A group of Moffat County residents opposing the creation of a uranium tailings dump near Maybell has chosen a name.

The group calls itself Northwest Colorado Cares.

Members adopted their name during a meeting Friday. They also laid out a plan to begin battling the uranium tailings repository that Jim Ross, owner of Intermountain Real Estate, has proposed creating 30 miles west of Craig.

“I agree that we have to stop it here before we go any farther,” Northwest Colorado Cares member Terrie Barrie said.

Barrie has successfully fought for the rights of workers who became ill while making nuclear weapons for the federal government.

As the first step in opposing the dump, the group plans to attend the next Moffat County Economic Development Partnership meeting and request that the EDP give Ross no more grant money. The EDP has given Ross a grant of $6,500.

Ross planned to use that money to process paperwork for the dump. He has been out of the area for the past few months. But Barrie said she thought he had spent most of the grant money.

“He’s going to need to apply for another grant, and that’s to our advantage,” she said.

After asking the EDP to stop contributing funding to Ross, the group plans to invite Ross to a meeting so both parties can discuss his plans.

They also hope to meet with members of the Moffat County Land Use Board to discuss the issue. The Land Use Board advises the Moffat County commissioners on issues pertaining to natural resource and environment issues.

Retired hydrologist Frank Welder attempted to provide the group with information about the effects the proposed dump could have on the region’s water. But when he asked what geological formation was located at the proposed site, no one in the group could tell him.

Such information is basic and required, Welder said. Aside from knowing the rules and regulations about uranium disposal, the group would need to learn the geology of the area.

The group plans to meet again at 11:30 a.m. March 18 at The Golden Cavvy.