The Fremont County Planning Commission Tuesday heard over three hours of testimony on a proposed amendment to the Fremont County Master Plan and then continued the public hearing until next month.
The amendment proposed by the 'Tallahassee Area Community' (TAC) would create a two-mile buffer zone between uranium activity and residential areas in the county's Mountain Districts. The amendment would also seek to require more comprehensive review of Designated Mining Operations and add more specific language to some of the definitions in the master plan.
County Attorney Brenda Jackson expressed concerns in an eight page memo that the amendment would conflict with state law noting that county regulations cannot prohibit something that state law allows. Jackson also said some of the specific limitations and regulations are more appropriate in the county's zoning resolution than to be placed in Fremont County's master plan which she says is used more for guidance but is not binding.
TAC attorney Steve Mullican contended that the county indeed has the right and authority to protect its citizens in land use decisions. TAC members argued that proposed uranium mining should not be allowed in close proximity to homes.
Planning Commission Chairman Tom Piltingsrud called for the matter to be tabled for another month saying the Commission had volumes of material and legal opinions to review. Piltingsrud said additional public input would be allowed at the July hearing but not from those who already testified Tuesday evening. The Planning Commission will assemble again at 7:00 p.m., July 7th, at the Fremont County Administration Building.
The amendment proposed by the 'Tallahassee Area Community' (TAC) would create a two-mile buffer zone between uranium activity and residential areas in the county's Mountain Districts. The amendment would also seek to require more comprehensive review of Designated Mining Operations and add more specific language to some of the definitions in the master plan.
County Attorney Brenda Jackson expressed concerns in an eight page memo that the amendment would conflict with state law noting that county regulations cannot prohibit something that state law allows. Jackson also said some of the specific limitations and regulations are more appropriate in the county's zoning resolution than to be placed in Fremont County's master plan which she says is used more for guidance but is not binding.
TAC attorney Steve Mullican contended that the county indeed has the right and authority to protect its citizens in land use decisions. TAC members argued that proposed uranium mining should not be allowed in close proximity to homes.
Planning Commission Chairman Tom Piltingsrud called for the matter to be tabled for another month saying the Commission had volumes of material and legal opinions to review. Piltingsrud said additional public input would be allowed at the July hearing but not from those who already testified Tuesday evening. The Planning Commission will assemble again at 7:00 p.m., July 7th, at the Fremont County Administration Building.