Ionising radiation

IONISING RADIATION is just one type of radiation. In physics, radiation describes any process in which energy travels through a medium or through, space, ultimately to be absorbed by another body.

In discussing the nuclear industry, we are not talking about other forms of radiation, which are mainly non-ionising – e.g: acoustic radiation (sound, ultrasound, infrasound) non-ionising forms of electromagnetic radiation (i.e., radio waves.)

While there is debate about whether or not electrmagnetic radiation is harmful to life, there is conclusive proof that ionising radiation is harmful.



What is IONISING RADIATION?
Uranium atoms are unstable, breaking up into other atoms – radioisotopes, and giving off energy in the form of gamma rays

The 3 types of radiation (alpha, beta and gamma) are different in the way that they can travel through substances . (Alpha rays do not penetrate the body, but can be breathed in, or swallowed, and remain in tge body.)

What are “high level” and “low level” wastes?
Where exactly do these radioactive elements come from?

High-level waste consists mostly of milling tailings, spent nuclear reactor fuel from both commerical power plants and military facilities, as well as reprocessed materials .

Low-level waste includes the remainder of radioactive wastes and materials generated in power plants, such as contaminated reactor water, plus those wastes created in medical laboratories, hospitals, and industry.

Such wastes come in many ways, including – ” protective clothing of people in contact with radioactive materials, old medical radiation equipment from hospitals and clinics.

All can emit radiation for hundreds of thousands of years. It spreads through the environment mainly through water. Buried wastes leak into groundwater.

Read more:
http://nuclear-news.net/information/wastes-2/

Living Green Today

Step by Step to an Renewable-Energy Powered Home

Living Green, is basically making decisions considering the impact that decision would
have on the environment. Living Green is making choices that are good for the earth.

1. Conserve Energy - Most people can not afford to buy the additional PV & solar heating modules to run the average US home. There are many people who figure they are quite well off just by doing this step alone!

1A. Insulate as much as you can afford - Put in double and triple pane windows. Insulate the roof, walls and maybe floor. Use light colored roofing to reduce your cooling expenses in hot climates.

1B. Get energy efficient appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling - Remember heating and cooling are your major loads. Solar can replace heating (or even cooling) depending on your site (and INSULATION). 2. Examine your site - How many hours of sun per day does your site average? Is there any objects blocking the sun? The clearer the view of the sun's path, the longer you'll get usable energy out of your solar modules 3. Add up your electrical load - You need to find the total watt-hours of the load's you want to put on RE battery system or to compensate for the load usage in a battery less grid-tied RE system. By using the data plate on your appliances will give you a quick, but general idea of that appliance's energy usage. A more accurate, easier, and more expensive way is to use a watt-hour meter. You can also use your electric bill, which gives you total watts used in kilowatts, or watts times one thousand. 4. How much money can you spend? - Due to a lack of money, people will only put part of their electrical load on an renewable energy system, then spend more later on when they can afford to buy more. Read more: http://www.discoversolarenergy.com/lvg-grn/live-green.htm

Uranium mine risks outweigh benefits

To the Editor:

In response to “McDonnell asks lawmakers to delay action on uranium mining ban” I would like to voice my approval for McDonnell’s choice to maintain the moratorium.

However, I am disappointed that he issued a commission to draft regulations without the consent of Virginians, side-stepping the public in the name of economic benefit.

Quite simply, uranium mining is not the future of Virginia’s economy.

When considering that Virginians would face what the National Academy of Sciences calls “adverse human health risks” like cancer from contaminated water, it is apparent that the cost citizens must bear outweighs the minimal benefits they may reap.


Dennis Williams
Richmond

http://www.smithmountaineagle.com/opinion/article_40058166-5d7e-11e1-b4a9-0019bb2963f4.htm l

Governor McDonnell Announces Wind Energy Leases Advancing off Virginia Coast

RICHMOND - Governor McDonnell announced today that the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is moving forward with the next step in offshore wind energy development off the Virginia coast.

The BOEM is publishing the call for information and nominations aimed at industry interest in locations off the Virginia coast for commercial wind energy leases. The call is the first step in the leasing process. It describes the areas that will be made available and solicits expression of interest from developers. Developers will have 45 days to respond to the call.

Once responses are received, BOEM will determine whether their leasing process will be competitive or non-competitive. "Cost-effective development of Virginia's offshore wind resources is one important component of our overall effort to make Virginia 'The Energy Capital of the East Coast,'"said Governor McDonnell. "

We must also maintain reasonable energy costs and a reliable, consistent supply. Our partnership with BOEM, and this step forward toward offshore wind development builds on the strong foundation laid by the Virginia Task Force and our private partners like the VOW Coalition, Huntington Ingalls, Gamesa and others."

"We are working closely with the Commonwealth of Virginia to facilitate the commercial leasing process for renewable energy in federal waters off Virginia's coast and are building on the steps that the Commonwealth has taken to encourage offshore wind development," said BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau.

"This, along with the completion of BOEM's environmental assessment of leasing in the mid-Atlantic area, are significant milestones in identifying and refining priority areas for potential offshore commercial wind energy development."

The location under consideration in today's announcement - or call area - was identified by the intergovernmental Virginia Renewable Energy Task Force, which includes federal, state, local and tribal government representatives.

The call area is intended to maximize the area available for commercial offshore wind development while balancing these efforts with military and commercial shipping interests and the protection of the environment.

A map of the call area can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Virginia.aspx

The notice is available through the Federal Register at: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/index.html.


http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=1112

Weather Advisories: TORNADO WATCH in effect until 400 PM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

Tornado on White Oak Mt. in April, another tornado same area in Nov., Keep the Ban!

By: GoDanRiver Staff | GoDanRiver.com
Published: February 24, 2012 Updated: February 24, 2012 - 10:16 AM

A tornado watch has been issued for Danville and Pittsylvania County through 4 p.m. Friday.

The main threat will be strong, damaging winds ahead of a cold front, said WSLS10 Meteorologist Patrick McKee.

However, the tornado threat is low, McKee said.

A wind advisory is in effect until midnight Friday, with sustained winds up to 25 miles per hour and gusts as high as 50 miles per hour, McKee said.

“It’s not unheard of to have severe weather during February, though it doesn’t happen often,” McKee said.

According to a National Weather Service study, February is the least likely month for seeing severe weather in the area, McKee pointed out.

“As for general thunderstorms, stronger storm systems, sometimes even associated with snow, have produced thunder in February, though it doesn’t happen often,” McKee said.

http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/feb/24/tornado-watch-issued-parts-dan-river-region-ar-1713104/

Weather Advisories

TORNADO WATCH in effect until 400 PM EST FRI FEB 24 2012 Warning issued: 103 PM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

 

TORNADO WATCH 36 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EST FOR THE 
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

VAC005-009-011-017-019-021-023-029-031-035-037-045-063-067-071-
077-083-089-121-141-143-155-161-163-173-185-197-515-530-580-590-
640-678-680-690-750-770-775-242100-
/O.CON.KWNS.TO.A.0036.000000T0000Z-120224T2100Z/



VA 
.    VIRGINIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEGHANY            AMHERST             APPOMATTOX          
BATH                 BEDFORD             BLAND               
BOTETOURT            BUCKINGHAM          CAMPBELL            
CARROLL              CHARLOTTE           CRAIG               
FLOYD                FRANKLIN            GILES               
GRAYSON              HALIFAX             HENRY               
MONTGOMERY           PATRICK             PITTSYLVANIA        
PULASKI              ROANOKE             ROCKBRIDGE          
SMYTH                TAZEWELL            WYTHE               




VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE

BEDFORD              BUENA VISTA         COVINGTON           
DANVILLE             GALAX               LEXINGTON           
LYNCHBURG            MARTINSVILLE        RADFORD             
ROANOKE              SALEM      

---

WIND ADVISORY in effect until 1200 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2012 Warning issued: 1004 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

 

...HIGH WINDS EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT...

.A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE MID ATLANTIC REGION
TODAY. WINDS WILL BECOME VERY GUSTY BEHIND THIS FRONT.

NCZ004>006-020-VAZ043>047-058-059-250000-
/O.CON.KRNK.WI.Y.0008.120224T1700Z-120225T0500Z/
STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-YADKIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-
APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DANBURY...EDEN...YANCEYVILLE...
YADKINVILLE...MARTINSVILLE...DANVILLE...LYNCHBURG...APPOMATTOX...
SOUTH BOSTON...KEYSVILLE
1004 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012



...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA INTO THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH 
CAROLINA. 

* HAZARDS...STRONG WIND GUSTS.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* TIMING...STARTING EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH 
THE EVENING. 

* IMPACTS...DIFFICULT DRIVING...ALONG WITH DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND 
POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS
THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Chatham&state=VA&site=RNK&textField1=36.8193&textField2=-79.3983&e=1

Uranium Mining: Risky

Case Summary

In 2007, Virginia Uranium, Inc., went public with plans to exploit a major uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County, in southern Virginia. The operation would entail extensive mining, a milling facility, and disposal of massive amounts of waste that would leave a toxic and radioactive legacy for centuries.

The deposit at the "Coles Hill" farm was discovered years ago, but a statewide ban on uranium mining enacted in 1982 still exists today. Now, the industry is pushing to lift the ban as soon as the 2012 General Assembly.

SELC is at the forefront of a statewide citizen effort, the Keep the Ban Coalition, to ensure the statewide ban stays in place.

Uranium Mining: A Dangerous Proposal

Uranium occurs naturally in the ground, but when exposed to air and water, radiation is released into the environment. There is no precedent for large-scale uranium mining in the East, where the population density and a wet climate increase the chance of radiation contaminating streams and groundwater and exposure to humans.

In the last century, the Commonwealth has been hit by at least 78 category-strenth hurricanes, including Hurricane Camille in 1969 which dumped 31 inches of rain on central Virginia. In 2011, at least 37 tornadoes were recorded in Virginia, including one in Halifax County about 20 miles from the Coles Hill site. And in August, 2011, an earthquake of 5.8 rocked Virginia; its epicenter was just 125 miles from Coles Hill.

Virginia has no regulations for uranium mining, and, with less than 1% of the state’s general fund revenues dedicated to environmental programs, is ill-prepared to sufficiently oversee the industry. The federal government has virtually no experience regulating uranium mining in a wet climate.

Health and Economic Risks Are High

The potential health impacts of exposure to uranium and mining chemicals are well-documented in global studies of people working in and living near mines, and include lung cancer, bone cancer, leukemia, birth defects, weakened immune systems, hormone disruption, and damage to DNA, the kidney and liver.

Virginia Beach, which gets its drinking water from Lake Gaston, downstream of the Coles Hill site, released a study concluding that a catastrophic failure of a uranium waste containment structure at the site could contaminate the city’s drinking water for as long as two years.

Establishment of a uranium industry in southern Virginia would strangle efforts to diversify the region’s economy and threaten existing businesses—including agriculture, tourism, and recreational fisheries.

Read more:
http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/uranium_mining_in_virginia

Water & Uranium Mining

 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's TENORM Report, "Water is perhaps the most significant means of dispersal of uranium and related [radioactive materials] in the environment from mines and mine wastes...Uranium is very soluble in acidic and alkaline waters and can be transported easily from a mine site." This is of great concern. If Virginia allows uranium mining, it would be the first state to do so in the United States in a climate where rainfall exceeds evaporation.

Contaminated Water
Water is used (and contaminated) in the milling process. In addition, rain falling on waste products from the mining and milling processes picks up radioactive and other toxic elements which can end up and remain in surface and ground waters for thousands of years. In the 1980s, Marline Uranium estimated that the waste pile from their proposed Virginia operation would cover 930 acres, 100 feet deep.

Map depicting the size of the potential 1983 uranium waste pile.
At the recently proposed Coles Hill uranium mining site in Pittsylvania County, there will be hundreds of acres of radioactive waste and millions of gallons of water contaminated in the mining and milling processes. To mine uranium safely, hundreds of millions of gallons of contaminated and radioactive water will have to be prevented from running into Virginia streams or leaching into the ground water. Virginia's most populous communities lie downstream of the uranium leases filed in the 1980s.

Map of Drinking Water Resources downstream of 1980s N. Piedmont Leases.
Map of Drinking Water Resources downstream of Coles Hill.

Virginia's Acute Rainfall Events
Not only does the Virginia Piedmont have greater annual rainfall than other uranium mining communities, it also has greater acute rainfall events. Two of the top five most intense 12-hour storms in the United States occurred in the Virginia Piedmont.

Map of 12-hour storm events.
Twenty-seven inches of rain fell on Nelson County in 1969. Twenty-nine inches fell in Madison County in 1995. Significant flooding also happened in Pittsylvania County in 1996 during Hurricane Fran.

View home video footage & map of the flooding event.
As noted by Elizabeth Haskell in her dissent to the recommendation of the Uranium Subcommittee/Uranium Administrative Group: "In Virginia's wet climate where water is discharged from the site and filters through tailings, the transmittal of radiation to people through streams and the groundwater is a major issue."

Conclusion
Such a risky experiment should not be conducted on Virginia. Virginia should take no action to initiate or sanction a study of uranium mining until the proponents of mining provide reviewable information demonstrating that mining and milling have been undertaken in five places with climate, geology, and population density similar to Virginia and in such a manner as to safeguard the environment, natural and historic resources, agricultural lands, and the health and well-being of citizens of those communities.

Click here to see maps:
http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,391,1629,0,html/Water-amp-Uranium-Mining