Goliad Commissioners OK Additional Legal Retainer

By Sonny Long, Victoria Advocate, Texas

Jun. 26–GOLIAD — County commissioners have approved an additional $25,000 for legal representation in uranium mining matters. The unanimous vote followed about a 90-minute executive session with members of the county’s uranium research and advisory committee and county attorney Rob Baiamonte. The allocated money will come from the county’s contingency fund.

The commissioners court formed URAC in December and had previously approved a $10,000 retainer for attorney Jim Blackburn to represent the county on uranium mining issues.

Also during Monday’s meeting, URAC representatives updated commissioners on recent activities including the passage of two bills by the recently completed Texas legislature.

Although URAC member Raulie Irwin did not elaborate on the bills during the meeting, according to a statement from state representative Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, who filed both bills, “House Bills 3837 and 3838 will provide much needed protection of property and water rights for landowners during the exploration process for uranium. The bills will provide more stringent regulations during the exploration process as well as provide notice to communities before exploration begins. They also mandate uranium companies provide water quality information to communities. Most importantly they will now have to provide pre-exploratory water testing.”

The bills become law on Sept. 1.

Committee member Pat Calhoun reported that uranium mining was also a topic of discussion at a recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association gathering.

“There is a lot of concern about the effects of uranium mining on livestock. There are food safety issues,” said Calhoun, who added that the group heard from several experts in the field. “We were told there is no immediate, short-term ill effects,” Calhoun told commissioners. “The problem is, no one knows what the long-term effects are. There has been no long-term research. What about a cow eating the grass or drinking the water for 10 or 12 years? No one knows.”

“Everyone I have talked to is concerned and watching what we are doing,” said Calhoun. “This is not a Goliad issue. It is much bigger than that.”

In other action, the court approved an inter-local agreement with Victoria County for payment of up to $30,000 for repair of the Coleto Creek Bridge until the Texas Department of Transportation can replace it.

The agreement also commits the county to paying for one-half of all future repairs.

The bridge, which has been closed by TxDOT, connects Arnold Road in Victoria County to Camp Colet Road in Goliad County. Sonny Long is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-275-6319 or cueroadv@vicad.com, or comment on this story here.

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