Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Staff writer
GALLUP — The New Mexico House barely passed a bill Monday that calls for the creation of a task force to look into uranium mining in the state.
The House passed the measure 31-28 and it now goes to the Senate.
State Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-McKinley County, said the bill calls for the task force to prepare a report by October on the feasibility of bringing uranium mining back to the state. All of the Gallup area representatives, with the exception of Sandra Jeff, voted in favor of the bill, said Lundstrom.
The task force would also look into existing state laws, she said, to make sure that they are adequate in handling the problems that could arise out of uranium mining.
“The uranium industry fought to keep this resolution from passing,” Lundstrom said. “They don’t want this kind of scrutiny.”
Instead, companies that are looking to start up in McKinley County and elsewhere in this area had wanted to be able to come in under existing laws and with little fuss.
Lundstrom said passage of the bill will make sure that doesn’t happen.
She said she is now working to get a similar bill introduced in the Senate and is planning to meet with Sen. Lynda Lovejoy, D-McKinley County, to see if she will be one of the sponsors.
http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/02February/022409billwouldput.html
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