Dear BIS Team,
I am writing in support of the petition investigating foreign sales of Uranium
to the US. I have lived in San Juan County for 48 years in Blanding, Utah just
4 miles from Energy Fuels Uranium Mill. As a former writer and editor of a
regional publication I have followed closely the history of both the uranium
industry, and the history of mining and of this particular mill. We have
published four Blue Mountain Shadows magazines about uranium mining in San Juan County.
That business
has provided jobs to hundreds of people through the years. However, the market
has been at a disturbing standstill for many years, and San Juan County is once
again one of the poorest in the state of Utah. During the uranium boom when
jobs and tax resources skyrocketed and we were finally able to have jobs,
schools, hospitals, roads and infrastructure comparable to the rest of the
nation. But that ended decades ago.
* Some counties in the US are blessed with agriculture, abundant water,
factories, industry, and businesses which have made them wealthy. We were
blessed with ROCKS , and many of these contain uranium, and other minerals.
Wise people learn to use the resources where they live, and so it should be
with this important element today. Why should we be importing uranium when much
of the West is rich in this natural resource? Why should foreign countries have
the power to suppressing mining and resource development? Many foreign nations
have also worked to lock up public lands via National Monument designations.
They provide millions of dollars to create scare tactics, media campaigns and
promote extreme environmental causes which point fingers at the uranium
business.
* Of even greater concern is that when the uranium industry is at risk, so is
our nation. Uranium is essential to our national defense, including providing
fuel for the U.S. Navy and representing the backbone of our nuclear deterrent.
State-owned enterprises in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are targeting the
U.S. uranium industry, and now fulfill over one-third of U.S. demand. These are
not private industries, but are funded by state managed foreign governments.
Its time that this great US business be allowed to play and compete on a level
playing field. However, the anti-competitive practices of state-owned and
state-subsidized entities are putting U.S. producers at an enormous
disadvantage. This must be changed. It is indeed important to Make America
Great Again!
Sincerely,
Janet Wilcox
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