Wow, a balanced, insightful, well-researched article on the positive fiscal impact of uranium mining. This is awesome. Bravo!

Q&A for environmental concerns about in situ uranium mining can be found here: http://seekingalpha.com/article/28727...

atawaupalla

Will you go on record as to not having a dog in this fight? Will you tell us if you or any of your family have sold/leased their mineral estate in Goliad County to the uranium company? Will you let us know if you are, or ever have been, a paid spokesman for the company?

The manner in which Kenneth was maligned by a cheap shot from atawaupalla in their comment, is the reason I choose to remain anonymous.

Obviously there is little common sense being expounded by the pseudo-informed on this message board. Next time you cash your government check whether it's social security, or in the case of Kenneth, disability, just remember it's the American entrepreneur that's putting your "free money" check in front of you so that you can sit on your bucket and exercise your free speech.

MAn always leaves a footprint no matter where he has gone. The moon (especially on this auspicious day of Armstrong's moon landing in 69), and probably even in Kenneth's backyard where he may have disposed of engine oil way back when. Come on Kenneth, fess up. you've done it.

I'm not saying we give the uranium company a blank check. Instead try to get along with your neighbors to work together. You'll learn that you'll have better success in reaching a compromise than trying to have it your way.

You can't argue with Mr. Messbarger's numbers can you? Haven't seen one thing mentioned about the fact presented in his article. Only accusations about the "C" word; cancer. Yet I might surmise you'd be the first demanding radiation treatments to cure yourself.

We live in a complex world. Be constructive. I get awfully tired of reading your negatism. I pity the people who have to listen to it all day long..

The only people who will ever see a dime of any economic benefits from uranium mining in Goliad County are the Judas Iscariot landowners who sell their mineral estate for mining. All other citizens will see their well water contaminated and their property become virtually worthless.

More freakin propaganda masquerading as a newspaper article. Gee, what stance do you think someone who is secretary of the Kingsville Area Industrial Development Foundation would have? Its his JOB to pull in this kind of business. Didn't we get enough of this "business is everything, damn the consequences, $$$$" attitude yet? Profit drives these people and to hell with the quality of life.

http://www.russellmeansfreedom.com/20...
"In Situ Leach Mining: “ISL”: Substances such as Inorganic Arsenic, Radium 226 & 228, Thorium 230 and other contaminants can enter groundwater as a result of mining. One type of mining that uses water is known as “In Situ Leach Mining”. ISL mining pulls Uranium up from the ground using Aquifer water, extracts the Uranium, stores the water in “monitoring” wells, and eventually injects it back into the Aquifer. The ISL process also blends the contaminated water with clean Aquifer water to store it in the “monitoring” wells where the Radioactivity is measured after the Uranium is leached out to produce “Yellow Cake”. The water used to pull the Uranium out of the ground is also stored in “evaporation ponds”. Radioactive Uranium and Barium Sludge Ponds and “monitoring wells” result from the In Situ Leach mining process. It takes almost 5,000 years for this sludge to lose half of its radioactivity, some estimates tell us, other estimate it at a much longer time period.
The ISL process presents the potential for leaks in the pipes that are used to “extract” the Uranium out of the ground. Such leaks would allow the radioactive water to seep out of the pipe and back into the groundwater, this has happened at ISL mines all over the world."

The Lakota don't like Uranium mining either and have experienced the aftereffects.

Be sure and invite representatives from the EPA, TCEQ, NRC and the RRC. Get those blood sucking, money grubbing, con men to drink the water.

And oh yeah, invite the judge who dismissed the case against UEC last June. Let's see who else...hmmm how about Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature. I would also throw in some red mouthed lawyers too.

I also think it would be a good idea for the people passing out the water to the condemned to wear hoods - that will add to the drama and hysteria being generated.

Mmmm Kenneth you make a great point. We should envite them all to a sit down meeting for the day. And offer water from known contamination ---while on video ---let's see if they really would drink it.

I agree.

Has Dick forgotten this?

April 18, 2000 - TEXAS URANIUM MINE POISONS VAST AQUIFER

On Verge of Bankruptcy, Company Will Leave State with Huge Clean-Up

Austin...A uranium mining project has contaminated the Goliad aquifer, the source of drinking water for the City of Kingsville, near Texas's famous King Ranch, according to documents released today by Texas Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Texas PEER). The mining company, Uranium Resources, Inc. (URI), has ceased operation citing lack of funds and likely will leave state taxpayers with a messy and costly clean-up job.

URI extracts uranium by pumping mining solutions into the groundwater to free radioactive elements which are then pumped to the surface. URI's mining techniques have left the Goliad aquifer contaminated with radioactive and other toxic substances, including radium and arsenic. Several drinking water wells in the area have already been forced to close.

The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), the state's pollution control agency, issued permits to URI conditioned on the company's promise to clean-up mining areas. But TNRCC never enforced the clean-up conditions and, in fact, aggravated problems by:

* approving expansion of URI's mining permits in 1997 despite lack of clean-up in previously mined areas;

* ignoring repeated spills of uranium-contaminated water (with three spills in one five month period in 1999); and

* blocking attempts by Kleberg County and local landowners to force a public hearing about the URI permit.

Uranium mining started in Karnes City using open pits. Later the government found radiation poisoning in the water, stock ponds, cattle, and people. (From the Geological Society of America 2002)

I took the following information from two government studies that included Texas --specifically the Goliad and Kingsville area. I also researched information and government reports. Uranium exposure to the general populous is becoming a serious issue both from mining and the exposure from weapons of war or uranium mining in those countries. Exposure and destruction of the DNA is such a serious issue there are doctors and government personnel meeting from all over the world this fall to discuss the impact to people.

Thus, do not trust anyone espousing the great financial benefits of uranium mining. The radiation residuals have been destroying DNA structures of familys that are unknowingly living on those lands for many years.

The method of mining uranium with back flushing forces the trash through the water tables and destroys our water tables for millions of years to come. It will destroy your DNA forever --that is a medically known fact whether anyone has told you or not.

Here is what to expect more of if you allow uranium mining any where near Victoria county. Goliad county has already put us in danger. Kingsville water flow use to be to the east--uranium mining has changed the underground flow to the northeast. Dick Messbarger has omitted this and that should be criminal. As well as not disclosing the following facts along with any discussion of financial benefits everytime his mouth opens or his fingers hit the keyboard:

Uranium mining includes disturbing arsenic, radon, and thorion. As a result we all have the possibility of the following if our water is infiltrated as in Goliad and Kingsville.
Exposure internally allows the radiation to settle in bone, kidneys, reproductive system, lymph system, brain, stomach, skin, and lungs. Exposure impacts eggs, embryos, sperm, and cells.

Some Newborn problems:
Hydrocephalus
Neural tube defects (spine and brain stem)Being born without a brain.
Congenital heart diseases
Cleft lip and palate
Unusual skeletal malformations
Congenital malformations in toto

Adults:
Cancers in above referenced areas.
Pulmonary fibrosis
Liver damage and cancer
Nervous system harm
Leukemia
Pancreas
Lymphatic system
Cirrhosis of lungs
Hyper-,Hypo- pigmentation and hyperkeratosis of the skin
Changes function of the heart
Causes peripheral vascular disease
Creates chromosomal aberrations and may lead to above birth defects.

Dick Messbarger has carelessly omitted what uranium mining releases into our water and environment and what it does to the newborns in the region.

I don't remember if it was the Advocate or Chronicle that did a series regarding birth defects in southern Texas. Including a lot of babies born with brain stems only. Doctors blamed some of it on folic acid which is a fact.

Another fact is a pregnant woman being exposed to uranium fields. In the George West and Three Rivers area where uranium mines existed as far back as the 1960's, I know of women having children with severe neural defects --several were in my family tree. They families lived near uranium fields that were being disturbed and actively mined. I believe in my heart that uranium is in their water table.

When you look at uranium poisoning,descriptions have been watered down to imply that explosions are only the worst. Wrong.

Exposure to uranium can include: Babies born with extreme hydrocephalus; Born without eyes; babies born with a fish like shimmery skin; forms of Spina Bifida, born with no genitalia; other body deformations to arms, legs, faces or trunk of body.

Here is the kicker the above does not just mean the mother exposed during pregnancy --it can also mean the father being exposed. Research has proven continued exposure to uranium or uranium breathed will change a man's DNA and also cause the man problems and contribute to the deformaties of the child.

Adults and children exposed to uranium radiation on a regular basis such as through a water table have a higher risk and usually do have cancer. Again --the family I mentioned with the babies with birth defects. The adults have cancer.

I honestly believe the mining companies did something in that area and have destroyed the water tables or worse have contaminated the air...periodically.

I am sure Dick Messbarger has not advocated having your water checked if you live in an area considered to have uranium fields. What little do they try to tell us.

Just google uranium poisoning symptoms. If you can stand the horror google the photos --then you understand why we should not disturb the fields for financial gain. Sometimes we should let sleeping giants sleep. And maybe we should not sleep with them or we will get fleas. Yes I purposely messed up all my metaphors.

"The environmental impact is minimal as water used in operations is restored to pre-mining conditions after operations end."

Was the word "conditions" substituted for "levels of contaminants"? Not in one single instance has the water been restored to it's original values after mining. In every single instance the State has been asked to modify values because it is not possible to restore to original values. This is bona fide fact.

Hasn't Kleberg County spent over a million dollars on legal fees regarding this issue? Why wasn't that mentioned, or is this part of the "ripple effect"?

"Once the economy recovers, the industry will pump hundreds of millions of dollars into South Texas." Well, once the mining starts up again, the industry will leave hundreds of millions of gallons of contaminated water in the aquifers. Which is more important...dollars or WATER?

If uranium is so valuable, then why did the U.S. allow Iraq to sell 550 metric tonnes to Canadian Cameco to potentially sell it back to the U.S.? Why did the the U.S. spend $70 million helping them pack it and ship it? If the U.S. is not interested in existing uranium yellowcake and even willing to spend money to give it to a private Canadian company, then why mine it in a drinking water aquifer? This is a scandal for the sake of profit, nothing more.