Commission continues drive against boreholes

Following an executive session, Quay County commissioners voted 2-1 on Monday to hire a consulting firm and to draft a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy opposing the borehole project.

Commission Chair Franklin McCasland and District 1 Commissioner Sue Dowell authorized the hiring of EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc. of Albuquerque as the county’s National Environmental Policy Act consulting firm.

County Manager Richard Primrose and County Attorney Warren Front were appointed to work with the firm to ensure the county’s interests and concerns are addressed.

Atlanta-based Enercon and DOSECC Exploration Services of Salt Lake City were hired in December by the Department of Energy to explore the possibility of conducting a deep borehole test drill in Quay County.

Deep boreholes are narrow, vertical holes drilled deep into solid granite, three miles deep in this case. The ultimate goal is to determine if deep boreholes might offer a safe and practical alternative to mined geologic repositories for smaller forms of nuclear waste.

Frost said on Friday, EA submitted a proposed scope of work that focused too much on educating the county on the NEPA process. He said the firm’s scope of work needs to focus on how the county can identify to the Department of Energy, Enercon and DOSECC what the county believes to be the potential pitfalls of the proposed project.

The commission approved up to $15,000 to be spent for the consulting services.

McCasland and Dowell next approved Frost to draft a letter outlining the county’s opposition to the test borehole to the DOE that they will review before submission. He said the letter is being drafted to show the commission’s opposition to the project that is opposed by the county’s residents.

Frost said he was contacted by the Northern New Mexico United Against Nuclear Waste group about submitting a letter to the DOE and the companies outlining the opposition to the company. He said the group submitted a draft of the letter but research into the resolutions and facts contained in the letter needed to be conducted.

District 2 Commissioner Mike Cherry voted against both the hiring of the firm and submission of the letter.

“There is a difference in not supporting the project and opposing the project,” Cherry said.

Cherry said the opposition does not focus on the actual project, research and science. He said instead the opposition is focused on the “what if” negative impacts involving nuclear waste being deposited in boreholes.

“This has been, still remains an issue between a private land owner and the DOE,” Cherry said. “For the commission to outright oppose the project after the fact is not fair to the land owners.”

“I want to thank Warren Frost for his work and have full confidence that he will guide the county in what is best in its legal interest,” Dowell said.

It has been a rocky, interesting road, and the residents appreciate the commission listening to the communities that oppose the project, Ed Hughs, Nara Visa resident, told commissioners.

Hughs along with several other residents have spoken at public meetings about the dangers and risks of allowing the borehole project to be conducted in Quay County.

Commissioners also presented certificates of appreciation in honor of the service of Becky Wallace, administrator, and Mary Osborn, staff, for their years of service at the Quay County Family Health Center. Both are retiring this month.

Wallace presented a request for the approval of the 2018 Rural Primary Health Care Act agreement with the New Mexico Department of Health, saying the RPHCA funding was cut $30,000 this year, the largest cut in funding to date. She said the RHPCA funding along with other state funding is not guaranteed, but the funding is crucial for the operation of the clinic.

Wallace said the recent purchase of new equipment approved by the commission has made a significant difference at the clinic. She said the commission has been a great support of the clinic throughout the years.

“I’m going to miss everyone. Thank you for the support,” Wallace said.

McCasland told Wallace and Osborn that the commission appreciates all of the work they have done providing care for the residents.

“The service of this clinic is so very vital to the county and its residents,” Dowell said.

Other actions taken by commissioners Monday:

• Approved the 2018 DWI Program rental agreement

• Approved the 2018 USDA APHIS-WS work and financial plan (wildlife services)

• Approved the submission of a preliminary 2018 Budget to the Department of Finance Authority