Piñon Mill: jobs vs. jobsPiñon Mill: jobs vs. jobs
Uranium mill hearing brings agriculture, mining and tourism into conflict
By Ellen Metrick and Reilly Capps
Telluride Newspapers
Published: Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:10 AM CDT
NUCLA —Thursday’s five-and-a-half-hour public hearing on the Piñon Ridge uranium mill, proposed to be built near Paradox, seemed to bring the Montrose county commissioners no closer to a decision as they waded through passionate public testimony from both sides.
The resounding issue that ricocheted around the Nucla High School gym was jobs, jobs and more jobs. What will provide the area with more jobs? A uranium mill? Or tourism and recreation?
The company that hopes to develop and run the mill, Energy Fuels, says the Piñon Ridge Mill will provide the region with 100 jobs at the mill alone, in addition to potential collateral jobs in mining, construction and the service sector.
But the problem, say opposition groups from Paradox Valley and surrounding regions, is that the region already supports jobs in agriculture and tourism. These workers would be adversely affected.“All the West has mining history. It’s a boom or bust industry. The towns that have survived are the ones that have farmers. Nucla and Naturita would not have survived the mining busts without agriculture,” said Vernie Demille, owner of Paradise Family Farms CSA in Paradox Valley. She testified that her CSA has had folks decide not to join because of potential radiation from the potential mill.
Ruth Moore of the Paradox Valley Sustainability Association estimates “about 40 people make their living either from the farm or ranch they own or lease, or from being hired to work on a farm or ranch in the Paradox Valley.”
John Williams, attorney for the John Hendricks family, owners of Gateway Canyons Resort, stated that the resort employs 100 individuals and has an annual payroll of $4.5 million. “The recreation-based economy is important to Gateway and up and down Highway 141,” said Williams. “The proposed mill is in direct conflict with the recreation business because of transportation safety, environmental impact, the numbers of trucks and public perception of the area.”
Stu Krebs, speaking for the 250-plus member Uncompahgre Valley Association, said, “We can appreciate the argument that this mill is for economic benefit, but a viable sustainable economy requires more.”
Of the 53 people who spoke, about 12 supported and 40 opposed the mill. One had no position.
Proponents routinely stressed the long history of mining, both in the area and within their families.“I’m one of those old miners that are still around that shoulda been dead,” said Randy Marsing of Montrose County. He, like many others young and old, saw the mill as the future of their area.
“I see this mill as a huge opportunity for me,” said Nevada Smith, 22, who comes from a mining family. “I wanna work. We wanna work. Give us something to do. There’s really no incentive for people my age to be here, because there’s not enough jobs.”
And Monte Naslund of Nucla turned Demille’s formulation on its head. Without mining, he said, farming and ranching wouldn’t have survived.
“Most of the farmers, most everybody in this area, have depended on the mines,” said Naslund. “We had to have mining to support us.”
The meeting occasionally got nasty, as one man accused Energy Fuels of “blatant lies.” And there was visible dismay among some westenders at the parade of Telluriders opposing the mill. As one Tellurider spoke, a woman walked out and grumbled to a friend, “They need to go back to Telluride.”
“Why would you move to an area that has had hundreds of years of mining and tens and tens of years of milling, and then you come in here and say you can’t have this mill because ‘I grow tomatoes,’ or ‘I want recreation,’” said Tammy Sutherland of Redvale. “Well, who was here first? What kind of community is this?”
“I’ll bet you a lot of people that are here have never been to Nucla,” said Michael Moore of Nucla, “nor do they plan on coming back.”
Along with the question, Who gets to speak for Montrose County?, there was the question, Who’s an environmentalist? Signs read “Real environmentalists would support nuclear power!”
“I’m an environmentalist,” said Norwood’s Thomas Kyle. “Uravan and Moab was a bad idea … but Telluride is a bad idea … They carved up a mountain in the name of recreation … Our dump trucks and our garbage trucks are driving up to Telluride every day. ... Up there they say, ‘We don’t want oil and gas mining, but keep that oil and gas coming.’”
The discussion often dwelt on the nitty-gritty of the proposal. There was testimony and discussion regarding leaking liners and other issues at the 51-year old Cotter Uranium Mill in Cañon City, as well as questions pertaining to mill accountability, dangers of dust storms, and the effects of uranium on citizen health.
San Miguel County Planning Director Mike Rozycki said the county commissioners should do the research and be sure they have the authority to regulate the conditions under which the mill is operated, including what types of feedstock the mill can accept. Many worried that the mill could become a dumping ground for toxic waste.
And there were a couple jokes.
“I hope you guys have a safe drive home,” said Nucla’s Chris Daniels, a mill proponent. “The deer are not glowing in the dark yet, so we gotta be careful.”