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Uranium project topic of four meetings
Forest Service seeks public comment

<br>Courtesy photo<br>
Four public meetings are planned to discuss uranium mining on the Tusayan Ranger District.

<br>Courtesy photo<br> Four public meetings are planned to discuss uranium mining on the Tusayan Ranger District.

TUSAYAN - The Kaibab National Forest will host four public meetings in August to provide information and accept comments on a proposed uranium exploratory drilling project. The purpose of the meetings is to provide information and allow the public to comment on the proposed VANE Minerals, Inc. Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project, which would be undertaken on the Tusayan Ranger District. The Kaibab National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement for the proposed project and is looking for comments on the scope and direction of the EIS.

The meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

• Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Coconino Community College Lone Tree Campus, Board Room, 2800 S. Lone Tree Rd. in Flagstaff.

• Aug. 12, 6-8 p.m. (MDT), Tuba City High School Gymnasium, 67 Warrior Dr. in Tuba City.

• Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m., Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, 100 Highway 64 in Tusayan.

• Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Supai.

A Kaibab National Forest representative will present a brief summary of the proposed project at the beginning of the meetings, approximately 15 minutes after the start of each meeting.

Kaibab National Forest is seeking public input during a 30-day comment period, which began Monday and will end Sept. 2. The comment period is intended to provide local residents and the public with an early and meaningful opportunity to learn about the proposed project and participate in the process. VANE's proposed project is to conduct uranium exploratory drilling at 24 sites on the Tusayan Ranger District. All drilling would be strictly limited to exploration holes. No actual mining of ore would occur at this time.

For comments to be most informative to the analysis, they should be postmarked or received by the Kaibab National Forest no later than Sept. 2. However, comments will also be accepted during the period following the release of the Draft EIS. Written comments may be mailed or hand-delivered to: Kaibab National Forest, ATTN: VANE Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project, 800 S. Sixth St., Williams, AZ 86046

Comments may be submitted by facsimile to (928) 635-8208 or by e-mail to comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us. E-mail and facsimile comments must include the words "VANE Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project."

Comments may also be submitted and additional information obtained through the project website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/vane/index.shtml. A toll-free comment phone line has been set up to record comments at 1-888-494-4940.

For further information on the VANE Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project, please contact Tom Mutz, Lands and Minerals Staff Officer, in writing at Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, 742 South Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046 or by telephone at (928) 635-5600. Questions regarding the Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act process may be directed to Alvin Brown, Forest NEPA Coordinator, at 800 S. Sixth St., Williams, AZ 86046 or by telephone at (928) 635-8200.


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