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| 2/22/2008 12:12:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Uranium mining planned in South Park
Exploratory holes to be drilled this summer
Golden-based Horizon Nevada Uranium Inc. is planning to mine uranium in a 4,000-acre area of southeast Park County in the South Park Ranch area, and it has sent about 400 notices to property owners notifying them of the proposed project.
It's still very early in the planning stages for the proposed mines, according to Horizon President Bill Wilson.
Staking of property will begin within 30 days but mining probably wouldn't happen for some time, he said.
The mining process would involve drilling wells to the uranium deposits and pumping CO2, oxygen and water down, liquefying the uranium, then pumping it back out of the ground, a process called in-situ mining.
"There wouldn't be any open pit or underground mine," Wilson said. Instead, the mines would look more like a number of pumps.
California resident Joe Benko received a letter around Feb. 4 from Horizon stating its intent to stake a claim on his property to look for the mineral.
Despite high initial concern about the prospect, Benko felt more comfortable with the possibility of mining on his property after he spoke with Wilson. That's partly because he learned that he didn't own the mineral rights under his land.
"He started to tell me what they would be doing and why he is allowed," Benko said.
John Dow, planning environmental coordinator for the Bureau of Land Management, said typically a land owner only owns surface rights to a plot of land in Colorado.
Wilson said he has received about 40 calls from concerned property owners and has taken the time to explain what the intent of the notice was.
By fielding many of the calls personally, Wilson said, he thinks most of the callers' concerns were put to rest about the project.
"I think they're comfortable with talking to the president of a company," he said. "I've taken the time to make sure they get their questions answered."
After staking is complete, 20 to 25 exploratory holes will be drilled this summer to determine the best places to start mining after surface leases are signed with land owners.
Wilson said he would not allow his company to mine any land without the owner's OK.
Benko said he would allow mining on his property now, after speaking with Wilson, on the condition that his property would be restored to what it looked like before mining began.
According to Wilson, Horizon puts $3,000 down on each well for a reclamation fund before removing minerals from the ground.
Uranium demand rising
Dow said increased demand for uranium is raising its price and creating incentives for new mines.
Most of the uranium is now sold to utility companies to be used for nuclear power.
Wilson said he understands the concerns the public has with uranium and nuclear energy.
"It's a very emotional issue," he said.
During the mining process, precautions are taken to avoid contaminating the environment.
If a possible mine site is near usable water, it is abandoned, Wilson said.
But that is very rarely the case. Most uranium mines start between 500 feet and 700 feet below the surface.
Possible boon for county
Horizon could employ up to 80 people for the mining site.
"[This project] certainly would point in the direction of economic development," he said.
Similar operations in Glenrock, Wyo., have employed about 90 workers. According to Wilson, the majority of the workers live in the area of the mining.
Wilson intends to present information to the county commissioners as soon as April at a public meeting.
"I think that's good business. If we're serious about what we're doing, we need to take the time and inform the people," he said.
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