Uranium Bust Town May Boom Again
From: Addie Goss
Length: 00:05:27
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Piece Description
Jeffrey City had 5,000 residents when uranium prices soared in the 1970s. Uranium bottomed out in the 80s, and most of the town's residents just disassembled their homes, put them on trucks, and moved away. Now, along Jeffrey City's streets, those houses' foundations are still anchored to the ground, their front steps leading nowhere. 1970s refrigerators lie open on overgrown sidewalks. The few dozen people still living there are hearing reports of a uranium revival. But ask them about it, and they say they'e not holding their breath. This is a sound-rich story about people living in memories, 60 miles from anywhere.
Broadcast History
Wyoming Public Radio: March 21, 2008
Timing and Cues
ORIGINAL HOST INTRO (Wyoming-specific):
Rising oil prices and the push for cleaner energy have some people calling for nuclear power. Wyoming is the nation?s biggest producer of uranium, and the biggest uranium deposit in Wyoming is in an area near Jeffrey City.
Uranium boomed in the mid-1970s. Jeffrey City, a wind-slapped ranching town on hwy 287 northwest of Rawlins, boomed with it. Then uranium went bust in the 80s. The town's population dropped from 5000 to about 50. Now, uranium is again trading high...between 70 and 95 dollars a pound....and some people, like Strathmore Minerals CEO David Miller, say mines near Jeffrey City could open again.
MILLER CUT 1
Possibly as soon as this summer, but more likely 1-2 years away.
Miller says some companies are scouting out new mines.
MILLER CUT 2
Several companies have applied for new mine permits. And I believe the mine permits are in place on some of the ore bodies.
Miller says once that happens, 500 new mining jobs could come to the Jeffrey City area, and that about 20 percent of those people might live in town. But mention that to people already living in Jeffrey City...if you can find them...and they say: yeah, we?ve heard that one before. Addie Goss reports.
