This report raises serious concerns about the huge number of uranium claims around the Colorado River. The river is the source of drinking water for millions in the West.
We've already seen the danger with respect to uranium tailings at Moab. Now the federal government is on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to clean it up. To risk the river's health with further contamination from uranium makes no sense.
I believe strict environmental standards should be in place to protect the Colorado River and other critical public resources from contamination due to mining activities.
This report underscores the critical need to reform the 1872 mining law.
This reform should provide a consistent source of funding the cleanup of abandoned mines, which today pose a serious threat to public health and safety. There are 47,000 abandoned mines in California and the more than 500,000 nationwide. That's why I have introduced legislation that creates an abandoned mine cleanup fund.
Bottom line: by shining a light on the potential risks, I hope this report will create momentum for reform in Congress.
