now it appears to be worthless," said resident Jeff Dewell.
"Knowing mineral rights are important, we paid more for our property," said Richard Boyer, owner of one of the ranches where drilling is proposed. "Now, because of special interest groups, our mineral rights may be taken away without compensation."
Black Range managing director Michael Haynes said the U.S. imports most of the uranium it uses for nuclear energy, and domestic production is the key to energy independence.
"We can't pick and choose where uranium resources are found. The western U.S. is blessed and very fortunate to host these uranium resources," Haynes said.
