Support Citizens Against Radioactive Emissions New Brunswick.

FREDERICTON - Following months of protests from landowners angry with what they perceive as the provincial government's lack of concern over potential property and health hazards associated with uranium mining, the Liberals will today announce new regulations to oversee exploration of the heavy metal.

Natural Resources Minister Donald Arseneault and Environment Minister Roland Haché will announce the changes at a news conference in Fredericton early this morning.

But already those opposed to any uranium exploration or mining activity say the government has once again missed the point by promising to find a balance for property owners and mining companies.

"We just don't want any uranium mining," said Walter Moore of the group Support Citizens Against Radioactive Emissions New Brunswick. "It doesn't matter about the exploration, it's the uranium mining that we don't want. So why bother exploring?"

Details of the new regulations are unknown but the government has already signaled its intent to move towards an online staking system to avoid homeowners seeing strangers trampling through their land. However, Premier Shawn Graham has said the province won't follow the lead of Nova Scotia and introduce a ban on uranium exploration.

"Landowners have raised concerns, our government is listening to those concerns with private landowners and we feel we can achieve a more balanced approach to this issue," said Graham last month.

Instead of an outright ban, government might restrict exploration in environmentally-sensitive areas, such as watersheds.

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Tim Van Hinte said he suspects government might ban exploration in certain areas, including sources of drinking water.

"If they were to ban it in certain areas, I think it would be a step in the right direction," he said.

"I think it would show that they are genuinely concerned about the environment."

Thousands of claims have been staked across the province, including a large number in southeastern New Brunswick. Hundreds of concerned residents attended information sessions held by the provincial government last month, where they made it clear they want government to ban uranium exploration.

"I don't think they got the message," said Moore. "We might have to wait until 2010 for them to get the clear message."

More than 30 environmental groups have called on government to immediately halt uranium exploration. The Opposition Conservatives have called for a referendum on the issue.

But despite the protests, the provincial government remained firm in its stance that uranium exploration and mining could create much-needed economic development opportunities.

That did little to reassure residents alarmed that New Brunswick didn't have any specific regulations governing uranium exploration but was instead following Saskatchewan's lead.

Then, in May, government was criticized for simply introducing guidelines, rather than mandatory regulations, for companies exploring for uranium.

The guidelines request that a company test a private water well prior and following any drilling in the area.

Although much of the focus has been on landowners concerned about their property rights, significant health questions are also being asked by New Brunswickers, particularly in Harvey, located west of Fredericton.

The provincial government announced free tests for Harvey residents to measure the level of uranium and arsenic in the water. The tests were announced once a 1981 study showing high levels of uranium in the water and radon in the air surfaced earlier this year. The residents who participated in the study were never contacted with the results.

So far 108 water samples -- about half of the number of households eligible for testing -- have been tested. Of the samples, 22 exceeded the acceptable level of 20 micrograms per litre for uranium in drinking water while 41 samples exceeded the acceptable level of 10 micrograms per litre for arsenic.

The results are similar to those outlined in the 1981 study, said Dr. Scott Giffin, acting medical officer of health for the region.

"The most significant thing here is that long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic in your water probably increases your risk for developing lung cancer or skin cancer," he said.

Residents with high levels of uranium or arsenic must now decide whether to drink bottled water or to install a reverse osmosis filter on their water systems.

Residents have until July 21 to have their water tested. They can also have their homes tested for radon levels.