Navajos urged to oppose uranium mining Thursday in Gallup, NM

From Robert Tohe:

Your help is needed to turn out at the public scoping hearings to tell NRC NO TO GEIS! YES TO NEPA PROCESS ! NRC is trying to make it easier for Uranium Industry to get around the NEPA process to do ISL (In Situ Leach) by proposed a streamline Generic Environmental Impact Statement for ISL uranium milling. NRC will hold a public meeting in Gallup, NM at the Best Western Inn, 3090 West Highway 66, from 7pm to 9:30pm. Tell NRC they are accountable to Navajo Nation communities and residents to hold meetings in affected communities by the proposed ISL mining. To date NRC has only two community meetings in Casper , Wyoming , and Albuquerque , NM . NRC has ignored Grants, Crownpoint, Churchrock even the entire states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota were ISL mining is proposed.
Tell NRC, “one size doesn’t fit all.”
· The Hydrology is different in each community,
· Water quality is different in each community,
· Geology is different in each community,
· Socio-economics is diverse,
· Our cultural resources are diverse,

NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Revised notice of intent (NOI).
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare a Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Uranium Milling Facilities
DATES: The NRC has recently held public meetings in Casper , Wyoming and Albuquerque , New Mexico as part of the public scoping process required by NEPA. In response to public requests, the public scoping period for the GEIS has been extended to October 8, 2007. Written comments submitted by mail should be postmarked by that date to ensure consideration. Comments mailed after that date will be considered to the extent possible.
In addition, the NRC will conduct a third public meeting in Gallup , New Mexico to assist in defining the appropriate scope of the GEIS, including the significant environmental issues to be addressed. The meeting date, time and location are listed below:

Meeting Date: September 27, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: Best Western Inn and Suites, 3009 West Hwy 66, Gallup , NM 873016813, Phone (505) 7222221.
For this meeting, members of the NRC staff will be available for informal discussions with members of the public from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The formal meeting and associated NRC presentation will begin at 7 p.m. For planning purposes, those who wish to present oral comments at the meeting are encouraged to preregister by contacting Carol Walls of the NRC by telephone at 18003685642, Extension 8028, or by email at CAW@nrc.gov no later than September 21, 2007. Interested persons may also register to speak at the meetings. Depending on the number of speakers, each speaker may be limited in the amount of time allocated for their comments so that all speakers will have an opportunity to offer comments.

Robert Tohe
Sierra Club-Environmental Justice
408 E. Route 66, #1
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Phone 928-774-6103
Fax 928-774-6138