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>Bush energy bill sneaks in $30 million for uranium mining Navajos call >it > > "corporate welfare" while world isn't watching > > > > Posted: September 24, 2001 - 10:26 est by: Brenda Norrell / Today Staff >/ > > Indian Country Today > > ><http://indiancountry.com/?article=592>http://indiancountry.com/?article=592 > > > > CROWNPOINT, N.M. - The energy bill going before the Senate includes $30 > > million for Hydro Resources Inc., for leach uranium mining on the Navajo > > Nation where communities already suffering from disease and death after >a > > half century of uranium mining during the Cold War. > > > > "We're mad as hell," said Lori Goodman, spokeswoman for Dine' Citizen > > Against Ruining our Environment. > > > > "While we are told there is no money to pay the ill uranium miners, >funds > > are being set aside in the House Energy Bill - $30 million - to >corporations > > to start uranium mining in New Mexico. > > > > "Where is the compassion for the miners made ill by their work? Or is >that > > compassion only reserved for the rich?" Goodman said as Navajos prepared >to > > rally at Red Rock State Park Sept. 25-26 in opposition to the funding. > > > > Calling it "corporate welfare," Goodman said amendment sponsor, Rep. >Heather > > Wilson, R-N.M., was quick to fund uranium mining companies while "she >never > > lifted a hand for the uranium workers' concerns." > > > > Ann Reitz of Crownpoint said Wilson should move to Crownpoint if she >wants > > uranium mining here. > > > > "The sad truth is that Hydro Resources would never get away with such an > > outrageous proposal in any Anglo community in this country," Reitz said. > > > > Uranium mining would contaminate the primary source of drinking water > > for more than 15,000 Din? people and Anglo teachers and health care > > workers in Crownpoint, Coyote Canyon, Mariano Lake and Smith Lake. > > > > "The people of this community have spoken, but their Navajo leaders and > > federal politicians continue to ignore the fact that the majority of us >do > > not want this mine. > > > > "Would Wilson like her children to be in school a quarter of a mile >downwind > > from acres of drying ponds containing radioactive slurry, or > > to drink water from wells a quarter of a mile from 'pregnant lixiviant' > > loaded with uranium, radium, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum?" > > > > The uranium mining funding was added during consideration of the Bush >energy > > bill by Wilson. It gives $30 million to Hydro Resources Inc. to begin >the > > process of in-situ leach uranium mining to begin the process in four >sites > > in northeastern New Mexico. > > > > Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he attempted to strike the provision in the > > final energy bill but was not successful. The House passed the overall > > energy bill in late July. Action is pending in the Senate. > > > > Udall said it is "sadly ironic" that Congress on one hand recognized >Navajo > > Code Talkers with Congressional Gold Medals, then delivers a "slap in >the > > face," to Navajos in New Mexico. > > > > "The uranium provisions are opposed by Native American groups, > > environmentalists and taxpayer watchdog groups who have labeled the >Wilson > > provision as 'blatant corporate welfare,'" said Glen Loveland, press > > secretary for Udall. > > > > Udall urged his colleagues to vote against the amendment in H.R. 4 of >the > > Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001. > > > > Udall said Section 306 authorizes the appropriation of a $10 million > > payment, or subsidies, for three years to domestic uranium producers to > > identify, test, and develop improved in-situ leaching mining. > > > > "This legislation is not needed for research and development purposes. >In > > fact, this in-situ leaching process causes radioactive uranium and > > other toxic chemicals to leach into groundwater, threatening the > > public health of communities surrounding the mines," Udall told >Congress. > > > > "The local Navajo communities have suffered tremendously over this > > government's past practices and policies regarding uranium mining," >Udall > > said pointing out that Arizona, Colorado and Utah are already suffering >from > > long-term uranium mining." > > > > Udall said currently the nation cannot compensate for past damages >caused by > > uranium mining. > > > > "We as a nation cannot find the financial resources necessary to fully >fund > > the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, to compensate the >victims > > of past uranium development, but we may put our stamp of approval on >this > > $30 million subsidy for the uranium industry." > > > > The amendment came as Bush announced he will stall benefits to some >victims > > of uranium mining. > > > > "Last year, Congress clearly mandated payments under the Radiation >Exposure > > Compensation Act to former uranium miners, workers and downwinders," >said > > Melton Martinez, president of Eastern Navajo Uranium Workers. > > "But now, the government is denying and delaying justice by changing the > > rules, and have even stated clearly their priority constituents." > > > > In defense of her amendment, Wilson said, "The industry has convinced me > > that this is worth looking into." > > > > Wilson said she believes it is equally appropriate to do research into > > uranium. Hydro Resources Inc. is seeking approval from the U.S. > > Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop four in-situ mines northeast of > > Gallup. > > > > Jill Lancelot, co-founder and legislative director of Taxpayers for >Common > > Sense in Washington, D.C., was among those opposing the amendment. > > > > "This is simply propping up the uranium mining industry at the expense >of > > fiscal common sense," Lancelot said. > > > > Speaking out at a community meeting in Crownpoint, Navajoland doctors > > said their major concern is in-situ leach mining will produce harmful > > uranium levels and damage human kidneys. > > > > There is more than 200 times the uranium level in the Crownpoint aquifer > > than is designated as a safe level by the World Health Organization. > > > > Uniting to oppose the effort are Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium >Mining, > > Southwest Research and Information Center, Physicians Resisting In-Situ > > Mining, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, U.S. and New Mexico Public > > Interest Research Groups, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense >Council, > > Mineral Policy Center, Nuclear Information Resource Service, Public >Citizen > > and Taxpayers for Common Sense. > > > > ===== > > 2001 Indian Country Today The on-line version of Indian Country Today > > doesnot include the full content - articles, advertisements, notices and > > listings - that appear only in our newsprint edition. For complete >access > > to America's Leading Indian News source, subscribe to Indian Country >Today! > > > ><http://www.indiancountry.com/index-subscribe.shtml>http://www.indiancountry.com > >/index-subscribe.shtml > > > > <<<<<>>>>> > > Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) > > <http://nativenewsonline.org/>http://nativenewsonline.org/ > > Native News Online > > a Service of Barefoot Connection > > > > > > > > > > <>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<> > > Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright > > law ( _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------------------------------------ For meals planning made easy, visit VeryBestMeals.com from Nestle. Choose from the 13,000+ recipes and 300+ meal plans. 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