COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB WEB PAGE ARCHIVES

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Content on 11/09/2020:

We are sad to announce the passing of long time Coastal Bend Sierra Club member Joyce Jarmon. She was 104 years old. You can view Joyce's obituary here. There you will be able to write a commemoration and also view some suggested organizations to which you can donate in her honor. If you donate to the Sierra Club via either one of the two DONATE buttons on this web page, please remember to type in Joyce's name in the commemoration field at the bottom of the form. Thank you very much.

UPCOMING EVENTS

2020 General Election
The last day to register for this election is Monday, October 5.
The official voting date is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Early voting begins Tuesday, October 13 and ends Friday, October 30.
Go to the Texas Secretary of State site at Vote Texas to find out everything you need to know about registering to vote, registration status, or address changes.
Go here for Nueces County voting information.

2020 General Election Corpus Christi City Council Endorsements
The Executive Committee of the Coastal Bend Group has made endorsements for Corpus Christi City Council for the 2020 General Election. The endorsements are located in the Blog entry down below with a date of October 10, 2020 and can also be accessed here.

Content prior to 03/03/2020:

SAD NEWS FOR THE COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB GROUP. 
HAL SUTER, Group Chair, passed away on August 5,2019/

Sierra Lone Star Chapter obituary: 
https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/blog/2019/08/celebrating-life-hal-suter

Seaside tribute page:
https://www.seasidefuneral.com/tributes/Henry-Suter

Caller-Times obituary:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/caller/obituary.aspx?n=henry-albert-suter-hal&pid=193608740&fhid=26721

About the Suters:  "Hans, Pat, and their son Hal dedicated their lives to speaking up for the protection of the environment.  Hans and Pat, both chemists, were pioneer environmentalist in the Coastal Bend in the 1960's, and were instrumental in protecting Oso Creek from industrial development and Corpus Christi Bay from effluent discharges.  As a family they were heavily involved in the Coastal Bend Sierra Club, Coastal Bend Audubon Society, Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, and the Corpus Christi Botanical Society.  The Suter family has set the bar high for present day and future environmentalist."

From Caller.com:  The family will hold a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 17 at 10 AM at the Seaside Funeral Home Chapel, 4537 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Hal's honor to a charity of the donor's choice.
Hal was particularly fond of the Cattery Cat Shelter in Corpus Christi, and multiple environmental organizations, such as the Coastal Bend Regional Group and Lone Star Chapters of the Sierra Club, the Surfriders Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy

Removal of Oil and Gas Waste Disposal Issues page - 02/15/2020

Oil and Gas Waste Disposal
The Coastal Bend Conservation committee has been following oil/gas disposal practices permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) in the Eagle Ford Shale area for three years, and comments (see document) were submitted to the Sunset Advisory Commission during the August 22, 2016, hearing in Austin. (Cyrus Reed of the Lone Star Sierra Chapter, also filed our statement entitled “RRC PERMITS OPEN PIT OIL AND GAS WASTE SITES NEAR TOWNS, SCHOOLS AND GAS PIPELINES.”)

Content prior to 02/13/2020:

LOCAL CONCERNS

Exxon/SABIC permits;   Fracking (roads, earthquakes, sand storage);   Turtles & PINS     Water;  Tank farms;   Air quality
Environmental Justice;   Uranium mining;  Labor / Blue Green Alliance; Electric cars;  Plastic bags 

11/21/19

Content prior to 02/12/2020:

Suters to be recognized 11-12-19 - Join other Coastal Bend Sierra members at the event.  Coastal Bend Sierrians are invited to the 2019 'Coastal Bend Bays Foundation(CBBF) Awards Banquet, November 12, 5:30pm-9pm at the Ortiz Center in Corpus Christi.  Tickets start at $50.  Let CBBF know you would like to sit with fellow Sierrians.

Banquet information:  http://www.baysfoundation.org/eab/     

Purchase a Ticket:  http://www.baysfoundation.org/eab/tickets/

"CELEBRATE SUCCESSES!"   Thanks for Jace Tunnell and David Bright for an educational and inspiring evening at our October 12 party.  David Bright shared the links below that detail the court order he discussed.  He added "Also, I strongly recommend picking up Diane Wilson’s book “An Unreasonable Woman.” Amazon’s got it."

• https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5d231fdd0073b63ab69d5959
• https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsd.
• https://www.docketbird.com/court-documents/San-Antonio-Bay-Estuarine-Waterkeeper-et-al-v-Formosa-Plastics-Corp-Texas-et-al/MEMORANDUM-AND-ORDER-The-Court-determines-that-a-declaratory-judgment-shall-issue-pursuant-to-Waterkeeper-claim-for-relief-in-the-form-of-monetary-and-injunction-relief-against-Formosa-focusing-primarily-on-future-violations-of-its-TPDES-Permit-and-t/txsd-6:2017-cv-00047-00155
• https://www.plasticbaglaws.org/san-antonio-formosa

Enjoy, Explore & Protect the planet.  Sierra Coastal Bend Group MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION PARTY.  As part of this event we are planning to sell Sierra merchandise, including t-shirts (Make American Green Again) and bumper stickers.
Date:  Saturday, October 12, 2019     Time: 6pm        Location: 215 Louisiana, Corpus Christi
David Bright, the local attorney who recently WON the nurdle case against Formosa, (SAN ANTONIO BAY ESTUARINE WATERKEEPER, et al, Plaintiffs, v. FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP, TEXAS, et al, Defendants.)  will be our guest speaker at the upcoming Oct 12 Membership Appreciation Party:   https://waterkeeper.org/lavaca-bay-massive-clean-water-win-against-big-plastic/  We will also be joined by Jace Tunnell, our local nurdle expert.  10-11-19  Jace shared this information:  "Formosa up for permit review/renewal. We to have "zero pellet loss" put into their permit, at the very least. I'm sure that many of you are already on this, but wanted to send this just in case. Hope everyone submits a comment and feel free to use nurdle patrol data as the justification, plus all the other information out there."   WATER QUALITY PERMIT AMENDMENT PERMIT NO. WQ0002436000.  For details about the status of the application, visit the Commissioners’ Integrated Database at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Search the database using the permit number.  All public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record (from the 9/27/19 TCEQ notice).

SEPTEMBER 26 4PM-7PM OR SEPTEMBER 28 10AM-1PM - EMERGING CORPUS.  VISIONING EVENT.  OIL & WATER.  Visit Emerging Corpus on Facebook for more information.   https://www.facebook.com/emergingcorpus/

Monthly meetings 3rd Wednesday, 6:30-9pm, Unitarian Universalist Church
6901 Holly Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78414

Check out our facebook page:  Coastal Bend Sierra Club   There is a lot going on right now  What agency is lootking at the cummulative impacts will we see?:

1-The Exxon SABIC East Terminal Air Permit - Located directly on the La Quinta channel.  Chemical storage facility.  Expect flares and emissions.  Public meeting Sept 16 at Gregory Portland High School, 7-9pm.   Put it on your calendar now!

Saturday, December 16, Coastal Bend Group HOLIDAY PARTY from 5pm - 7pm.  215 Louisiana, Corpus Christi.  Guest speaker Michelle Orcutt, who will have Wildlife in Focus books for sale.  Also for sale will be $5 raffle tickets to benefit our LOCAL Sierra Group.  Several really nice items to be raffled plus free handouts! ( NOTE:  Your RSVP is appreciated but NOT required! )

 

Monday, December 11, TCEQ Public Meeting in Gregory regarding GCGV Assest Holding LLC (Exxon & Sabic) Industrial Wastewater Permit application.  Chair Hal Suter provided comment for the record regarding Sierra's position on job creation and raised the topic of contested case hearings and standing.  Well attended, with many other insigntful comments.  Thanks to members John Weber and Carolyn Moon for their comments at this meeting.

Minutes and list of guest speakers posted under Meeting Minutes tab.

Tuesday, December 5 @ 12 noon - ELECTIONS  (Minutes posted 12/5/17)
Coastal Bend Sierra Club business meeting - all welcome., LaRetama Library, 800 Commanche, Corpus Christi

If you have a topic you would like included, or other comments, contact Chair Hal Suter, rabblerouser@stx.rr.com, 361-765-8049

Coastal Bend Social Forum opens with Morris Dees, Southern Poverty Law Center, at 7pm on 9/15/17 at Del Mar's Richardson Performance zhall.

Free.  Event continues Sat Sep 20 8:30am  3:30pm at Del Mar's Wolfe Recital Hall, Fine Arts Center
Panel discussion and concurrent sessioins to include "The Reality of Environmental Injustice."
Contact Dr. Teresa Klein, tklein@delmar.edu for more information.

September evening meeting moved to Monday 9/18/17 to participate in the Public Citizen Climate Change speaking tour
Evening meetings (3rd Wednesday) CONTINUE along with Business meetings (1st Tuesday)

-->PLEASE NOTE change of date and time for September<--

September's 9/20/17 meeting moved to MONDAY, 9/18/17, 6pm 
Topic:  Climate Change.  Luis Castilla, press officer in Public Citizen’s Texas office, will visit 23 cities across Texas from early September to mid- October.
He will be in Corpus Christi, at the UU Church on Holly Road at 6pm for this combined meeting with other local environmental groups.
ALL SIERRANS INVITED TO BRING THEIR FRIENDS!

Thanks to all who attended our first

ELECTRIC VEHICLE EVENT in Corpus Christi  on Sunday 09/10/17.

NEXT BUSINESS MEETING, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2017, 12 NOON, LaRetama Library, 805 Comanche, Corpus Christi, TX    

READ THE SIERRA CLUB NEWS RELEASE ABOUT "CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENTS LEFT WITH NO CLEAN DRINKING WATER"

http://www.sierraclub.org/texas/blog/2016/12/sierra-club-statement-corpus-christi-water-crisis

See the Local Action Blogs tab to review what actions our group has taken, including "RRC permits open oil and gas waste sites near towns, schools and gas pipelines" and Coastal Bend Group comments on the proposed IKE DIKE available in the Local Blogs section. 

2015 Meeting Minutes
Jan. 2015
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ARTICLES

KEMPS RIDLEY TURTLE PRESS RELEASE FROM AUSTIN - 2/9/00
KEMPS RIDLEY TURTLE UPTDATE SPRING 2001
RIDLEY TURTLE UPDATE ABOUT 2004  
RIDLEY TURTLE UPDATE 01/2005

Packery Channel Issue
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE WORRIED BY BUSH
VXHYDROLYSATE DISPOSAL IN CORPUS CHRISTI-
  by Bill Alling Dec. 2001

Shrimping Regulations-February 2002 by Pat Suter

CBBEP   by Frank Hankins - see January 2000 newsletter
THE LEPC    by Edith Cosgrove- see January 2000 newsletter
June 12, 1999 Nueces County Bond Election Comments

NEWSLETTERS AND MEETING MINUTES

March, 1999 Coastal Bend Newsletter
March, 1991 Coastal Bend Newsletter
April, 1999 Coastal Bend Newsletter
May, 1999 Coastal Bend Newsletter
Summer News, 1999 Coastal Bend Newsletter
August  1999 Newsletter
September 1999 Newsletter
October  1999 Newsletter
November 1999 Newsletter
December 1999 Newsletter
January 2000 Newsletter
February 2000 Newsletter
March 2000 Newsletter
April 2000 Newsletter  
May 2000 Newsletter
June 2000 Newsletter
July 2000 Newsletter
URGENT - Shrimping Regulations Meeting 7/2000
August 2000 Newsletter
September 2000 Newsletter
October 2000 Newsletter
November 2000 Newsletter
December 2000 Newsletter
January 2001 Newsletter
February 2001 Newsletter
March 2001 Newsletter
April 2001 Newsletter
May 2001 Newsletter
September 2001 Newsletter
October 2001 Newsletter
November 2001 Newsletter
December 2001 News
January 2002 News
Feb. 2002
Mar. 2002
Apr. 2002
May 2002
Sep. 2002
Oct. 2002
Nov. 2002
Jan. 2003
Feb. 2003
Mar. 2003
Apr. 2003
Sep. 2003
Oct. 2003
Dec. 2003

Meeting Minutes

JAN. 2004
Feb. 2004
Mar. 2004
Apr. 2004
May 2004
Sep. 2004
Oct.-Nov.2004
Dec. 2004
Jan. 2005
Feb. 2005
Mar. 2005
April 2005
May 2005
Sept. 2005
Oct. 2005
Nov. 2005
Jan. 2006
Feb. 2006
Mar. 2006
Apr. 2006
Sept. 2006
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Dec. 2006
Jan. 2007
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Mar. 2007
Apr. 2007
May 2007
Sept. 2007
Oct. 2007
Nov/Dec. 2007

Jan. 2008
Feb. 2008
Mar. 2008
Apr. 2008
May2008
Sept. 2008
Oct. 2008
Nov.2008
Dec.2008
Jan.2009
Feb.2009
Mar.2009
Apr.2009  
May2009
Sept.2009
Oct.2009
Nov.2009
Dec.2009

Meeting Minutes

Jan.2010
Feb.2010
Mar.2010
Apr 2010
May 2010
Sep. 2010
Oct. 2010
Nov. 2010
Dec. 2010

Jan. 2011
Feb. 2011
Mar. 2011
Apr. 2011
May 2011
Sept. 2011
Oct. 2011
Nov. 2011
Dec. 2011

Jan. 2012
Feb. 2012
Mar. 2012
Apr. 2012
May 2012
Oct. 2012
Nov. 2012
Dec. 2012
Jan. 2013
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May 2013  
Sept 2013
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Jan. 2014
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Apr. 2014
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Sep. 2014
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Dec. 2014

2015 Meeting Minutes

Jan. 2015
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COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB GROUP..BRIEF HISTORY
(Reprinted from article in Lone Star Sierran 1991)

    The Coastal Bend Sierra Club Group was accredited in October 1975.   The first chairman was Dr. Paul Gray who presided over a small group of greatly concerned people in this area.  The Group has continued to have enviornmental protection and enhancement as the primary focus for Group activity since the beginning.
The Group is small, only about 300 members.  Their influence in the Coastal Bend area is all out of proportion to their numbers.  In addition to Dr. Gray, several professional scientists have donated their time and expertise to the various causes which the Group has embraced.
One of the earliest of these was the fight to prevent the Port (Nueces County Navigation District then) from dumping dredged spoil into Nueces Bay.  Historically, the Porthad a patent from the State of Texas to use one-third of the original size of Nueces Bay for spoil produced by maintenance dredging of the ship channel.  But times have changed and today the public sees the value of the bay in a different light.  The material which was to be dredged from the bottom of the channel in deeping to 45 feet was contaminated with heavy metals.  These contaminants had resulted from the run-offs of several of the industries located along the harbor channel.  The Corps of Engineers called a meeting to which they brought their highly trained personnel and this Group also had some very well qualified people there.  We had a professor of biology, two professors of chemistry, a head of the U.S. Geological Survey, and a couple of engineers.   When the Corps realized who they were up against, they backed down and today the spoil is being placed on upland sites. 
    Another issue of the late seventies and early eighties was the proposal to dredge a deep-draft inner harbor near Port Aransas at Harbor Island. This location is where the ship channel joins the Gulf of Mexico.  This channel would have been 72-feet deep and the spoil was to be placed in several areas around Port Aransas on the back side of the barrier islands.  Again our "experts" were very vocal in their opposition and together with other interest groups, we succeeded in silencing the project.  THe commissioners of the Port later thanked us for saving them a lot of money when the downturn in the price of oil cam in 1985-7.  This permit request was withdrawn, but a new version has recently surfaced under a new name, SAFEHARBOR. This time the theme is that it is safer to have an inshore port than to offload from super tankers out in the Gulf onto smaller tankers which can navigate this facility.  (This project is on hold but not expected to realize because of financing problems.  They are now looking at a monobuoy which we proposed first in 1977.)
    A major environmental fight in Corpus Christi was the attempt to construct a landfill site off the bayfront in Corpus Christi.  This Group joined with other enviornmental groups in the city to counter the usual propaganda put forth by the proponents about all the jobs to be created and the tax base increase which would result.   The Corps of Engineers finally denied the permit request but the proponents sued the city saying that they did not get all the help they needed.  (They lost.)
    Currently, (1991) the Group has joined with others to oppose the dredging of Packery Channel at the juncture of Padre and Mustang Islands.  We oppose the venture for numerous reasons, not the least of which is that we believe that such an open channel would increase hurricane danger.
...(So far, no dredging has occurred, but the possibility has come up again in 1999.)

(The above article was reprinted in the Coastal Bend Sierra Club Newsletter in February, 1999.)  The article was shortened because the last paragraphs no longer apply.  Instead a few of the things we are currently working on will be presented here.
Packery Channel was first an issue in 1970 before this Group was organized but some of the earliest members worked on this issue then.  The question at that time was the effort of the developer to extend the seawall across the channel in order to build more condos and hotels.  His effort was defeated.  It was much later that a new developer tried to open the channel to boat traffic in the eighties and that effort went down as well.  The City of Corpus Christi tried to get into the fray, but they had to withdraw when a petition against involvement was signed by 8300 residents in 1988.   The latest efforts are being led by the current owner of land behind the seawall and by County Judge Richard Borchard and County Commissioner Joe McComb.  In October 1998, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson placed a bill into the budget bill which would give $19.5 million toward the $30 million project.  Her press release stated that the project was needed for the sant to re-nourish the beach to prevent the massive damage to that area from storms suring the summer of 1998.  (There was no such damage.)   She also stated that opening the channel would greatly increase the circulation of water to Corpus Christi and Nueces Bays.  This would be exceedingly difficult with an average one foot tide.  But now in 1999 the pressure from the proponents is on again and we are preparing to fight.
    Raising the Kennedy Causeway onto pilings has been an ongoing effort for many years.  Now at least, it is only money whichstands in the way.  Before there was active opposition.  So we will see.
    Industrial pollution has been a focus of efforts by many of our members for a long time.  Now the state office has set their priorities in the same direction and even some of the local plants are making noises to the tune of pollution clean-up.   We must keep up the pressure and make sure that the citizens rights to know what is in their air and water are not abridged by the current legislature.

STAY TUNED.  THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCENRED AND ACTIVE GROUP.   PLEASE COME AND HELP CARRY ON THE EFFORTS.  WE WANT YOU.

From January 2000

           RIDLEY SEA TURTLE PROBLEM

                     by: Mina Williams & Venice Scheurich

Last Month (December) the executive committee of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club voted to support "a zero to 7 fathom" closure to shrimp trawling along the entire Texas coast year round. Further, our state organization supports a "zero to 10 fathom closure to shrimp trawling along Padre Island National Seashore from March 1 to August 31 for the purpose of protecting 50 % of the Kemp’s ridley turtles". The positive significance of these statements, which appear in a resolution issued by our state chapter, can hardly be over-estimated.

In a memo, Brian Sybert, National Resources Director of the Lone Star Chapter of Sierra, announced a meeting of environmental organizations that are concerned with sea turtle survival and recovery. This meeting was held on Thursday, January 6 in Austin. Included in that group will be the Center for Marine Conservation and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project. These two organizations are central to beneficial movement to assure sea turtle survival, so this initiative on the part of our state-level organization is a cause for celebration.

COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

    By the time you read this TNRCC will have met and considered the issue of the permit to transfer water the 110 miles from Lake Texana to Corpus Christi and also the request of the City of Corpus Christi to declare "condition 2" of their drought plan.  Both of these issues will effect most of our members in one way or another.  You will need to come to the May 21 meeting to hear the  latest and to learn of any action Sierra will take.
    Edie Cosgrove loaned me a book to read which she said made a strong impression on her.  It made such a strong impression on me that I went out and bought my own copy.  The book is OUR STOLEN FUTURE by Colburn, Dumanoske and Meyers and published by Dutton.  The authors report the recent discovery that persistent chemicals, such as PCB's, dioxins, pesticides, plastics, and styrene are attaching themselves to the endocrine cells in our bodies and those of mammals with frightening results.  I recommend that you get a copy from the library or borrow or buy the book and read it.
One reviewer said this book may be another SILENT SPRING.

SIERRAN ALERT

The Stores of John Muir - Public Presentations May 1996

Friday, May 10  7:30 p.m.        Warren Theater, Texas A&M - CC
Saturday, May 11  10:30 a.m.   Corpus Christi Public Library (In the park around the McCracken
                                                 Memorial bird Bath)
Saturday, May 11   2:30 p.m.    Museum of Science and History (The Water Garden Room)

Listen! Learn! Enjoy! Stories of a naturalist by a naturalist.  John Muir, celebrated and revered by ecologists, teachers, students, and scientists, lives.   Experience adventures from his Scots boyhood to his legendary 1,000 mile walk across America.  Recall his past through story, song, and drama.

Richard Shore transcends time and revisits a distant era as an American icon.  He evokes the stillness of the forest, distills the principles of conservation, and exhorts us, with entertaining wit and gentle humility, to be stewards of the wilderness.

John Muir needs little introduction.  He was the consummate environmentalist:   father of Yosemite, Sierra club founder, inventor, architect of the National Park Service, geologist, inspired storyteller.  His writings remain a model for contemporary authors; his hikes still challenge more ordinary "soles."

As the reincarnation of Muir, Dick Shore bewitches the mind's eye; he's entirely convincing as he dons the clothes, the mannerisms, the brogue.  His credits include audiences at high schools, colleges, and universities.  He's performed at Audubon, Sierra, and Nature Conservancy clubs.  Elderhostelers, civic groups, religious congregations, and army troops have applauded him engaging over 35,000 at presentations nationwide.

But who is he?  A zoologist, (Ph.D., Duke, 1963), Operations Analyst (MBA, 1974), and Quality Engineer, he works in both public and private sectors.  Indulging a life-long passion for theater, he has honed the skills requisite to create an impassioned, artful portrait.  Born in the shadow of Muir's beloved Sierra Nevada, Shore has hiked, camped, and explored half the United States, particularly Yosemite and the West Coast.  His uncanny resemblance to Muir and his own personal experiences inform a timeless message - perhaps more important today than it was a century earlier.

SPONSORS:  THe Friends of the Corpus Christi Public Library, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, Corpus Christi Independent School District, Blucher Nature Center, and Texas A&M Department of Continuing Education.

CLOSING THE CIRCLE

We are all familiar with the slogan of the three "R's." Reduce, reuse, and recycle have become part of the mix here in Corpus Christi.  We have just completed four years of curbside pick-up of materials which can be recycled here in the city.

Think about what happens to paper and plastic bags, milk and drink bottles.  They must be trucked back, sorted, washed, groud up or pulped, and remanufactured.  All of these steps use resources.

CLOSING THE CIRCLE is still very important.  Reynolds Metals Company from Ingleside is helping the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens build "ECO-PARKING."   A new parking lot is being built next to the new entrance building which is made of recycled milkjugs.  The parking lot is full of holes, produces no run-off.  The material being used is 20 percent high-density plastic--mainly milkjugs; and 80 percent low-density plastic--post-use stretch film and packaging materials.

The parking lot is constructed using 3' by 1' by 2" recycled black plastic units laid over sand.  After the units are installed, the open "cells" are backfilled with good soil and seeded with Bermuda grass.  Once the turf is establishe,d only the black surface grid is visible.  The lot will be able to handle cars, vans, pickups, as well as most utility and delivery trucks.  Very little mowing will be required.

The "Eco-Parking" lot at the Botanical Gardens is one way to close the circle.  The Recycling and Waste Reduction Advisory Committee will hold its monthly meeting on May 1i6 at the Botanical Gardens to observe this latest addition to the recycling possibilities. At that meeting the Committee will present a Certificate of Appreciation to Reynolds Metals for their help in the creation of this parking lot.   The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation is at 6:30 p.m.  The public is invited.

HELP WANTED - OUTINGS CHAIRMAN                   LET US KNOW YOUR WISHES
                               NEWSLETTER EDITOR                  How about a few letters to the editor
                                                                                        expressing your wishes or views. We
                                                                                        will print them as space permits.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Pat Suter                         852-7938             Chairman
Randy Berryhill                883-0586             V. Chairman
Judy Tor                          241-2605             Treasurer
Dorothy McLaren           853-9049             Secretary

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Henry Berryhill                 883-0586             Conservation
Elaine Giessel                   512-578-5291     
Randy Berryhill                 883-0586             Membership
Dorothy McLaren            853-9049             Labels
Marie Speer                     937-4584             Newsletter
Ken Jobe                         993-3737             Recycling
                                                                  Wetlands
Edith Cosgrove                 241-2960            Air Quality
Elnora Trott                      241-1556             Parks
Henry Berryhill                 883-0586             Population
Sheril Smith                      853-2478             Population
Roy E. Bazire                   993-2148             Coastal

  Pluto's Edge Design   Website and Graphic Design

SIERRA PROFILES...

John Muir -
"Anywhere that is wild!"

   In 1868, John Muir, a Sccottish immigrant from Wisconsin stepped onto a bustling wharf in San Francisco and stopped a passerby to ask the fastest way out of town. When asked where he wanted to go, he responded, "Anywhere that is wild!" Then just thirty, he found the wild - and his life's vocation - in Yosemite.  On May 28, 1892, John Muir, with 182 charter members, founded the Sierra Club "to explore, enjoy and render accessible the mountain regions of the Pacific coast."
   The years sojourning in Yosemite were the wellspring of Muir's influential writings, which instilled the idea of preserving nature deep into the fabric of American life and political thought. 
   Each member of the Sierra Club is part of a proud tradition of people united by their love of natural world and their determination to defend it. Won't you join today?
Help continue the tradition...Join the Club!

Coastal Bend Sierra Club E-Mail

Protect America's Environment.
For our families, for our future.
       
A Philosophy of Stewardship                
The Sierra Club's statement of Purpose is:  To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

Uranium Issues page:

South Texas Uranium News

• EPA’s January 26, 2015, proposed rule entitled “Health and Environmental Protection Standards for Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings,” has yet to be approved.  The Federal Oversight House Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on this in Washington D.C. on June 23, 2016, but it was indefinitely postponed and no new hearing date has been set.  (Mina, Teresa, and Venice testified on behalf of CBSCG at the EPA hearing in Corpus Christi in April 2015.)

  Also in June, URI withdrew its permit application for a permit to do in-situ mining again in Kleberg County.  (TCEQ and SOAH had already begun the contested case hearing in Kingsville in March 2016.)

  About the same time, URI chose to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court a victory handed to Kleberg County earlier by the Thirteenth Court of Appeals that URI had breached an obligation to comply with a settlement agreement with the county to clean up well I – 11 from previous mining.

• July 2014 EPA DECISION ON URANIUM ENERGY CORPORTION’S GOLIAD COUNTY AQUIFER EXEMPTION REQUEST
  
  After evaluating technical statements and public comments
  submitted in February 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided that data is insufficient to support the original Aquifer Exemption granted to UEC for its proposed uranium mining project in Goliad County.
  Therefore, EPA now proposes to significantly decrease the acreage in the original exempt area. This
  reevaluation of data and subsequent action by EPA resulted when some Goliad County residents filed an
  appeal in the Federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
  The well-known Houston environmental attorney, Jim Black
  burn, represented the Goliad residents intheir appeal. To  read his reaction to the latest EPA decisi
  on, go to:
  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2014/jun/18/final_epa_d
  ecision_ss_061814_242337/
  
  Submitted by Venice Scheurich and Mina Williams, July 29, 2014

February 2014 Uranium News from Goliad County

As noted in the February 4 Coastal Bend Sierra Meeting Minutes, the U.S. EPA held a meeting in Victoria on Feb. 11 to receive public comments on the Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) aquifer exemption (AE) in Goliad County which was granted in December 2012. This meeting was the result of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ granting EPA’s motion to remand the December 2012 decision and allow a 60-day review period. On April 1, the EPA plans to submit their review findings to the Court.

About 150 citizens attended the Victoria meeting, and many made statements and submitted written comments. Coastal Bend Sierra officers Venice Scheurich and Mina Williams spoke and submitted a folder of documents summarizing our Sierra Group’s participation in South Texas uranium matters over a period of more than seven years. In addition, Coastal BendSierra’s treasurer, Teresa Carrillo, who is also Lone Star Sierra’s Mining Chair, sent written comments to EPA. The following statements from these three Coastal Bend Sierra officers describe our Group’s position on the AE.

VICTORIA MEETING--COMMENTS TO EPA ON FEBRUARY 11, 2014

My name is Venice Scheurich. I am the Conservation Chair of the Coastal Bend Sierra Club Group. Our group has followed uranium activity in several Texas counties within

our area for more than seven years because we have members in these counties who are concerned about potential impacts on groundwater. In 2010, when EPA determined that regulations for in-situ ISL/ISR uranium mining in 40 CFR Part 192 may need revision, I represented our Sierra Group by submitting comments and documents at the EPA meeting in Corpus Christi on November 4.

Those of you representing EPA are aware of the Agency’s technical report released in June 2011. You will recall that the Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC) augmented by a Science Advisory Board (SAB) started their deliberations that summer. Again, I represented our Sierra Group by studying draft documents and submitting written as well as oral comments during several SAB teleconferences which occurred in the summer and fall of 2011. The SAB’s final Report was submitted to the EPA Administrator in February 2012. (EPA–SAB–12–005)

Incidentally, but importantly, the SAB was structured to provide balanced, expert assessment of scientific matters relating to problems facing the Agency. To be qualified to serve on this SAB, members were required to be nationally and internationally recognized scientists and engineers who had demonstrated expertise and experience in at least one of the following areas: environmental statistics, geostatistics, geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, environmental health monitoring, or radiation health science. Members of the SAB were not employees of the EPA. (Federal Register, Vol. 75, pp. 71702 – 71703)

I’ve come here to discuss the relevance of the SAB’s findings and recommendations tothe situation before us tonight. That is, what bearing should this Report have on

whether or not EPA ultimately grants the Aquifer Exemption (AE) requested by Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC)? Reading the SAB’s Report and comparing its recommendations to Texas regulations for uranium mining in 30 TAC Chapter 331, answers this question. Most, if not all, here tonight know that many steps must be taken by industry staff and Texas regulators prior to a company’s receiving TCEQ’s approval of their AE request, and that the final step before mining can begin is EPA’s approval of the AE. This means that EPA begins their work under the assumption that Texas regulators (Texas has been an Agreement State since 1963) have based their decision for approval at each previous step on credible science. Unfortunately, a reading of the SAB Report indicates this is not the case. Texas regulations in 30 TAC Chapter 331 are “broken” at several steps—especially the first two, evaluation of baseline conditions and estimating restoration standards, which lay the foundation for every subsequent step leading up to EPA’s decision on the AE.

When I think of this, I visualize a ladder with several bottom rungs broken or missing, making it impossible to climb. However, incredibly, someone, by some means, has reached the top rung and is requesting an aquifer exemption. EPA’s Region 6 staff asked for modeling to help “fix” the problem, but as the records of 2011-2012 show, TCEQ blocked these efforts at every turn. Now, because of the Appeal Court’s decision, the EPA has an opportunity to reconsider the basis on which the Aquifer Exemption in question was granted. EPA’s chargeto the Science Advisory Board (SAB) specified four items, including one on baseline determination and another on statistical practice. A statement that occurs repeatedly in SAB drafts, and which was also included in the final Report, is as follows: (pp. 3 and 14, SAB Report, Feb. 17, 2012) “Devote at least as much time and effort to defining baseline groundwater conditions as to post-operational trend monitoring.” Accordingly, the SAB Report devotes an entire section to pre-operational monitoring. The introduction to this section contains the following paragraph.

“The SAB recommends that the proposed approach to groundwater monitoring for pre-mining chemical and radiological characterization be defined in the context of DQOs for baseline characterization. For example, the most basic DQO may be to establish zone-specific statistical distributions of baseline concentrations for key hazardous constituents that may be released to groundwater during mining or restoration operations. Regulations require these distributions to be based on independent and representative water samples collected from zones in which baseline wells are located by a statistically valid sampling design.”

[emphasis added] (p. 17, SAB Report, Feb. 17, 2012)

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/SouthTexasUraniumFeb2013.htm

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/SouthTexasUraniumSummer2011.htm

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/SouthTexasUranium-Sass.htm

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/2010tceq-trcletters.htm

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/Uranium-8-27-10.htm
http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/STUletters-r.htm

http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend/SouthTexasUranium-9-09.htm

Uranium Resources, Inc. (URI) Slows Texas Operations

The January 4, 2009, edition of the Kingsville Record and Bishop News included in its "Top 10 Stories of 2008" a report that URI is dropping plans for near future additional uranium exploration and mining activities in Kleberg County. URI’s press release of December 19, 2008, indicated that the same is true for the Vasquez and Rosita mine areas in Duval County.

The Kingsville newspaper’s report states, "URI, once a driving force in the local economy, has all but shut down completely with water restoration the only work on its agenda."

Whether or not post-mining groundwater restoration will occur is questionable. South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) members have claimed that in situ uranium mining companies have consistently failed to restore groundwater to the quality agreed to when granted permits to mine by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Documentation of STOP’s claims is found in hydrogeologist Dr. Bruce Darling’s study titled "Report on Findings Related to the Restoration of In Situ Mines in South Texas." A link to this report can be found on ALTURA’s website at: http://www.uraniuminfo.org

Television news coverage of the URI slowdown was given by KIIITV’s Manuel De La Rosa on January 27, 2009. For a video of his report, click on: http://www.kiiitv.com/news/area3news/38501189.html . STOP member and Coastal Bend Sierran Dr. Mark Walsh is interviewed in this video.

The latest edition of Lone Star Sierra’s publication State Capitol Report includes a story with pictures on the status of uranium exploration and mining in the Coastal Bend area. To find this publication on-line, go to Lone Star Sierra’s homepage.

Submitted by Venice Scheurich and Mina Williams on January 30, 2009

Submitted by V. Scheurich and M. Williams, 12/01/08

Bee County Officials Reject Uranium Miners’ Request

On November 24, 2008, the Bee County Commissioners’ Court voted against adopting a resolution endorsing uranium mining in Bee County.  This action was taken even though executives of Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) and Signal Equities had previously shown a film on the in situ mining process to commissioners and requested that they officially support uranium mining in their county.

The commissioners understood that the mining company executives intended to use the Courts’ endorsement to help persuade state legislators to dismiss opposition to uranium mining in Texas.

However, Bee County Health Department Director Dennis DeWitt, after extensive research on the long-term effects of in situ uranium mining—especially on groundwater-- advised commissioners not to grant the resolution requested by the miners.

DeWitt’s written memorandum to the Court was obtained by the Beeville Bee-Picayune through the Texas Public Information Act.  In part, DeWitt’s statement said, “The Bee County Commissioners’ Court is the gatekeeper for air, water and ground as well as all people, flora and fauna of the county.  As gatekeeper, the court is primarily responsible for health and safety first before all else.  We must think in terms of decades and centuries, not simply years.  We must realize that decisions we make today may impact present and future generations of Bee County residents for hundreds of years.”

After also hearing from other interested parties, the commissioners concluded that they would not provide political coverage for the mining companies as the next legislature convenes in January.

Corpus Christi KIIITV 3’s reporter Manuel De La Rosa covered the meeting and interviewed Dennis DeWitt, some Bee County property owners, and County Commissioner Susan Stasny.   His story aired on that channel’s 10:00 pm newscast on November 24.  To watch the video, click on:

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/area3news/35021039.html.

To read more on the Bee County deliberations which led to the Commissioner Courts’ decision, refer to coverage in the Beeville Bee-Picayune.

Submitted by V. Scheurich and M. Williams, 11/13/08

URANIUM: DOES THE BENEFIT OUTWEIGH THE RISK?

Victoria Advocate reporter Tara Bozick’s stories on pros and cons of uranium mining, based largely on experiences in Kleberg County over the past 20 years, ran on the Advocate’s front page on Monday, November 3rd.  Sierra Club member and South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) director Elizabeth Cumberland is featured in the stories.  The second story also quotes Ann Ewing, president of STOP, whose family owns land on Garcia Hill in Kleberg County. To read these reports, click on:

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/story/349347.html

and  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/story/349345.html

KIII TV NEWS RUNS TWO PART FEATURE ON URANIUM MINING AND GROUNDWATER

KIII TV reporter Manuel De la Rosa prepared a special two part feature story on uranium mining and its effect on groundwater quality in the Garcia Hill area of Kleberg County. The reports ran during the station’s 10:00 pm news casts on November 10 and 11, 2008.

Coastal Bend Sierra Club member and South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) treasurer Dr. Mark Walsh and STOP president Ann Ewing were both interviewed. Also interviewed were Mark Pelizza of Uranium Resources, Inc., State Representative Yvonne Gonzalez-Toureilles, and Garcia Hill resident Humberto Garcia.

To read the text and watch videos of these KIII Channel 3 reports, click on:

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/area3news/34281789.html and http://www.kiiitv.com/news/area3news/34332314.html

10/19/08

New Alliance—ALTURA—Launched

On October 8, 2008, Texas local officials, business people, landowners, scientists, teachers, and conservation group representatives met at the State Capitol to announce the formation of the Alliance of Texans for Uranium Research and Action (ALTURA). To view related videos, click on: http://www.uraniuminfo.org/

The Alliance released a study showing the history of groundwater contamination by the uranium mining industry in Texas and called for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in drinking water aquifers in the state.

The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club is working on the uranium mining issue in coordination with ALTURA. Our Coastal Bend Sierra Group is also involved since almost all of the Texas in situ leach uranium mining activity is in counties within the Coastal Bend area.

To read a full account of ALTURA’s launch event and the study by hydrogeologist/geochemist Dr. Bruce K. Darling titled "Report on Findings Related to the Restoration of In Situ Mines in South Texas," click on: http://www.texas.sierraclub.org/press/scr/scr20081016.pdf

Also, to view ALTURA’s impressive new website, Google "ALTURA uranium."

Submitted by Venice Scheurich and Mina Williams

9/26/08

Texas Regulations Do Not Protect Groundwater from Uranium Mining Contamination

At their meeting on September 22, 2008, Goliad County Commissioners were alerted by their attorney, Jim Blackburn, that they need to be concerned about the quality of the county’s water after uranium mining takes place.  Blackburn’s firm has looked at uranium mining permits issued by the state over the past 20 to 30 years. Records on file at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reveal that 51 requests from companies at 80 uranium mining sites have been granted for amended restoration values.  These amended values allowed companies to leave groundwater with higher levels of several contaminants than the companies had agreed to when obtaining their permits to mine.

To read more on this disturbing practice, go to Sonny Long’s report in the September 23, 2008, issue of the Victoria Advocate at:  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/goliad_county/story/323434.html.

Submitted by Venice Scheurich & Mina Williams

9/26/08

6/3/08

TOXIC WATER AND IN-SITU URANIUM MINING

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club (CBSC) and South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) co-sponsored a workshop in Kingsville on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The presenter was Dr. Richard Abitz, a geochemist with many years of experience working with environmental problems associated with radioactive waste, including remediation of groundwater contaminated with uranium and its decay products and with the assessment of health risk from exposure to toxic substances. A summary of proceedings for this event was written by Dr. Mark Walsh, STOP Treasurer. This informative report was published in the Kingsville Record and in the Rio Grande Guardian. To read it, go to:

Walsh Summary

Submitted by: Venice Scheurich & Mina Williams

June 3, 2008

4/07/08

State Regulatory Agencies Fail to Protect South Texans From Uranium Mining

Given that the price of uranium has surged in the past two years, interest by companies to lease, explore, and mine in South Texas is also surging.  Officials in Kleberg County, where in situ uranium mining began in the 1980’s, and in Goliad County, where exploration activity is occurring and a permit for mining has been applied for, are struggling to inform their citizens about mining techniques and possible harmful effects on groundwater.

Residents in these areas are responding by attending meetings and forming advisory committees.  Journalists in Kingsville, Goliad, Victoria, and Corpus Christi are writing and publishing articles about concerns of citizens and county officials over poor legislation and regulation at the state level which allow companies to continue exploring and mining even when agreements to restore groundwater are not kept.

Dan Kelley, investigative reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, has written an excellent series in that newspaper clearly describing how state law does not require the Texas Railroad Commission or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to protect Texas groundwater from unsafe mining activities.  To read this fascinating and informative series, click on:

http://www.caller.com/news/2006/nov/06/laws-keep-industry-activities-secret/

and

http://www.caller.com/news/2006/nov/05/as-uranium-mines-closed-state-altered-cleanup/

Additional articles documenting problems with uranium exploration and mining can be found quickly on the websites of the Kingsville Record and the Victoria Advocate by using their search windows.

April 7, 2008

Venice Scheurich 

3/31/08

Uranium Controversy Intensifies in Texas

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, the Austin American-Statesman ran a detailed report on the current status of the uranium mining controversy in South Texas.  The story was written by Robert Elder and features a map and several illustrations—including one of an exploration borehole which landowners claim was not properly plugged, therefore allowing contaminants to enter the aquifer.

To read this informative account, click on:

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/03/30/0330uranium.html

PUBLIC MEETING HOSTED BY TCEQ ON UEC’S REQUEST TO MINE URANIUM IN GOLIAD COUNTY

On January 24, 2008, hundreds of concerned citizens packed the meeting hall in Goliad to question, comment, and learn about the application of Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) to mine uranium in Goliad County. About fifty people signed up to speak at the meeting which was hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Of these speakers, only two supported UEC’s permit application request. Lone Star Communications Coordinator, Donna Hoffman, voiced concerns about the granting of the permit, as did Pat Suter, Chairperson of Coastal Bend Sierra. Other Sierrans also spoke or handed in written comments expressing their concerns. To read more about the meeting, click on: http://texas.sierraclub.org/press/newsreleases/20080124.asp

Submitted by:

Venice Scheurich

Mina Williams

10-04-2007

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON GOLIAD URANIUM ACTIVITY 10/03/07

On Wednesday, October 3, 2007, investigative reporter Greg Harman filed a comprehensive account in the San Antonio Current of the struggle that Goliad County officials and citizens are mounting to forestall uranium mining, which they believe has the potential to contaminate the Gulf Coast Aquifer.

Harman also details some of the history of uranium mining in other south Texas counties. His report can be found at: http://www.sacurrent.com/util/printready.asp?id=67503

09-29-2007

GOLIAD URANIUM MINING OPPOSITION STRENGTHENS

by Art Dohmann

On September 26, 2007, Goliad County officials and citizens held a press conference near the site where Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) has done extensive exploratory drilling and where UEC hopes to start mining if they are granted a permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

During the press conference, Art Dohmann, President of the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District (GCGCD) and Chair of the Commissioners’ Court Uranium Research and Advisory Committee (URAC), delivered the following comments explaining why Goliad County opposes UEC’s request for the mining permit from TCEQ. "Groundwater is the lifeblood for Goliad County and it is vital that we protect it.For the past nine months, we have conducted research and participated in a number of well-attended conferences to inform landowners, and other concerned citizens and stakeholders.

In May of 2006, UEC commenced drilling of exploration boreholes under permit number 123 in the north-northeast part of Goliad County between 15 mile and 18 mile Coleto Creeks. This activity was begun at the east end of the permit area and progressed to the west with increased drilling occurring from November 2006 until April of 2007. Drilling was significantly curtailed during the May-July 2007 time period while surface violations were being remediated.

In November and December of 2006, GCGCD conducted the first water baseline testing of 18 user wells around the exploration area. The results of these tests showed good water in 15 wells and high radionuclides in 3 wells which are located downdip to the exploration.

In April 2007, GCGCD was advised by five landowners updip of the exploration area that they were experiencing filter plugging and dirty water with their domestic use wells. Their wells have been in service for many years and these landowners have not experienced this problem previously. GCGCD retested these wells in April 2007, and found significant changes in mineral and iron content in four of the wells. The fifth well was experiencing only a red coloration in the fixtures and had no identified quality changes.

The Railroad Commission of Texas was provided detailed information of this condition but made no investigation and concluded that it was possibly due to a change from drought conditions to wet conditions. This area has experienced many drought and wet cycles in the past and has not observed this dirty water condition previously.

Beginning in December 2006, and continuing until June 2007, UEC has completed 20 monitor wells within the exploration area. These monitor wells were drilled after the boreholes were drilled and these monitor wells are very close to the boreholes, in some cases within 20 feet. Baseline water samples from these wells all show elevated levels of Radium 226, well above allowable levels for drinking water. The highest reading is 300 times the allowable.The quality of this water can not be considered pre-exploration quality when it is drawn after all of the boreholes were drilled which disturbed the aquifer.This procedure strongly suggests that better regulations are required to protect the environment and natural resources of the State of Texas.

To give you an idea of the importance of water to Goliad County, there are over 4,000 water wells that serve the domestic, livestock, and business needs for the County. Without this supply of good quality groundwater, Goliad County would suffer a major catastrophe. Looking to the future, 100-120 new service wells are drilled each year to supply a steady growth spearheaded by an urban movement towards the pristine natural beauty and quality of life offered by Goliad County. Goliad County groundwater is supplied by the Gulf Coast Aquifer with the principal aquifer segments being the Evangeline and the Chicot. The Evangeline Aquifer is at the surface for approximately 2/3 of the northern part of the county and is overlaid by the Chicot Aquifer in the southern end of the county. The Gulf Coast Aquifer consists of interbedded sands and clays and is considered a non-confined aquifer. These underground geological formations through which water flows are not appropriate for in-situ uranium mining. It is simply not possible to do in a safe manner.

The north end of the county is the recharge zone for much of the water used in the county. The flow of the aquifer is to the southeast and it slopes at an average rate of 90 feet in the north of the county with a gradual flattening to 30 feet in the south of the county. Faulting can alter the normal flow of the aquifer to a lateral flow and also to a vertical flow. The uranium ore was deposited in the water sands of the Evangeline Aquifer millions of years ago. These uranium deposits are stable until dissolved by oxygenated water injection or by being disturbed mechanically.

After careful evaluation of:

the unconfined and sloping features of the Gulf Coast Aquifer;

the Railroad Commission of Texas reports on permit number 123 site reclamation and gamma radiation results;

the results of the model prepared by Daniel B. Stephens and Associates;

the sudden deterioration of water quality;

and other issues—

URAC’s assessment is that ‘in our judgment in-situ leach mining could not be done safely in Goliad County.’Groundwater is the lifeblood for Goliad County. It is vital that we protect it. There are many negative factors associated with borehole exploration and ISL uranium mining and our concern is the impact on groundwater.

By notice issued August 29, 2007, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) notified property owners adjacent to the exploration permit number 123 area that Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) had applied an application to obtain a new Underground Injection Control Permit proposing to conduct in-situ recovery of uranium at their facility in Goliad County. On September 6, 2007, a contested case hearing on behalf of Goliad County Commissioners’ Court, Goliad, Texas, was requested by legal counsel."

-Updated 9/29/2007

08/17/07    GOLIAD COUNTY TO CONTEST PERMIT FOR URANIUM MINING

The following report is excerpted from the August 15, 2007, edition of The Texan Express, Goliad’s Hometown Newspaper.

The Goliad County Research and Advisory Committee (URAC) is charged with protecting and preserving the quality of the environment and the groundwater supply in Goliad County. URAC advises the Goliad County Commissioners’ Court on actions and decisions to be made by the Commissioners’ Court in regard to the potential mining of uranium in Goliad County.

For the past eight months, URAC has carefully evaluated data and activities associated with uranium exploration conducted under Railroad Commission of Texas Permit Number 123 and the potential application and approval of a mining permit under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

At a special meeting of URAC on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, the nine members present of a ten member committee voted unanimously that, in their judgment, in-situ leach mining could not be done safely in Goliad County. This assessment was the result of many inputs, including:

·         March 27, 2007, inspection report of the Railroad Commission of Texas on exploration permit number 123 site, which focused on assessing the borehole site reclamation. This report included a citation for numerous plugging and surface reclamation deficiencies.

·         May 9, 2007, gamma radiation survey report of the Railroad Commission of Texas on exploration permit number 123 site, confirming some elevated gamma radiation-level observations in the disturbed borehole drilling areas.

·         May 30, 2007 (updated June 1, June 26 and July 5, 2007) report from the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District (GCGCD) regarding groundwater quality, which tracked five water wells with dirty water and water-level changes up dip of extensive exploration borehole drilling under permit number 123.

·         The Daniel B. Stephens and Associates report dated June 25, 2007, titled "Evaluation of Potential Impacts Related to Proposed Uranium Mining in Goliad County, Texas." This report noted a number of potential problems of groundwater contamination and reduction of supply.

·         Studies of the requirements of ISL uranium mining requiring a confined aquifer. The Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County is not a confined aquifer.

·         Historic data from past ISL uranium mining operations.

·         Goliad County residents’ testimony.

URAC maintains that, while there are many negative factors associated with borehole exploration and ISL uranium, the major issue is the impact on groundwater. The Committee recognizes that the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County does not meet the requirements for ISL uranium mining. The aquifer slope of 20-40 feet per mile, the hydraulic gradient of five feet per mile, and the aquifer’s being non-confined are all major factors.

During borehole exploration, the water sands that supply water required in the area for domestic and livestock use, are penetrated many times. Residents living in the area of concentrated borehole drilling under permit number 123 have experienced disrupted and contaminated water supplies. Dirty water, even though it may not be contaminated with radio nuclides, is not tolerable.

Goliad County Commissioners and URAC wish to release this statement. URAC intends to contact the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environment Quality, and the Texas Department of Health, providing them with this press release and a letter of explanation.URAC recommends that the Commissioners’ Court allocate funds in the budget to provide the necessary funding for a contested case hearing before TCEQ in opposition to permits allowing uranium mining in Goliad County.

The Court approved funding for a contested case hearing on the UEC permit [on August 13, 2007].

04/03/07

Hundreds of Uranium Exploration Violations in Goliad County

Hundreds of violations by Uranium Energy Corporation were found when the Texas Railroad Commission followed up on a complaint filed by Blackburn/Carter representing Goliad County. The complaint filed February 6, 2007 alleged that Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) was not disposing drill fluids and potentially harmful cuttings in accordance with the approved UEC Permit 123. The complaint also alleged that UEC’s activities were adversely impacting the area ground water resources.

Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) met with UEC representatives prior to the inspection on March 7, 2007. Joining TRC and UEC were representatives from Goliad County and a hydrologist. TRC collected soil samples, shot photos, and inspected borehole sites and adjoining areas during their three day inspection of the surface areas in UEC Permit 123.

UEC in Section IV A stated their company would backfill to above grade to allow for settling of soil. This prevents the formation of pits or depressions in pasturelands. Eleven of the one-hundred and seventeen mud pits were in violation.

Marking boreholes was almost non existent. Only six of 117 boreholes could be found. TRC used 3 different systems trying to locate the boreholes. The only way that the Railroad Commission could find these holes was by looking for evidence of a borehole. Section IV B of Permit 123 stated UEC would mark each borehole, so that the Railroad Commission could locate these.

When TRC issued the permit, it stated that each borehole drilled in the project was to have a ten-foot surface plug located three feet below the surface. Only 14 of the 117 boreholes could be verified to have a surface plug. Of the fourteen found, five were found open to the surface with a cement plug greater than 20 feet below the surface. The rest of the plugs were found between 0 and 18 inches below the surface.

Also in violation were mud pits. UEC stated they would allow these to dry before backfilling with subsoil and cuttings. TRC saw these pits being filled quickly. This causes drilling fluids to remain on top of the soil. This reclamation failure was also found at several older drill holes.

Town hall meetings are being scheduled in Goliad to give updates on uranium mining. Citizens will be given time to ask questions and provide input. Town hall meetings are scheduled as:

April 10 (Tues) - 7:00 p.m -      Weesatche Community Center

April 11 (Wed) - 7:00 p.m. - Ander-Weser Volunteer Fire Department on FM 1961

April 12 (Thur) - 7:00 p.m. - Immaculate Conception Parish Hall - 225 N. Commercial St., Goliad

For additional information, call Margaret A. Rutherford at 361-645-2083 or email her at marutherford@sbcglobal.net

Margaret A. Rutherford

President of Uranium Information at Goliad (UIAG)

P.O. Box 993 Goliad, TX 77963

Ph. 361-645-2083             

02/07/07                           

Resurgence of Uranium Mining in South Texas

Given that the price of uranium has increased from $7 to $75 per pound in a very short time, interest in exploration in Goliad County and mining in Kleberg County is surging. Officials in both counties are struggling to inform their citizens about mining techniques and possible harmful effects on groundwater.

Residents in both counties are responding by attending meetings and forming advisory committees. Journalists in Kingsville, Goliad, Corpus Christi, and Victoria are researching, writing, and publishing articles concerning both the history and resurgence of uranium mining in South Texas. Commissioners’ Courts are contemplating what actions to take to best protect their counties’ groundwater and other resources.

The purpose of this new link on the Coastal Bend Sierra Club’s home page is to provide news and hyperlinks for information on uranium activity in South Texas.

The Goliad County Extension Agency has a comprehensive web site which catalogues activity in the Goliad region by Uranium Exploration Corporation (UEC) during the fall of 2006. To access this site, go to: http://goliad-tx.tamu.edu/.  Also, Sonny Long, of the Victoria Advocate, has written extensively on uranium activity in Goliad County and continues to cover the matter for that newspaper. Consult the Advocate’s archives.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times has published at least four articles since November 2006 by Dan Kelley on uranium mining in Kleberg County. To access these, search the Caller’s archives for his articles of November 5 and November 6, 2006, and February 6 and February 7, 2007.

February 7, 2007

Venice Scheurich

Mina Williams