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Western Sniall 1liners Association <br /> ig N�tturita. (0 S14'22' <br /> r O B,_�_x 644 <br /> Colorado, and would be unnecessarily harmful to the challenged economies and residents of Western <br /> Colorado. <br /> Further, while one may exist, WSMA has not seen an evaluation where the benefits expected versus the <br /> economic costs of such reclamation measures bear the intended reasonable relationship set forth in <br /> Colorado law. 2 <br /> WSMA places great trust and reliance in the Legislative Declaration in Section 34-32-102 of the Colorado <br /> Mined Land Reclamation Act ("Legislative Declaration"), which declares the policy of the State that "the <br /> extraction of minerals" and "the reclamation of land" are "both necessary and proper activities." This <br /> Legislative Directive further cites a legislative intent "to foster and encourage the development of an <br /> economically sound and stable mining and minerals industry and to encourage the orderly development <br /> of the state's natural resources.3" WSMA believes appropriately vetted approval of Second Requests of <br /> Temporary Cessation as consistent with the stated intent of existing Colorado law. <br /> Like the Colorado Legislative Declaration cited above, WSMA strongly believes in a safe and vibrant 21st <br /> century mining industry and practices. WSMA actively supports careful consideration of environmental <br /> and community health and safety impacts relative to mining, including reasonable reclamation. WSMA <br /> understands minerals are required for daily living, including cell phones, computers, vehicles, buildings, <br /> wind farms, solar panels and critical medical technologies and treatments. If not mined here, minerals <br /> will be obtained from mines in other countries where the worker, community, and environmental <br /> protections are not as strong. WSMA views this off-shoring of strategic and critical minerals as a negative <br /> for not only hard-working citizens of the west, but forthe great state of Colorado,our country,our planet's <br /> environment, and all its many peoples. <br /> WSMA understands that there are others who <br /> believe contrary to the clear intent of Colorado law bow U.S. EIA 2017 Energy Outlook <br /> Billions kWh;Reference Case <br /> that there should be no mining in Colorado and 5• <br /> routinely oppose all aspects of the mining industry. <br /> WSMA believes nuclear power, fueled by uranium, 400a <br /> that is carbon free 24 x 7 x 365 baseload available, 3,000 <br /> remains an important component of meeting our i <br /> worlds energy needs and carbon reduction desires. <br /> The U.S. Energy Information Administration chart at <br /> right' projects continued reliance on nuclear power 792 °U8 <br /> to meet our 16% of our nation's energy needs, - 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 <br /> inclusive of continued renewable subsidies and the <br /> proposed Clean Power Plan of the prior <br /> Administration. Worldwide, nuclear power generation increases to 2050 as electricity is brought to many <br /> 2 C.R.S.34-32-102,or Colorado Revised Statutes,Title 34 Mineral Resources,Article 32 Colorado Mined Land <br /> Reclamation Act,Section 102 Legislative declaration. Also found in the preamble, Mineral Rules and Regulations of <br /> the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Hard Rock, Metal, and Designated Mining Operations. <br /> 3 Ibid., <br /> 4 U.S. Energy Information Administration 2017 Energy Outlook. <br />