N.B. uranium activity slow in 2009 (Canada)

Comment: Look at the following comment: "The regulations, which followed months of public debate and protest, banned uranium exploration from all municipalities, watersheds and near private wells"! So is this a fact that “uranium exploration" does pollute and damage our watersheds and wells according to this article! Attention Pittsylvania county leaders, are you going to trust a junior Canadian uranium corporation telling you that "uranium exploration" is safe? We know some wells around the drill holes in our county did damage some of our wells with lead! According to the article, this is proof that "uranium exploration" has ruined our wells! So the department that said the water is safe, are they telling us the truth or protecting the local Canadian uranium corporation? No to uranium mining and milling!

Published Thursday December 31st, 2009
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

It was a quiet year for New Brunswick uranium exploration and mining in 2009.

The uranium furor was front page news and caused widespread community uproar in 2008, but the issue has now seemingly been pushed to the back of people's minds, in large part due to a lack of activity in the province.

"Currently there are a handful of companies that have claims, however only one of them is actively doing any work," said Matt Jones, a communications officer for the Department of Natural Resources.

The Department of Natural Resources spokesperson said that one of the primary reasons uranium exploration has died off and companies have pulled out of the province is due to poor market conditions.

"What happened basically was I think for some of them it was just simply a matter of economics. Whereas in 2007 the price of uranium was as high as $140 per pound, after the recent economic downturn, prices are about $46 a pound," Jones said. "That's one of the main determining factors in decreased interest in uranium exploration."

Of course, regulations introduced by the provincial government in July 2008 also greatly limited the freedom of mining companies, causing companies like Toronto-based Sparton and Vale Inco to pull out of New Brunswick.

The regulations, which followed months of public debate and protest, banned uranium exploration from all municipalities, watersheds and near private wells.

The government also announced a buffer zone of 300 metres around any residences or institutional building where companies would not be able to stake claims.

Of course, there are still those who oppose uranium mining even after the new regulations and who continue to be staunchly against any activity at all in the province.

Kent South Conservative MLA Claude Williams said in a February 2009 interview that citizens were still concerned.

"There is still the same level of concern today as there was one year ago," Williams said. "People are just as vigilant."

In May, New Brunswick PC leader David Alward again called for an outright ban on uranium mining in the province and presented a petition to legislature, which was signed by 597 students who were also in favour of a ban.

In recent months, however, the issue has seemingly fallen out of both the mainstream public and political conscience.

Jones said that while uranium activity has all but dried up in the province, New Brunswick is still open for business for any companies that want to explore within the province's regulations.

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http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/905694