The prospect of a uranium mining project in Goliad County is again rearing its head. Some may remember this from 2008, where it was opposed but the decision was reversed after after a powerful lobbyist intervened.

I am concerned about our health and the health of our environment, particularly the quality of our groundwater (WEC Engineering Technical Report, and June 2024 Update). 

Goliad County is located in a rural, drought-prone area. We, the residents, and our livestock, rely heavily on groundwater and wells for our daily needs. Introducing uranium mining could threaten this precious resource. Art Dohman, Chairman of the Goliad County Uranium Research Advisory Committee, made a video showcasing how uranium exploration pollutes drinking water.

Uranium mining is associated with significant environmental hazards, among which groundwater contamination ranks highly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vividly describes the consequences of uranium mining, the release of radioactive waste, radon gas, and heavy metals, to name a few. These can percolate into the groundwater, making it unsafe for consumption by people or animals. Experts from the World Health Organization concur. An example to look at for the long lasting harmful effects of the actual uranium mining would be the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

Furthermore, the Texas Water Development Board has identified Goliad County as a region with a high risk of long-term water shortages, even in the absence of added stressors like uranium mining. Our county's water resources are already stretched thin, and additional strain could prove catastrophic. 

I am urging the decision-makers involved to reconsider this project and to take into account the many individuals who would be affected by it. We need to prioritize the health of our community and the health of our environment before industrial interests.

It's time to take a stand for the water security of Goliad County. Please sign this petition to show your opposition and to preserve our way of life and the beauty of our county.

If you'd like to get involved further,  contact Geanie Morrison (State Rep): 361-572-0196 with your opposition, or post comments online at https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ RE: Permit UR03075, or write/call our Governor Greg Abbott: https://gov.texas.gov/contact.