I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Uranium Resources’ long legal battle with uranium mining opponents in Navajo country isn’t discouraging the Texas-based energy developer from moving forward with its mining ambitions in western New Mexico.
The company announced today that it has submitted applications to the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to conduct exploratory drilling in the Ambrosia Lake area, southwest of Crownpoint.
The company said in a news release that it has identified about 2.4 million pounds of mineralized uranium material that may be amenable to in-situ leach mining, a process in which a sodium bicarbonate and oxygen solution is injected into the ground, allowing uranium ore to be separated from sand grains and pumped to the surface.
The applications filed Tuesday are for ten uranium exploratory holes on less than five acres west of the village of San Mateo. The area is "removed from any commercial or residential structure and the impact to the land will be minimal," according to the news release.
"This is a great opportunity for URI to establish an ISR project in New Mexico and demonstrate that this process is safe and responsible," said Richard Van Horn, URI executive vice-president and chief operating officer.
Community activists and environmental groups are fighting the company’s plans to set up mining operations in nearby Church Rock and Crownpoint. Mining opponents asked a federal appeals court earlier this month to overturn a 2006 Nuclear Regulatory Commission decision to grant Uranium Resources a license for the project. Opponents argue that the company has failed to prove it will protect drinking water and doesn’t have an adequate plan to ensure the sites are properly cleaned up after mining operations are completed. The court’s decision is pending.
If exploratory drilling at the Ambrosia Lake site proves successful, the area could support a mining operation of up to 500,000 pounds of uranium per year for 2-3 years, the news release said.
