The web site of the House Subcommittee on Natural Parks, Forests and Public Lands Resources, in the “did you know” list of facts, states: “Nearly 40% of our nation’s uranium deposits are located in Forest Service and BLM lands in northern Arizona.”
Brad Van Gosen at the USGS has reviewed this statement and found it to be “inappropriate and misleading” Click here for Gosen/USGS analysis.
The source of this misinformation appears to be uranium mining entrepreneur Karen Wenrich, who testified before the House Subcommittee on Nov. 3, 2011: View her testimony here.
“This unique Arizona polymetallic-rich uranium, breccia-pipe district is known for its large reserves of high-grade uranium that have been estimated by the US Geological Survey to comprise over 40% of the US domestic uranium resources, and the highest-grade in the U.S. ..”
During the November 3rd hearing, Arizona Congressman Grijalva revealed documentation that Ms. Wenrich has a clear conflict of interest, which might explain why her testimony was so misleading.
According to a document from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, American Energy Fields, Inc., an Arizona-based uranium mining company, completed a deal that would pay Wenrich $225,000 for 61 mining claims only if the Interior Department reopened the million-acre area to new mining claims. [1] American Energy Fields appointed Wenrich to its advisory board in May 2010.
[1] American Energy Fields, Inc., form 8-K, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, February 15, 2011. Accessed online June 8, 2011 here.
See also the accompanying news release accessed online here.
