Introduction: Uranium mining in Catron County NM

THE ISSUE: URANIUM MINING in Catron County NM 

A proposed uranium mining project in northeastern Catron County NM on the Cibola National Forest has been in the works since 2013 without informing the Catron County Commission, Datil NM and Pie Town NM area residents, or the public who live and work along the more than 350 mile route to a uranium milling plant in Eunice NM.

THEIR PLAN

A uranium mining project of First American Uranium Inc (out of Vancouver BC Canada), consisting of 26 lode claims in four drilling zones encompassing approximately 537 acres, situated in an isolated and undeveloped area of US National Forest in Catron County NM (source: September 14, 2023 article from AZ Mining News website).

Since this project has been in the works for ten years without informing the public, perhaps the plan was to never tell the public.

THE PROBLEMS

Uranium would be transported on twisty dirt roads (some of which are just two-tracks) through miles of the steep, rugged Datil Mountains of the Cibola National Forest. The Datils, just east of the Continental Divide Trail, are popular for hiking, camping, backpacking, hunting, rock climbing, horseback riding and other forms of primitive dispersed recreation due to the natural and rugged character, high quality habitat, remarkable views, and size. The Enchanted Tower attracts rock climbers from around the world.

The Datil Mountain Range contains important breeding ground for mountain lion, and the Nature Conservancy has identified the Datils as a key conservation area in New Mexico due to the range's ecological diversity and species richness. 

The area is rich in history, if low in population. The Magdalena-Datil region was controlled by the Apache from the seventeenth century until they were defeated in the Apache Wars in the late nineteenth century, but archeological evidence of humans dates back some 14,000 years. The nearby Ake Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is one of the oldest discovered archeological sites in the American Southwest

LINGERING RISK Regardless of how uranium is mined, there is always radioactive waste. The EPA advises avoiding operating mining sites and equipment. Contamination from uranium mining activity persists for generations. Catron County experiences powerful winds on and off throughout the year. The dust that blows away from mining sites and the copious amounts of water used for dust control and uranium extraction all contain long-lived radioisotopes that are being disseminated into the environment.  That means this isn't just a Catron County problem, it's a problem for everybody. 

The easternmost drilling zone is adjacent to a designated roadless area. Water is scarce in this area and if any becomes contaminated it would be catastrophic for people and wildlife. The pine forest is dry and wildfire in this area would be difficult to control. Recent fires in USFS forest in the eastern part of Catron County have burned tens of thousands of acres and usually only get put out when there's nothing left to burn.

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT

Federal resource management agencies, including USFS, are subject to environmental laws and regulations regarding mining on public lands. Some of the major ones include:

• National Environmental Policy Act - requires an interdisciplinary approach to environmental decision making
• Federal Land Policy and Management Act - prevents undue and unnecessary degradation of federal lands
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act -requires reporting of hazardous substance releases and inventory of chemicals handled
• Toxic Substance Control Act - requires regulation of chemicals that present risk to health or environment

No doubt USFS will make claims of local economic benefits and job opportunities, as well as low risk to humans and environment whenever they get around to starting the NEPA process. Keep in mind that the people of the Navajo Nation continue to suffer from uranium mining that ended many decades ago. Even today Navajo babies are born with radioactive uranium in them.

Just how far along this project will get before the Catron County Commission and the residents of Catron County are notified that a potentially life-threatening, environmentally destructive mining operation is being planned? 

When will the residents of Magdalena, Socorro, Carrizozo, Capitan, and Roswell find out that uranium is being transported through their towns? The mined uranium would be transported on two-lane roads over 350 miles, across wetlands and forest, through several small towns, to a uranium processing facility in Eunice, NM.  

The USFS motto is "Caring for the land and serving people". The people of Catron County and New Mexico would be better served by at least telling the people what they're planning rather than barging ahead and hoping nobody complains after it's too late.

Note: I contacted Catron County Commissioner Buster Green about this but as of the date of this post I have gotten no reply yet