The clean, safe water New Mexicans need for our families, our farms and ranches, and a thriving economy is threatened every day by the devastating drought.
So why would New Mexico open a new uranium mine-like the proposed Roca Honda mine-that would use millions of gallons of our scarce water every day? The mine, which would be located near Mount Taylor, will pump groundwater directly from the underground aquifer on which local communities rely.
We know we can count on Conservation Voters like you, but if we’re going to protect our water supplies, we need even more people to be aware of the threat and engaged in the fight. Help spread the word by sharing this image with your friends and family on Facebook.>>
In June, community members, including Conservation Voters like you, submitted nearly 9,000 public comments in response to the Forest Service’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the mine. Ninety-eight percent of all comments submitted were in opposition.
So far, we’ve gathered nearly 1,000 petition signatures urging the Forest Service to revise the DEIS to consider comprehensive impacts the mine will have on local water supplies.
The best part? It’s working. The Forest Service recently announced that they are going to revise the DEIS to address the communities’ concerns. This is a testament that citizen action does make a difference. With the help of your friends, family and neighbors, we can keep the pressure on to protect our water supplies and, in turn, our families, our farms and ranches, and a thriving economy.
Communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, near the proposed mine, are living with the contamination of the past. Families living nearby abandoned uranium mines and mills notice increased rates of cancers and other health problems. For example, state health assessments report that between 2008 and 2010, cancer was the leading cause of death in McKinley County (located directly west of Mount Taylor).
To proceed with more mines without knowing the scope of the impact to water and public health is dangerous. Will you take a second to share the picture above to help us spread the word and fight back?