Residents urge city to push back as state minerals board moves toward Craven Canyon appeals

Several residents used the communications-from-the-public portion of the meeting to press the council on proposed uranium mining near Craven Canyon and on the Minerals Board's handling of related appeals.

Ben Sharp (28290 West Flagpole Road) told the council he and other intervenors were denied formal notice and alleged the Minerals Board scheduled rulings and made decisions without proper public hearings. "The fact that we showed up means we waived our right to due process and to be notified as if this was actually a legal fixture," Sharp said, urging a formal statement from the council and offering to bring a letter or a crowd to the March 18 hearing.

Sarah Peterson (510 Jennings Avenue) raised environmental concerns about mining on Forest Service lands near Craven Canyon, warned about potential damage to 7,000 petroglyphs and urged residents to submit public comments by the stated deadline. Peterson said much of the mining activity would affect Forest Service land rather than state school land and offered talking points and cards for residents.

Mayor (chair) and council members said they would consider the requests; the mayor said he could represent the council only if the council authorized him to do so and asked the speaker to provide a draft statement for council review before the item is placed formally on an agenda. No formal council resolution regarding the Minerals Board or the March 18 hearing was adopted at this meeting.