Goliad County will pay for fight against uranium mining

Sep 26 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Sonny Long Victoria Advocate, Texas

Goliad County has allocated funds to fight Uranium Energy Corporation's application to mine uranium in the county. Members of the county's Uranium Research and Advisory Committee are expected to speak at a press conference today.

"In order to save and protect the groundwater, quality of the environment, public health, livestock, wildlife and land, Goliad County will not allow this beautiful, pristine garden area and the quality of our environment to be ruined by uranium mining that has contaminated other communities' water in South Texas," the committee said in a news release.

The Sierra Club, a national environmental group, supports the county's stance on the issue.

"The Coastal Bend Sierra Club is deeply concerned about uranium mining in South Texas because of the threat it presents to the natural resources of the area," said Donna Hoffman, spokesperson for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The citizens' group, Uranium Information at Goliad, is also taking part in the press conference.

In August the county commissioners court authorized the funds to contest the issuance of a permit to mine uranium in the county.

UEC, which has been exploring for uranium in the county since May 2006, has applied with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a permit to mine in the area where it has located uranium deposits. The permitting process allows for a contested case hearing if there is opposition to the permit. Participants in today's 11 a.m. press conference will meet at the Goliad depot, on the corner of Market Street and Franklin Street.

The actual press conference will take place on Bluntzer Road near where uranium exploration is taking place. Sonny Long is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-275-6319 or cueroadv@vicad.com, or comment on this story here.