Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club

Permit Status

Comments by:
Mary Anklam
PatCalhoun
LuAnn Dudertadt
Venice Scheurich
Mina Williams
Art Dohmann Presentation
Art Dohmann Questions

Goliad County Reacts to Uranium Mining Permit Application

(Goliad/Austin – January 24, 2008) A unified coalition of landowners, farmers, ranchers, and business persons of Goliad County will be speaking out against UR Permit #03076 at a public meeting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) this evening, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall located on 225 N. Commercial Street in Goliad.

Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) has been conducting exploration for uranium in northern Goliad County for over a year leaving some families with contaminated water and iron bacteria that clogs up filters, renders well water undrinkable in some instances, and forces residents to purchase and haul drinking water.

UEC has applied for a permit from the TCEQ to mine uranium in this area. In September of last year, the County Commissioners voted to allocate funds to contest the permit.

Residents of Goliad County, many of them working together in the citizens’ group Uranium Information at Goliad (UIAG), are concerned about current and potential loss of their water resources and the long-term damage that uranium mining could have on the tourist and agricultural heritage of this historic region, peoples’ health, and the environment.

“The economy of Goliad is of utmost importance to the Chamber of Commerce of Goliad County. We strive to enhance and promote the growth of the economy of Goliad County every day. We are very concerned about the adverse effects uranium mining could have on our economy and quality of life here in Goliad County,” said Debbie Brumby, President of Goliad County Chamber of Commerce.

“The lifeblood of Goliad County is its groundwater,” said Art Dohmann President of Goliad’s County Commission-appointed Uranium Research and Advisory Committee (URAC).

Dohmann will go on record this evening to state that within and contiguous to the Texas Railroad Commission exploration permit #123 area there are at least 93 private residences. These residences along with cattle operations draw groundwater from 168 water wells registered with the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District. In addition to these residences and water wells, there are more residences downdip of the potential uranium mining operations.

[Some formal comments are attached to this press release. URAC comments will become available later this afternoon by request to donna.hoffman@sierraclub.org and video of the Public Meeting will be available by request to same.]

Residents living under historic oaks near UEC’s exploration operations rely on hay baling for livestock feed and goat and cattle ranching.

“The livestock industry is one of the main economies in Goliad County. At this point we have a lot of questions and very few answers, as to the effects of uranium mining in our county. We do not know the short and long term effects of uranium mining and exposure to radiation on our livestock and wildlife. There are no studies available to us regarding the effects uranium could have on our animals. We think a full environmental impact statement and an interim study by the Texas Legislature is warranted before any permits are issued for uranium mining in Goliad County,” said Pat Calhoun, President of the Goliad County Farm Bureau.

Local residents expect a large turnout at tonight’s Public Meeting of individuals and elected officials concerned about the potential effects of uranium mining on their health and the environment.

“We have studied past uranium mining, talked to experts in the field such as hydrologists and geologists, and listened to people from all over the United States. We know that uranium mining companies are unable to restore the aquifer to its clean state. We know about the hazards. Over ninety Goliad families in the proposed mining area depend on water for drinking, farming, gardening, and ranching operations. Already the Texas Railroad Commission has cited the uranium company for numerous sites emitting gamma radiation. We have seen trucks spill fluids over the county roads. A huge tanker truck overturned on our road. What has happened with leaks, spills, excessive use of water for mining, and other problems associated with uranium mining in the past is coming to Goliad. We are fighting for the right to drink clean water, farm our land, and continue ranching operations.” Margaret Rutherford, landowner, researcher, author, and organizer of Uranium Information at Goliad.

Tonight’s Public Meeting with the TCEQ will consist of two parts -- an Informal Discussion Period and a Formal Comment Period. During the Informal Discussion Period the public is encouraged to ask questions of the applicant, Uranium Energy Corporation and TCEQ staff regarding the permit. During the Formal Comment Period, persons may submit oral and written questions and comments.