Activity Report Explorer

Four Corners • Entered by Jennifer Singer on December 29, 2024

White Mesa Mill Spirit Walk and Protest and other advocacy

September 5, 2024 – December 31, 2024

Key Issue: Oil, Gas, or Mineral Development
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Yolanda Badback- White Mesa Concerned Community

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (4 people)
Outcome 2: Advocacy actions (7 comments)

Short Description of Activity

We have protested in solidarity with White Mesa Concerned Community for 3 years now because we are in opposition to renewed uranium mining at Slick Rock, CO and sending uranium ore to White Mesa Mill, UT for milling. Anfield owns the mill and is trying to start a new uranium mine at Slick Rock. We have been getting the word out about the new research regarding environmental harm and health effects for communities near uranium mining operations, including along transportation routes. The 1872 mining law gives all of the rights to mining companies and needs to be updated to reflect new science and health research. MB McAfee told me to write to CO Attorney General Phil Weiser and I also connected with Carrie Noteboom- Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Water Quality and Radiation and Kurtis Morrison. Kurtis Morrison suggested I contact CO Department of Health and Environment and I wrote to Derek Bailey and others there. I also spoke out at a Hickenlooper Town Hall in Cortez about updating the 1872 Mining Law to reflect the new scientific and health recommendations. He said that a bipartisan group wants to look into updating the law because of copper mining. So we are awaiting actions.

Reflection/Evaluation

I have spent countless hours researching uranium mining effects on the environment and health of surrounding communities. We are reflecting and re-evaluating our advocacy efforts on an on-going basis- so we’re definitely getting the word out. It’s an ongoing project. Anfield has finished exploratory drilling but hasn’t applied to the BLM to mine. The San Miguel County Commissioners are in the process of making it much more difficult to apply for a permit to mine. But they still haven’t considered the health effects. I plan to address them in my Planning and Zoning comments this week.

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

Teri, Jonnie, Jennifer, and Betty Ann at the White Mesa Mill Protest and Spirit Walk.