Here at Navajo council Resources & Development Committee’s Subcommi ttee on a Proposed agreement between the Navajo Nation and URI/Uranium Resources Inc. of Texas for URI to conduct a demonstration project involving In-Situ Uranium Mining near Church Rock, N.M. Before I go any further, please excuse all typos and grammar errors and misspelling because I’m typing as fast as I can from this meeting at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz. Subcommittee member are Chairperson Leonard Tsosie and Vice Chairperson Leonard Pete.

L.PETE
It seems like there shud be agreement for Demonstration Project.

L.TSOSIE
There are hundreds of sites that mandate cleanup. I do fault former leaders and they are all out there shopping out at Wal Mart. I understand cart before horse and also URI saying it cud do this on parallel track.

URI CHRISTOPHER JONES
We have 14 days to finalize demonstration project so any time you wnat us to return, we can.

NAVAJO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ROBERT TAYLOR
we need to get everything that URI has talked about in writing about Demonstration Project and report that they been talking about for six months.

URI MARK PELIZZA
(Hands out copies of USEPS Environmental Impact Study) so what do with site? wat is doable? as guy working with remediation, makes me shake head. mancos shale is also confounding.

NDOJ
I understand what wud have demonstration project exclusive on what you handed out.

NEPA DIRECTOR ETSITTY
regarding challenges highlighted by Pelizza by former activities, remind subcommittee that when strongly debating DOE that contamination from mill, we hired investigator to forensic level so interested in additional info regarding mancos shale. we showed DOE the fingerprint of specific radioactive material linked to uranium mill. we have some experience with co-mingling and our experience growing in this area. we understand uranium naturally occurring and co-mingling from public activity.

L.TSOSIE
NEPA shud have deposit of material/information.

NEPA DIRECTOR ETSITTY
We have website.

NEPA EUGENE ESPLAIN
in last report that URI Pelizza handed out is highway 566 built thru state highway. soil contaminated both sides of highway. i always wondered how that fits into cleanup by URI. heard, that’s state’s problem. talked to state and state said no money and republican governor. asked Pelizza if include in cleanup and he said yes. but nothing in report so want that statement in writing for cleanup from fence line to highway.

L.TSOSIE
Did u put in writing?

NEPA ESPLAIN
no. but will do.

NEPA DIRECTOR ETSITTY
Mr. King mentioned NM study in 1984 so much of radiological study showed rights of way from URI section 8 to Church Rock mine. So we have been sharing info with New Mexico. Church Rock Uranium Monitoring Project was done thru grant from community and collaborated with USEPA and available electronically. State made aware of issues/problems in ROW. Study done in 2004.

FORGOTTEN PEOPLE DON YELLOWMAN
Did i hear u say that other countries use sulphuric acid but not acceptable in the U.S. I live in Tuba City and according to you, this plume from former uranium mine is moving rather quickly and there is concerned out there which includes Hopi people. This system of reclamation is good but also too expensive. Here to let you know that we are going to grill you and we will not bend so easily. I appreciate your answers and that we an communicate respectfully.

URI PELIZZA
our study encompasses entire area.

L.TSOSIE
appreciate that URI not conduct any uranium processing on Navajo reservation but take to Texas. but ask if URI wud consider taking its mill site away from Crownpoint. And this started with former Chairman Paul Jones.