No to mining (uranium)

Comment:  No to uranium and the nuke cycle of death!

Originally published May 5, 2010 at 4:57 p.m.,
updated May 5, 2010 at 5:05 p.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

It's been a couple of years now since I expressed concern with the proposed uranium mine just across Coleto Creek in Goliad County.

Why am I concerned?

The uranium lies in our drinking water supply in the recharge zone of the Evangeline Aquifer from 50 to 450 feet deep.

It is at rest (or at least it was until they stirred it up a bit during exploration), without oxygen. When oxygen is introduced, the uranium becomes mobile as well as radium, arsenic, molybdenum, radon, selenium and a host of other contaminants. The miners claim that leftover uranium will become immobile as it travels into "reducing conditions," which may be true, but what they don't tell us is that some of the uranium's daughters, like radium, for example, will not become immobile but will travel indefinitely if the contaminated water finds a means of escape.

Historic exploration bore holes were left unplugged or improperly plugged. What does this mean? This means that water from one water-bearing sand can travel up or down to another sand, making the aquifer "unconfined." This is a known fact. Also, historic hydrofracturing and seismic underground explosions have opened up pathways of travel for the water underground. On top of all that, two faults exist in the immediate area of concern. All these things point to a high probability of "migration" of contaminated water.

Until now, my primary concern has been the possibility and probability of contaminated water moving our way towards our water well. Now, another related issue has risen and directly affected me and my family.

What happens to the uranium after it's processed? Less than one half of one percent of the uranium yellowcake is U-235, which is used in nuclear production. This means that more than 99 percent of the leftover processed uranium, U-238, is useless in nuclear production but happens to make a fine artillery shell as well as tank armor for our U.S. armed forces. This is known as "depleted uranium" because it has been depleted of U-235.

My son served in the U.S. Army overseas as a tank gunner a few years ago.

He was exposed to depleted uranium on a constant basis. His son, my grandson, was born on April 21, 2010 missing his left arm.

 Was this caused by depleted uranium? There is no history of this type of thing in our family. Uncle Sam and I are going to have a long conversation about this, rest assured.

The Contested Case Hearing started Monday in Austin at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The second week will bring the hearing to Goliad. What is more important, our clean, safe water supply or their uranium? Which one?

This is a classic example of exploitation of our natural resources for the sake of profiteering.

Mark Krueger, Victoria County

Read more:
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/may/05/vp_ltr_krueger_050610_95164/?viewpoints