|
GBMW Commends Governor on Yerington Decision
|
 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, December 11, 2004
Yerington, Nevada?One year after a watchdog organization released information that the state of Nevada had 20 years of records of uranium contamination at the abandoned copper mine here, Governor Kenny Guinn has agreed to turn authority for mine cleanup to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"We commend the governor for allowing EPA authority," said Elyssa Rosen, executive director of Great Basin Mine Watch. "This decision represents welcome change to a pattern of inadequate regulation of mine operations," Rosen said. "Acknowledgement of the problem is an important first step to change the way Nevada regulates mining."
In November 2003, Great Basin Mine Watch discovered that the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and British-Petroleum subsidiary Atlantic Richfield had kept records of uranium contamination of groundwater at the mine for 20 years. Subsequent testing found extremely high levels in residents' drinking water supplies. Since then, the Bureau of Land Management reported that soil on site is more radioactive than many Superfund sites, and residents may have been exposed to radioactive dust.
Pressure has increased from all sides in recent months. EPA and Senator Harry Reid have recommended Superfund designation for the site; Earle Dixon, the BLM employee proposing stringent testing and cleanup at the Yerington project, was dismissed, and subsequently filed a whistleblower claim; and turnout has been rising at local gatherings to discuss community action.
Great Basin Mine Watch supports the local community in its call on EPA to move ahead quickly with air monitoring within residential areas, as well as an aerial survey of the area's radioactivity levels.
According to the EPA, more than 98 percent of the total reported toxic emissions in Nevada?773 million pounds?came from mining in 2001, and Nevada ranked No. 1 among the 50 states in toxic emissions that year.
Between 1998-2000, there were 26 mine bankruptcies in Nevada. Nevada now allows more than $450 million in uninsured cleanup costs from currently-operating mining companies.
Between 1970 and 2003, mining employment dropped from 1.7 percent to 1 percent of total employment statewide, while job growth in other sectors quadrupled, according to the Nevada Department of Employment.
CONTACT:
Elyssa Rosen: 775-348-1986 or 775-224-7497 |
