URGENT ACTION NEEDED TODAY

For the past two years we have been asking that letters be sent to South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds requesting a moratorium on further uranium development until the old mines are cleaned up. He has always replied in the negative. Therefore we are now approaching the South Dakota legislature who is starting their sessions in Pierre, SD.

Enclosed are two form letters addressed to Representatives Hunhoff and Lange. The facts in the form letters are based on studies and research. It would greatly help these two representatives if they could approach their colleagues with hundreds of letters asking for a moratorium on further uranium development. Please make copies of the enclosed letters and have your friends and relatives sign them, then send them immediately to Bernie Hunhoff and Gerry Lange. Let's get as many letters to them as possible.  Anyone living anywhere can send a letter because the uranium is used all over the world in power plants or weapons.

If you live in South Dakota, it would also help if you would send a similar letter, or group of letters, to your own state Senator or Representative as well as these letter to Hunhoff and Lange.  Letters to the Editor of South Dakota newspapers are also needed.  Please also consider sending a letter to the editor encouraging a moratorium on further nuclear development in SD.

Together, we can all make our environment safe from nuclear radiation by starting at where the nuclear cycle starts with the exploration and mining.

Thank you.

Charmaine White Face, Coordinator

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Name (Print)

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Address

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City, State, Zip Code

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Date

Bernie Hunhoff, Representative

PO Box 181

Yankton, SD 57078

Dear Mr. Hunhoff:

Did you know there are more than 230 abandoned open pit uranium mines in South Dakota? Did you know that one of those is a square mile and another is 140,000 times more radioactive than normal background radiation for this Region? Did you know that there are more than 4,100 uranium exploratory wells in southwestern South Dakota alone? Did you know that 4,000 of those wells are uncapped, unfilled, and unmarked, and have cross-contaminated the aquifers? Did you ever wonder why South Dakota residents have such a high rate of cancer? Does the radioactivity carried in the dust from the abandoned uranium mines contaminate the grass and crops, and what does this mean for agriculture? Do you know that most rivers in western South Dakota are contaminated with radioactivity?

These and many other questions regarding radioactive contamination in South Dakota need to be answered before any more new uranium exploratory wells are drilled, or uranium mining is allowed to begin.

Please, Mr. Hunhoff, will you advocate in the upcoming South Dakota legislature for a moratorium to stop any more uranium exploration or mining until all the abandoned mines are cleaned up, and the old exploratory wells are filled? We need a moratorium to insure a safe environment for all the people in South Dakota. We need a moratorium to insure that all the agricultural products and all the water that leaves South Dakota is free of radioactivity. We need a moratorium to insure a future for our grandchildren, a future free from radioactive pollution.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

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Name (Print)

___________________________________________

Address

___________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code

Date

Gerald Lange, Representative

1990 Stoney Point Dr.

Madison, SD 57042

Dear Mr. Lange:

Did you know there are more than 230 abandoned open pit uranium mines in South Dakota? Did you know that one of those is a square mile and another is 140,000 times more radioactive than normal background radiation for this Region? Did you know that there are more than 4,100 uranium exploratory wells in southwestern South Dakota alone? Did you know that 4,000 of those wells are uncapped, unfilled, and unmarked, and have cross-contaminated the aquifers? Did you ever wonder why South Dakota residents have such a high rate of cancer? Does the radioactivity carried in the dust from the abandoned uranium mines contaminate the grass and crops, and what does this mean for agriculture? Do you know that most rivers in western South Dakota are contaminated with radioactivity?

These and many other questions regarding radioactive contamination in South Dakota need to be answered before any more new uranium exploratory wells are drilled, or uranium mining is allowed to begin.

Please, Mr. Lange, will you advocate in the upcoming South Dakota legislature for a moratorium to stop any more uranium exploration or mining until all the abandoned mines are cleaned up, and the old exploratory wells are filled? We need a moratorium to insure a safe environment for all the people in South Dakota. We need a moratorium to insure that all the agricultural products and all the water that leaves South Dakota is free of radioactivity. We need a moratorium to insure a future for our grandchildren, a future free from radioactive pollution.

Thank you.

Sincerely,