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As a resident of Goliad County, it disturbs me that county leaders have spent more than $150,000 — taxpayer dollars — to fund a lawsuit against Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) regarding a project that many residents either support or have no issue with.
Further, I have been told by a commissioner that a $250,000 increase for continued funding of the suit will likely be proposed for the next budget.
I once thought the same as the well-intentioned folks who have filed this lawsuit. That is to say that I wasn’t sure if UEC’s “Goliad Project” would preserve our water supply. Here is what I now know:
All Texas landowners have what is known as “the right of capture,” which simply means that they own the water directly beneath their owned surface, and basically may do whatever they like with it. The same goes for oil and gas, assuming that they own the mineral rights.
In filing against UEC, the county and a few ill-informed residents are second guessing and questioning the competency of the Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These agencies oversee and regulate uranium exploration and all other mining activity for the state. On two separate occasions these agencies have reviewed and found to be without merit, the charges against UEC named in the county’s lawsuit.
I am strongly against spending taxpayer dollars to pay legal fees for lawsuits that should be the responsibility of the individual landowner. If I had a fight with an oil company over damaging my land or water, could I ask the county to pay thousands of dollars for my legal fees? I see no difference. If an individual landowner wants to fight UEC, fine, but not with my tax dollar, please.
I have researched and learned that when TRC and TCEQ guidelines are adhered to, there is absolutely no danger to our water supply. A vocal minority have distorted the facts through intimidation tactics, rumor, and outright lies in hope of gaining support to stop UEC. Neither the science nor the geology supports the accusations in the lawsuit. The county has been informed of this by the regulatory agencies, and yet continues its witch hunt against UEC with taxpayer dollars. Might not this money be better spent on school or healthcare projects? Or cost-of-living raises for county employees?
Let’s remove emotion from this issue and make informed decisions based on the facts.
My family has been a steward of the land in Goliad County since the 1860s and would do nothing to jeopardize what we hold so dear. I believe the “Goliad Project” to be a safe, economic boost to the citizens of Goliad County. And before you ask, no, I do not have uranium production on my land.
Gentry Powell
Kenedy