Meetings Happening in Virginia

Meeting: Roanoke, of the VRRBAC - - - that's Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee.

Day: Thursday, May 5, 2011

Time: 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Location: WVWA Field Operations Center

3322 Hollins Rd. in Roanoke City

Roanoke, Virginia

Lunch to follow courtesy of the Western Virginia Water Authority

Please let Tammy D. Stephenson by Monday, May 2, 2011 if you plan to attend, so we can provide a lunch count,
Tammy D. Stephenson Program Coordinator Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Office of Surface and Ground Water Supply Planning
Blue Ridge Regional Office - Roanoke 3019 Peters Creek Road Roanoke, Virginia 24019 PH (540) 562-6828 FAX (540) 562-6725 tammy.stephenson@deq.virginia.gov, http://www.deq.virginia.gov/watersupplyplanning/homepage.html

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MEETING IN ROANOKE! MAY 6, 2011: "Keep the Ban"

Water is Life Conference on May 6 at Holiday Inn,  Roanoke.

The event includes 65 workshops and lunch. https://southeastrcap.cvent.com/events/water-is-life-conference-luncheon/registration-e768420e52d74daea5eb3f105e1fe310.aspx
We strong showing at this meeting of volunteers and asked me to "rally the troops."
Please let everyone else know and have them email Hope to confirm they will be there as she needs a head count for lunch, I provided her address below along with the address of the event and times.
HCupit@sercap.org, Hope to see you on Friday the 6th and thanks so much!
Deborah Lovelace LIFE, INC. PS If you want to car pool from Gretna, email me and let me know.

This is an excellent opportunity to carry our message that uranium mining threatens drinking water to a group of volunteers, civic leaders and local officials already very involved in access to clean water.
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Meeting: next uban floyd meeting tuesday may 10th 7pm floyd library

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Meeting: lobbying training in floyd sunday may 15th floyd library from 2pm to 5pm

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The next meeting of LIFE will be 5/10/11 @ C&E Restaurant @ 6:00 pm.

Uranium Mining Potential Impact on Water Quality

by Jeanne Faulconer
Tue, 04/19/2011

There's a rich deposit of uranium in Southside Virginia, and WCVE's Jeanne Faulconer tells us there is a renewed debate about whether the ore should be mined or left in the ground.

Please listen at:
http://ideastations.org/radio/archive/2011-04-19-uranium-mining-potential-impact-on-water-quality

Newspaper story should be 'wake-up call' on uranium

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 9:13 AM EDT


The attached article, published in the Fredericksburg paper 27 years ago, should be a wake-up call to the citizens of Pittsylvania County.

Not only does it disclose the perception of the citizens of Pittsylvania County as being clueless, and the citizens of Northern Virginia as being smart. It also gives some of the back-story to the political maneuverings then that we are seeing all over again.

Walter Coles has made this county and its citizens guinea pigs, but if the ban is lifted, there will be oinking all over Virginia.

Barbara Hudson
Chatham, VA

The Article: Uranium tactics in Virginia

By Larry Evans
Staff Reporter

The game plan for getting the uranium industry established in Virginia is becoming increasingly clear: Focus on Pittsylvania County in the extreme southern part of the state and then, once mining and milling are under way there, let the industry move into other localities.

The industry has given every indication it wants it that way.

And to the legislative front, that is likely to be the approach, according to an influential state senator involved in the effort to get uranium legislation put before the 1985 Virginia General Assembly.

Sen. Nolen, a Democrat from Augusta County, said this week he expects any authorizing legislation to focus solely on Pittsylvania.

That initially would keep the industry from operating in the Rappahannock River basin counties of Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange and Madison, where exploration by the Marline Uranium Corp. in the late 1970s and early 1980s stirred up considerable citizen opposition before the company decided to pull out and concentrate on a deposit of uranium ore it says it has found in Pittsylvania.

It would be harder to get the Legislature to authorize the industry to operate on a statewide basis, Nolen acknowledged during a brief interview with this reporter following a meeting of the 18-member Uranium Administrative Group, which will be making a legislative recommendation in the fall.

Nolen is the only state senator on the study panel, which also consists of citizens, state officials and two members of the House of Delegates.

Nolen said focusing only on Pittsylvania would not be an attempt to silence uranium industry opponents in the Rappahannock basin, who contend that radioactivity and heavy metals in uranium ore could pollute water and air if the industry is allowed to mine, mill and bury wastes. He expects those people to continue to speak out.

"Being realistic, the people up there are very smart people and they know that if (the industry) is going to be allowed to do the work in Pittsylvania, then their area of the state might be next," said Nolen.

"It's like the old proverb about it just being the camel's nose under the tent."

"We're not talking about making guinea pigs out of the people in Pittsylvania," said Nolen, adding that he thinks the uranium issue will have been thoroughly studied by state officials and there will be strong regulatory standards in effect before the state allows mining, milling and waste disposal to begin.

Nolen said legislation should contain a provision that would enable state officials to stop a uranium operation "any time there is a trend toward exceeding standards."

In a move that pleased environmentalists, the UAG decided during the meeting that a task force studying the issue should consider developing statewide standards rather than site-specific standards for Pittsylvania.

Richard N. Burton, who is executive director of the State Water Control Board and chairman of the task force, requested that the UAG direct the task force to take that approach.

Del. J. Paul Councill Jr., chairman of the UAG, had said he first wanted to get an opinion from the attorney general as to whether the Legislature could authorize the industry to operate only in Pittsylvania.

When Burton persisted, the UAG voted to direct the task force to take the broader approach.
Councill then said he still intends to ask the attorney general if legislation can limit the industry to Pittsylvania.

Nolen and Del. Alson H. Smith Jr., a Winchester Democrat, said they foresee no problem if the Legislature wants to specify that the industry can operate only in Pittsylvania .

Councill said he wants to avoid any time-consuming effort that would keep the task force from meeting on Oct. 1 deadline for delivering a final report to the UAG.

"For God's sake, don't drag your heels," said Councill.
Burton said the deadline would be met.

Opponents have questioned why the state government has to make what they consider to be a speedy decision on the uranium question at a time when there is a glut in the domestic uranium supply.

Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2011/04/27/chatham/opinion/opinion10.txt

Proposed Uranium Mining in Virginia

Organically grown veggies are naturally best

By TOM BRINDA, LYNN KIRK
Published: April 10, 2011

In years past, gardening success was measured by harvesting the first tomato, biggest watermelon or most cucumbers, but not anymore if synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are involved.

Spurred by the nation's increasing passion for healthy, locally grown food, many grow-it-yourself vegetable gardeners opt for organic techniques that support nutrition, environmental sustainability and social good.

"Having the confidence to give organic gardening a try just takes education," said Amy Hicks, co-owner of Amy's Garden, which is a USDA Certified Organic vegetable farm in Charles City County. "People think it's difficult to grow organically, but it's not. They also assume they'll be overrun by insects, but that's not the case."

Hicks shared five principles to encourage more gardeners to grow organic.

•Feed your soil and it will feed you. Adding organic matter and compost to garden soil improves drainage, boosts water-holding capabilities, adds nutrients, feeds the soil's microorganisms and enhances its health and structure. The improved soil increases harvests without use of synthetic fertilizers.

•Place non-glossy newspaper under mulch for weed control. The paper, which breaks down, helps keep weeds from germinating and eliminates the need for herbicides.

•Strive for healthier plants that are more tolerant to disease and stress. To grow healthier plants, select disease-resistant varieties, practice crop rotation, allow sufficient space for air movement between plants and compost plant debris after harvest.

•Welcome "good" bugs that can diminish "bad" bugs. Not all insects are bad, but the key is identification. Browse organic-friendly websites and gardening blogs for other tips on removing unwanted pests without pesticides.

•Prolong harvest through succession planting. Additional harvests are accomplished by repeated sowings of fast-maturing crops such as lettuces, greens, turnips, radishes, carrots, beans, squash and tomatoes. Fall gardening with cool-weather vegetables such as onions, peas, lettuces and greens also multiplies the overall yield.

Tom Brinda is assistant executive director for horticulture and education and Lynn Kirk is public relations writer at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/lifestyles/2011/apr/10/tdflair05-organically-grown-veggies-are-naturally--ar-955433/?sc_cid=GDR-NEWS-Afternoon

Frequently Asked Questions About Iodine-131 Found in Surface Water

Several states have reported finding Iodine-131 in surface water (e.g., lakes, rivers, and reservoirs) and rain water. What does this mean for the public’s health?

Highly sensitive radiation monitors operated by EPA and others have detected very low levels of radioactive material in the air in the United States. These levels are consistent with estimated releases from the damaged nuclear reactors.

These findings were expected, given the sensitivity of our monitors and the fact that radioactive material is known to travel in the atmosphere. Federal, state, and local authorities will continue to monitor levels.

Will contaminated rainwater hurt me? Is it okay for my kids to play in the rain?
The very low levels of radioactive material currently being measured in surface water and rain water are far below those of public health concern.

Is it okay for my pet to drink the rainwater?
Drinking rainwater contaminated with radioactive material at the levels currently being detected is unlikely to harm your pet.

Since contaminated rain may have fallen in my area, is it okay to eat food from my garden or use rain water to irrigate it?
Yes. Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to wash food from your garden before you eat it.

Are there any groups of people that should be especially sensitive to radiation?
Infants, pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding are particularly sensitive to radiation. However, levels being measured now are still many times below the risk for even these groups, even for people who drink rainwater. Drinking water levels are many times below this. At this time, there is no need to take extra precautions with regard to drinking water.

Is it okay to take a shower or bath? Swim in a pool? In a river or lake?
Showering, bathing, or swimming in water with the amount of radioactive material that is currently being measured will not harm your health.

Should I drink bottled water instead of tap water?
At this time, there is no reason to switch to bottled water. State and local authorities will provide information for your community if this situation changes.

Should I be testing my water?
At this time, there is no need to take extra precautions with regard to drinking water.

States and the federal government routinely conduct water monitoring for safety and are working to ensure that drinking water does not pose a health risk to people in the US.

Is this likely to be a long-term problem?
Given the uncertainty related to the nuclear reactors in Japan, we don’t know how levels of radiation currently seen in surface water and rain water will change in the immediate time period. However, we do know that Iodine-131 disappears relatively quickly in the environment.

Who can I contact for the best information about my community?
The best source of information about your community is your local drinking water program or department, or your state environmental protection division or program.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.

Read more:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/iodine131surfacewater.asp

Waves Rippling Through Groundwater

March 26, 2011 -- 1:46 pm UTC
Updated: March 31, 2011 -- 3:02 pm UTC

Missouri well spikes
Earthquakes affect Earth’s intricate plumbing system. Whether you live near the notoriously active San Andreas Fault in California, or far from active faults in Florida, an earthquake near or far can affect you and the water resources you depend on.

The most recent earthquake in Japan affected water levels in groundwater wells all over the country. Water level fluctuations were recorded as far away as Illinois, Virginia, Missouri and Florida.

The most common effect on groundwater from earthquakes is an instantaneous water-level increase or decrease. Recovery to the pre-earthquake water level can be so rapid that no change is detected.

These spikes can occur thousands of miles from earthquake epicenters. Most of the time these spikes have no consequences for groundwater supply or quality.

 In rare cases water wells have become dry or begun flowing. In other cases discharge of springs and groundwater to streams has increased, and new springs have formed. Groundwater quality can also become degraded as a result of earthquakes.

Responses of water levels in wells to earthquakes are influenced by such factors as the magnitude and depth of the earthquake, distance from the epicenter, and the type of rock that surrounds the groundwater. The depth of the well, whether the aquifer is confined or unconfined, and well construction also influence the degree of water-level fluctuations in wells in response to seismic waves. Some aquifers may even act as resonators, which may amplify the response.

The USGS Groundwater Resources program tracks these spikes all over the country through real-time groundwater monitoring. USGS scientist Dave Nelms has been tracking this phenomenon in a well in Christiansburg, VA. Visit the Christiansburg, VA well website to see which earthquakes have affected this well over time.

You can also learn more about the groundwater spikes caused by earthquakes in a USGS CoreCast interview, below, featuring USGS Research Geophysicist Evelyn Roeloff:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Transcript/Details

Notable Examples:

The 1998 M5.2 Pymatuning earthquake in northwestern Pennsylvania caused about 120 local household-supply wells to go dry within three months after the earthquake.

The 2002 M7.9 Denali Fault earthquake in Alaska caused a 2-foot water-level rise in a well in Wisconsin, more than a thousand miles from the epicenter.

A minor earthquake that shook Maine Oct. 2 at 8:07 pm caused the water level in a USGS monitoring well to drop more than 2 ½ feet.

The largest offset recorded digitally is a one meter rise caused by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in a well at Parkfield, Calif.

Links:

•Rattling the Earth’s Plumbing System USGS Fact Sheet
•Virginia Water Science Center page tracking earthquakes that affect the Christiansburg, VA well
•USGS Groundwater Resources Program
•More information on Groundwater Effects from Earthquakes
http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/2011/03/26/waves-rippling-through-groundwater/

STAY THE COURSE - KEEP THE BAN!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

It is is to clarify some misconceptions about the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study of uranium mining currently underway.

First, the NAS study is simply not designed to provide the depth of information that needed to determine whether mining can be done safely in Virginia. This is not a reflection on the NAS National Research Council or on the qualifications of the panel members. The scope of the NAS study calls for secondary research, a review of the literature and experiences with mining elsewhere. The statement of work reflects the dual constraints of budget and timing, i.e., completion in time for the 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly.

Without the more costly primary research, i.e., longer-term studies of actual sites where mining could occur in Virginia, key questions related to risks of mining, tailings waste storage and groundwater impacts in Virginia 's climate and hydrology will remain unanswered when the NAS study committee completes its work. For example, for mining risk assessment, an understanding of groundwater impacts by definition requires a site specific study.

Secondly, intensive study of the site appears to be needed to answer basic questions. According to Dr. Sinha of Virginia Tech, a state of equilibrium characterizes part of the Coles Hill site (where rocks, ore and water are moving in a closed system without migration to ground and surface water). Dr. Sinha stated that no one knows what will happen when the overburden is removed. He indicated that a robust study of several years would be needed to model changes, such as migration of water through the strata, etc. if the current state of equilibrium is altered.

Third, a substantive study of uranium tailings risks and containment cell monitoring and maintenance is not expressly included in the NAS study scope of work. Tailings are mentioned only in the context of identifying best management practices in recent decades and are not mentioned along with the examination of other phases of uranium mining, milling, processing and reclamation in the statement of task.

Several geologists have emphasized that while mining, milling, processing and reclamation in Virginia raise questions, it is the tailings, the most enduring phase of the uranium mining lifecycle, that are most problematic: the very long-term storage and monitoring of enormous quantities of wastes containing radionuclides, chemicals and heavy metals. The responsibility for these wastes will ultimately pass to the taxpayer after the mining company shuts down -- with risks and costs to be passed along to future generations of Virginians.

Due to the decay chain, tailings wastes become more dangerous over time, according to international experts. There is concern regarding the lack of a track record with these materials and with the containment cells in Virginia 's climate and hydrology. Information needed to adequately assess risk is not available. Virginia Uranium Inc. in a letter to the City of Virginia Beach stated that VUI does not have information on tailings requested by the City. As we know, the City of Virginia Beach is attempting to assess the risks of upstream uranium mining operations and waste storage on downstream drinking water supplies. The City is, first and foremost, looking at the hazards of tailings storage in a region that is subject to heavy storms and flooding.

Virginia Uranium Inc. does not have answers to basic questions related to water - quantity needed; source of water; quantity, quality of wastewater; treatment, discharge of wastewater. With the NAS study scope as written, these most basic of questions will likely remain unanswered.

There is no study underway that will provide by 2012 the information needed to determine whether uranium mining can be done in the Commonwealth of Virginia in a manner that safeguards Virginia 's people and environment.

With recent events in Japan , assumptions related to risk assessment and safety are called into question. The market for the product is changing. Even China , the growth market for uranium, is, according to reports, taking a closer look at its plans for nuclear expansion.

The conservative stance is to support keeping the ban - to stay the course, given what we know -- and, more importantly, don't know.

Reade more:
http://uraniumfreevirginia.blogspot.com/2011/04/stay-course-keep-ban.html

What Is Geothermal Heating & Cooling?

The most energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly heating and cooling technology available today:
Does not “manufacture” hot and cool air the way most heating and cooling systems do.
Gets its energy from the earth, which remains nearly constant in temperature year-round.

Why Geothermal?

A geothermal system can help save 30-40% on energy costs because it only takes a small amount of electricity to move heat through the heat exchanger and distribute it throughout the building.

A geothermal system is safer for the environment because it uses the earth’s natural energy instead of fossil fuels. It also requires 25% less refrigerant than an air-to-air system and uses HCFC-22, a refrigerant with a very low ozone depletion factor.

A geothermal system provides maximum comfort because individual zone controls allow building occupants to adjust the temperature to their liking.

A geothermal system is quiet and aesthetically pleasing because all pipes are buried underground and no outside unit is needed.

A geothermal system is virtually maintenance-free because the pipes are underground, where there is no weather exposure to affect durability. Many manufacturers guarantee the pipes for 25 years, but industry experts say a life span of 50 years can be expected.

Unlike other HVAC systems with outdoor units, and underground geothermal system is completely vandal-proof.

Government offices must meet government-mandated energy reduction goals. STATE: 25% reduction by 1998 -- FEDERAL: 30% reduction by 2005

Who Supports Geothermal?

Geothermal has been recognized as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC alternative by:
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
Bureau of Capital Outlay Management (Division of Engineering and Buildings)

Read more:
http://www.vesgeothermal.com/Geothermal.html

Kerr Reservoir Water Symposium to be held April 28

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 9:06 AM EDT

CLARKSVILLE - The second Kerr Reservoir Water Symposium will be held at the Community Center in Clarksville Thursday, April 28.

The one-day event, hosted by the Clarksville Lake Interests Committee (CLIC), will include presentations from federal and state experts, lunch, and the same interactive format that was used last year.

Topics will include updates on water allocation policies, impacts of fluctuating water levels on fisheries and recreational values, power generation, shoreline management, and trends in water quality and any impacts on recreation and human health.

The first Kerr Symposium focused on the congressional directives and agency policies that govern the management of the Reservoir and was well attended.

Speakers generated a great deal of interest and the interactive format enabled the attendees to participate and ask pertinent questions. This year's Symposium will include updates on water allocation policies and other issues raised by last year's attendees.

CLIC's goal, in keeping with its charter, is to use this symposium to educate citizens, agency personnel, economic development interests, and policy makers on issues affecting the importance and use of the Reservoir.


More information can be obtained by contacting Brian Mosier, media relations, at bmosier@meckelec.org
or Charles Lee, program chairman, at (434) 374-0794.

Individuals or organizations may preregister online at www.clicva.com. Interested parties can also go to the new website to view the presentations from the first symposium, along with the tentative agenda for this year. This year's presentations will be posted on this site following the symposium. The registration fee, including lunch, will be $15 and seating is limited so don't delay and sign up today.

Read more
:http://wpcva.com/articles/2011/03/29/chatham/news/news27.txt

Earth Day: The History of A Movement

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. “Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson's New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, putting environmental concerns front and center.

The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. "It was a gamble," Gaylord recalled, "but it worked."

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. It used the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a talking drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, and hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.

The fight for a clean environment continues in a climate of increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more victories and successes into our history. Discover energy you didn't even know you had. Feel it rumble through the grassroots under your feet and the technology at your fingertips. Channel it into building a clean, healthy, diverse world for generations to come.

Read more:
http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement

Virginia Uranium not telling whole story

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:08 AM EDT

The ads that Virginia Uranium Inc. has been paying big money for each week are not telling the complete story to the general public.

This past week's ad attempts to convince readers of how safe "yellowcake" is.

Yellowcake is the uranium that is ready to be shipped out of state to be sold or processed and is the first part of the complete nuclear cycle.

What the ad does not tell you is what happens to produce this yellowcake. The earth is blasted with explosives either with underground or open surface mines.

Virginia Uranium has offered conflicting opinions as to how they will do this. The waste rock (which doesn't have enough uranium to process economically) is disposed of in waste piles that no federal or state agency monitors.

The rock that is higher in uranium is then sent to the on-site mill to be crushed into fine particles like fine sand and is leached with chemicals.

The types of chemicals are not being disclosed by VUI. Either alkaline or acid solutions may be used (acid normally gets more of the uranium out of the milled rock and is cheaper).

The uranium (yellowcake) will then be put in 55-gallon barrels and shipped out of Virginia.

What is left behind after removing the yellowcake is what causes concern. The leftovers contain approximately 85 percent of the radioactive daughter products like radioactive arsenic, radium, thorium, and plutonium.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission states: "This ore residue contains the radioactive decay products from the uranium chains (mainly the U-238 chain) and heavy metals.... A conventional mill uses uranium ore extracted by either open pit or deep mining. The ore is then crushed and sent through the mill, where extraction processes concentrate the uranium into uranium-oxygen compounds called yellowcake. The remainder of the crushed rock, in a processing fluid slurry, is placed in a tailings pile/cell."

It has been calculated there will be millions of tons of waste just from this one site alone. How much will be left if VUI processes uranium for other mines along the East Coast?

The uranium company has said it hopes to return the tailings to the mine. They say they are planning to mine for 30 to 35 years.

How can that be done until the mine is no longer being mined, whether it be open pit, underground or a combination of both?

If pits are dug for mining or mill tailings, Virginia Tech's study says the water table there is very shallow. What will happen to our underground water supply?

NRC regulations state they have to be put into tailings pile/cell no larger than 40 acres. How tall will these be or how deep into the earth?

Will NRC regulate the tailings or will Virginia become an "agreement state' is yet to be determined.

Neither seems to have adequate money to undertake such an operation.

What happens if the site becomes flooded, such as the Ranger mine in Australia, and closes down for months?

What would happen to these tailings pile/cell if one of the tornadoes that Virginia and other states experienced this past weekend had touched down there?

So each week when you look at these beautiful color ads, take a closer look, do some research and see why they are really spending probably about $500 a week to spread their news.

Deborah Lovelace
Gretna, VA

Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2011/04/21/chatham/opinion/opinion13.txt

Press Release: League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc. Removes trash from the Adopted road in Pittsylvania County, VA

Warm weather and blue skies inspired volunteers from League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc. to remove the trash from the two miles of highway they had previously adopted.

Two hours and 25 bags of roadside garbage later, the task was completed.

Not only did the group help to beautify the countryside but got some great exercise as a fringe benefit.

League of Individuals for the Environment encourages everyone, first not to throw garbage along our beautiful highways and byways, not only is there a hefty fine, but it shows lack of concern for our environment and can be dangerous to our wildlife.

It was obvious by the different property owners who cared enough for their property and environment as their properties were cleaned up.

We also encourage everyone to pick up the trash along their own properties. If everyone made an effort to maintain their own properties it will beautify our whole county and be a good role model for future generations.

Have some fun, get exercise and benefit your neighborhood all at the same time.

League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc. is a non profit group that cares for a clean environment. Meetings are held twice monthly.

Visit Web Site:

Farmers and Environmentalists in Southern Virginia fight to keep 30 year old uranium mining ban

News SegmentsTue, 04/19/2011 - 13:12
Brad Kutner, FSRN,
Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

Almost 30 years ago, the state of Virginia banned uranium mining.

Environmentalists and local residents have long opposed uranium mining because of concerns about the impact of toxic and radioactive waste on water quality, public health and the environment. Now, corporate stakeholders want the ban repealed and are lobbying to exploit one of the 10 largest uranium deposits in the world. Brad Kutner has the story, which was funded by the community at Spot.us.

TRANSCRIPT: Located in south central Virginia, the rolling hills of Pittsylvania County cover nearly 1,000 square miles. Some of the county’s 62,000 residents have a long, rich history here including beef cattle rancher Phillip Lovelace.

“I’m ninth generation. My granddaughter is 11th generation. I live on the farm I was born on. My great ganddaddy lived across the ridge from where I’m at, about four tenths of a mile in a one-room cabin with a rock chimney and a loft - that’s where my grandpappy was raised.”

Lovelace is fiercely proud of this legacy. But now he and other Pittsylvania residents are fighting to protect their community from a proposed uranium mine planned for Coles Hill, a historic property owned by the same family since the 1780s. Seventh generation hay farmer Bryon Motley lives adjacent to the potential mine site.

“I can walk out on this farm: the old tobacco barn is over here, my fathers fingerprints is in the mud-darby between the logs, I can see them. I can go down behind the old home house, there’s a big beech tree down there, and my father and uncles initials are put in their from 1939, the inside of that tree. How do I walk away from this? You know? So I’ve got to take a stand. But if I’m forced out I don’t know where I’ll go, I really don’t.”

Motley, Lovelace and others took notice when the company started by the Coles family, Virginia Uranium, started buying up parcels of land. Another neighboring family, the Bowens, also have a stake in Virginia Uranium as well as a Canadian firm, Virginia Energy Resources. The company now owns about 3,000 acres and has been lobbying Virginia’s legislature to lift a decades-old ban on uranium mining.

Virginia Uranium values the site at up to $10 billion. 

But some dispute the clean energy classification, pointing out that the uranium mining process creates greenhouse gas emissions. And when accidents happen at uranium mines, the consequences can be serious and long-term. The waste from mines, or tailings, is often the culprit. The most notorious of these disasters is the Church Rock tailings spill of 1979. Located on the Navajo Nation’s northern New Mexico territory, the spill poured 1,100 tons of radioactive waste and 90 million gallons of contaminated liquid into the Rio Puerco River.

These kinds of accidents, along with ground-water contamination and medical issues, such as cancer and birth defects, have caused Pittsylvania locals, like cattle rancher Lovelace, to rally against removing the ban.

“Those tailings being exposed to the environment, if we have a massive hurricane in the area which we live and we have a lot of them. Our water table is very shallow to the top of the ground, this area has fractured rock. Uranium is water-soluble, it will mix in our ground water. And you cannot get radiation out of your water. It cannot be removed. You can cut it, you can make it weaker, but you still have radiation.”

Lovelace’s concerns don’t stop with his own locality. He has seen the statewide maps showing uranium deposits that stretch from the North Carolina border across to the southern tip of Maryland.

“It’s not gonna be just right here in Pittsylvania county. They’re going to open this whole state up if that moratorium is lifted.”

That is where Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the Martinsville NAACP, comes in. She lives about a half-hour from the proposed site, but also foresees the floodgates opening if the moratorium is lifted.

“I don’t care because it’s 30 miles away? That’s not an acceptable answer, not if you consider yourself a citizen of a state, and you love your state.”

Hodge-Muse, along with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, organized bus trips across the state to attend public comment hearings about lifting the ban.

“Five different localities, all in agreement, all racially diverse. Because this is a Virginia issue, this is a citizen issue, this has no party line, no ethnicity. As a Virginian, you have a right to walk outside and breathe clean air.”

The public hearings were conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, an all-volunteer body which is reviewing studies submitted by different groups to understand the social, environmental and economic impact of lifting the ban.

One such study was paid for by the city of Virginia Beach to better understand the possibility of a heavy rainstorm on the bodies of water between Coles Hill and Virginia Beach, including the city’s water supply, Lake Gaston. Tom Leahy, director of public utilities for the city of Virginia Beach, said although the study deals with a worst-case scenario, such weather events are not uncommon.

“The hydrology in Virginia is well documented that the eastern ridge of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains are particularly susceptible to extreme flooding events and events that are sometimes referred to PMP, or probable maximum precipitation storms. And these types of storms are capable of devastating virtually any man made structure.”

The Virginia Beach “Uranium Mining Impact Study” found that such a storm could result in significant accumulation of radioactive materials in the riverbed, flood plains and reservoir.

The results of that study have been challenged by Bob Bodnar, professor of geochemistry at Virginia Tech and a supporter of the mine. Bodnar, who has more than three decades of experience in geosciences, has conducted hydrological studies of the Coles Hill site funded by Virginia Uranium. He says the idea of ground water contamination from modern mining operations is often misunderstood.

“When you dig a hole in the ground, whether it’s an open pit or an underground mine, water does not flow from that area out into the surrounding areas to contaminate the ground or surface water, instead, water flows towards that hole.”

Water would be continuously pumped out of the mine, and purified on site by Virginia Uranium, according to Bodnar, who says changes in technology mean uranium can be mined responsibly.

“It would be treated and any harmful elements or dissolved components in the water would be removed and then the water would be returned, either to the ground water through a well or to surface springs, would meet all the drinking water standards of the EPA.“

But following Japan’s nuclear crisis, mine proponents might have a harder time convincing lawmakers to repeal the ban.

And some, including hay farmer Motley, see this as an opportunity for Virginia to become a true leader in energy independence by investing in wind, water and solar energy.

“We have a new school that our tobacco money helped build, the advanced Technology school in Danville. We’ve got several excellent schools in Virginia that we could be getting this into a feasible way of powering our country.

Our honorable governor and the honorable people we’ve elected into these seats,they need to realize nuclear is 50-years-old, it’s not new process. We’ve got to go to new process; we’ve got to find a better and cleaner way.”

The Virginia General Assembly has the final say on lifting the uranium-mining ban, and only meets at the beginning of every year for a few months.

Virginia Uranium’s attempts to lift the ban this past year were squashed, but they are taking steps to ensure the issue is discussed during the 2012 session. Members of the Virginia Energy and Mining Committee refused to discuss the issue until the National Academy of Sciences finishes their report, which is scheduled for completion at the end of this year.

Read more:
http://fsrn.org/audio/web-only-extended-version-pressure-mounts-repeal-virginias-30-year-ban-uranium-mining/8385

Meeting for LIFE: Water Testing

Special Speaker:  Dave Jones

Town of Madison, NC, Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator, ORC (Operator in Responsible Charge).

Do you want to have your water tested? Do you have questions? What should it be tested for? How much does it cost?

Will you need a baseline if VUI starts drilling again?

Dave will be here to answer all your questions on a special called meeting and set up appointments for those who would like to have their water tested. Please let others know who may be interested.

Meeting info: 

April 21, 2011

6:00 PM

1504 Ben Annie Rd

Gretna, VA 24557

(Bring your own chair)

Meetings: Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining in Virginia

There are two meeting this week in Martinsville and Danville to Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining in Virginia. New people are welcome - I hope you can join us.

Tuesday: Martinsville – Henry County
Tues, April 19th
3:00pm – 4:00pm
618 E Church Street, Martinsville
**This is the old Vipperman building just below the old St. Joseph Catholic Church building. Parking is in the back of the building.
Contact: Naomi Hodge Muse (276) 732-1598

Wednesday: Danville
Wed, April 20th
Noon – 1:00pm
Danville Public Library Auditorium (511 Patton Street, Danville)
Contact: Karen Maute (434) 797-3460, PRIDE:  http://prideva.blogspot.com/

These meetings are open to community members concerned about the health and well being of our communities and want to learn more about how to keep the ban on uranium mining in Virginia. We will pass out materials, factsheets and petitions to bring into your community.

See you there.

Mary

--
Mary Rafferty
Grassroots Organizing Manager
Sierra Club - Virginia Chapter

Email: Mary.rafferty@sierraclub.org
Office: (804) 225-9113 ext 105
Cell: (401) 862-8749

N.C. may do its own uranium mine study

South Boston Virginia News | TheNewsRecord.com

By Eva Cassada
SoVaNow.com / April 11, 2011

Two North Carolina State Senators have introduced legislation to study the near- and long-term impacts of Virginia uranium mining on the Tar Heel state.

The bill is put forth by a pair of lawmakers: Doug Berger, a Youngsville attorney, has a district spanning Granville, Vance, Warren and Franklin counties, bordering the Virginia line; the district of Ed Jones, a retired N.C. State Trooper, is to the southeast of here: Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton and Perquimans counties.

Jones could not be reached for comment over the weekend, but Berger said citizens and regional associations had brought to him their concerns over uranium mining in Virginia.

The text of the bill cites the impacts “on North Carolina’s economy, environment and agricultural activities and on the health and well-being of its citizens,” especially the impact on the portion of North Carolina in or near the lower Roanoke River Basin spanning the Virginia/North Carolina border. The study would address efforts by “a Canadian company or any other company to conduct uranium mining in Virginia in the center of the Roanoke River Basin.”

The bill goes to specify that the study, which would be conducted by the Legislative Research Commission, should address “any potential economic burdens” to the Tar Heel tourism industry, other industries, property values and whether Virginia uranium mining would deter prospective industries or development “in North Carolina downstream and downwind.”

It specifies scrutiny of health, drinking water, surface water, groundwater, air quality and “especially the potential impacts of the uranium mill tailings and other radioactive material flooding into the Roanoke River system and polluting Kerr Lake, Lake Gaston and … extending to the Albemarle Sound.”

The interim report would be due in 2012, with a final report due in 2013.

Berger said Sunday he may try to speed up the study so it could have greater impact.

The bill passed its first reading in the State Senate and has been referred to the committee on rules and operations. The N.C. General Assembly is in its long session this year and will likely meet through June.

Read more:
http://www.thenewsrecord.com/index.php?/news/article/n.c._may_do_its_own_uranium_mine_study/

VIRGINIA, WATER QUALITY MONITORING INFORMATION AND RESTORATION ACT

Notice:  DEQ’s response is due by August 31 for nominations received between January 1, and April 30.


GUIDANCE FOR CITIZEN NOMINATION OF STATE SURFACE WATERS FOR INCLUSION IN VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY'S ANNUAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN. IN ACCORDANCE WITH §62.1-44.19:5.F OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, WATER QUALITY MONITORING INFORMATION AND RESTORATION ACT.

PURPOSE OF GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

This document provides detailed guidance on implementation of §62.1-44.19:5.F, the section of the Water Quality Monitoring, Information and Restoration Act that provides for requests from the public regarding
specific segments that should be included in the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ)
annual Water Quality Monitoring Plan.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTACT

Questions concerning this document should be addressed to Mr. Stuart Torbeck, Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23218 at (804) 698-4461 or the DEQ in-state
toll free number (1-800-592-5482). The street address is 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia,
23219.

BACKGROUND ON THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

During the 1997 legislative session, the General Assembly enacted the Water Quality Monitoring, information and Restoration Act (the Act). The Act directs DEQ to provide a procedure for citizens of the Commonwealth to nominate portions of lakes, streams, and rivers of Virginia for water quality monitoring by DEQ. Citizens can send their nominations to DEQ via the procedures described below.

Nominations received by April 30, 2011 will be considered for inclusion in DEQ's annual monitoring plan for the 2012 calendar year. The monitoring plan will be finalized after considering the citizen's nominations for inclusion. DEQ will respond to each request in writing, stating the reasons for accepting or denying each nomination. DEQ’s response is due by August 31 for nominations received between January 1, and April 30.

PROCESS TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL MONITORING

Any person may request that a specific body of water be included in DEQ's annual water quality monitoring plan. Each request received between January 1 and April 30, shall be reviewed when DEQ develops or updates the annual water quality monitoring plan. Such requests shall include, at a minimum (i) a geographical description of the water body recommended for monitoring; (ii) the reason the monitoring is requested, and (iii) any water quality data that the petitioner may have collected or compiled. Please see the nominating form Attachment 1.

Please note that the monitoring program covered by this process is directed at the surface waters of the
state. Private ponds, privately owned lakes and any other body of water not deemed to be "State Waters"
are ineligible.

Nominations can be submitted by mail, or hand delivered to the receptionist’s desk at our
Central Office at 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia.

Mailing Address:Mr. Stuart Torbeck
VA Dept. of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA. 23218
Street Address (FedEx):

Mr. Stuart Torbeck
VA Dept. of Environmental Quality
629 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219

E- mail:  charles.torbeck@deq.virginia.gov

Use of the nomination form shown in Attachment 1 is preferred. All nominations with the minimum of
information as outlined above will be accepted for review.

TIMELINE

Nominations received between January 1 and April 30, 2011 will be considered for inclusion in DEQ’s Water Quality Monitoring plan for the following calendar year (2012). DEQ will respond in writing on its
approval or denial of each nomination by August 31, 2011. The DEQ 2012 monitoring plan will be made
available for public inspection. A notice of availability of the annual monitoring plan will be placed in the

Virginia Register and on DEQ's web site at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/water

Will there be a uranium debate?

By Elizabeth Strother

A year ago, author Andrew Rice wrote a piece in The New Republic about the political battle that still rages in Pittsylvania County over the possibility of mining a rich deposit of uranium discovered in March 1979 on a farm near Chatham.

"Nuclear Standoff" opens with the recollections of geologist Byrd Berman, one of several men sent by a uranium mining company to canvass a network of geological depressions known as the Triassic Basins that run from North Carolina up through Virginia's Piedmont, into eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and on into New England.

That night, Berman told Rice, "he went back to his hotel room savoring his luck. 'I turned on the television and what were they talking about? They were talking about a strange place called Three Mile Island.' That very day, as Berman remembers it, there had been an accident at a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania."

The resulting uptick in public fears about nuclear energy did not by itself kill the Coles Hill project, but Three Mile Island marked a shift in the industry's fortunes in the United States. Virginia put a moratorium on uranium mining in 1983; Berman's employer, Marline Uranium, abandoned Coles Hill in 1990.

Fast forward to 2011, and the uranium at Coles Hill looks again like a potential jackpot worth billions of dollars.

New reactors will create new demand for uranium.

Walter Coles Sr., owner of Coles Hill, formed Virginia Uranium Inc. with a group of private investors in 2007; in 2009, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission agreed to a National Academy of Sciences study of the possible impacts of uranium mining in Virginia.

This was the picture when an earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of Japan this month and so damaged four reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that radioactive leaks have grown increasingly alarming and remained out of control last week.

Three Mile Island did not approach the scale of disaster that has been unfolding in Japan. So is Coles' Byrd Berman moment upon him, a tragic twist of fate that will stall the momentum Virginia Uranium has been building toward exploiting the riches that lie under Coles Hill?

I don't think so. The global impacts of climate change are dire enough to raise many environmentalists' threshold for what nuclear power risks would be acceptable to lower carbon emissions. And the political and economic climate in Virginia favors industry at almost any cost just now.

Which makes it all the more critical that the results of the NAS study, to be delivered to the commission in December, be the start of lengthy and thoughtful consideration of what would constitute an acceptable risk to the people who live around Coles Hill and those who could be impacted in the much wider Dan River and Roanoke River watersheds.

Not the start of a conversation about how to regulate uranium mining, but about whether Virginia should allow uranium mining at all.

The NAS study will not make a recommendation on lifting the moratorium. That will be a political choice made by the General Assembly.

Rice wrote in The New Republic, "'Many of the elected delegates are waiting for the study,' Coles told me, 'to give them cover to take a position on this.' " Hardly a confidence builder that this isn't a done deal.

Yet skeptics do need to look at the NAS study with an open mind. I spoke last week to Robert Bodnar, a geochemistry professor at Virginia Tech who has done research at Coles Hill, funded in part by Virginia Uranium. He is not participating in the NAS study, other than to summarize research results before the study committee.

"Based on my experience working in the mining industry for 30 years," he told me, "I'm convinced Coles Hill can be mined with acceptable risks."

So uranium mining can be done safely now? I asked.

"It can be done with acceptable risks," he reiterated. "'Safely' has different meanings to different people."

There's the crux of the coming debate. If there is one.

Read more:
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/strother/wb/281980

Earth Day Events and Volunteer Opportunities in the Southeast

Virginia :  Earth Day Celebration

Date: April 30
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Alexandria, VA
There will be exhibitions, environmental display, food, jazz music, poetry, free parking and tree sales.
Come and enjoy. http://www.alexearthday.org/
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Family Fun Day! - Eco Party: An Earth Day Celebration!

Date: Apr 30, 2011
Time: 11:00AM - 4:00PM
Location: One Clay Square, Charleston, WEST VIRGINIA 25301, KANAWHA County
Web site: http://www.theclaycenter.org
Contact e-mail: info@theclaycenter.org

Learn how you can explore nature and help our Earth at this eco-friendly celebration. Investigate an interactive Earth fair, meet live birds of prey, create recycling art projects, enjoy an exciting story time and more. Visit our "naturalist nook" to see some things we've found outdoors, and bring some of your own natural wonders for show and tell (nothing living, please!).

The Earth Fair is free for all; all other activities are included with gallery admission, which is free for Clay Center members or just $5.50 for children and $7 for adults.


EARTH DAY-ARBOR DAY

Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
Location: Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA
If you are interesting in having a table, leading an environmental workshop or being a vendor at the event, please contact Clean Fairfax at 703-324-5471
http://www.cleanfairfax.org/blog/?page_id=4
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WHES' 2nd Annual Earth Day Festival

date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: Washington Henry Elementary School, Hanover County, VA

Hands-on demonstrations for composting and repotting plants, petting zoo, concernt band, ride a horse, carnival games, vendors; rmake a ecycled craft; bring a used book for the book exchange and more. The first 250 people attending this event will receive a free WHES t-shirt reusable bag. Visit school website for more information. or contact Dawn Neher, with Keep Virginia Beautiful at (804) 803-1582.

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Celebrate Earth Day and Henrico County's 400th Anniversary

Date: Sat, Apr 16
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Location: Three Lakes Park, Henrico County
Admission: Free.
For all ages.

Bring the family and enjoy live entertainment by OminOtagO, a duet performing an eclectic mix of rock and pop music. The Tucker High School Jazz band will also be featured on the main stage. Activities and entertainment will include educational booths and displays, recycling games, the Henrico County Bookmobile, arts and crafts promoting litter pick-up, face painting, and more. The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be on-site with live animals and will educate you on animal rescue. Three Lakes Nature Center will also feature hands-on activities as well as educational displays. Come out and celebrate the environment! Concessions will be available for purchase. Information: Jeannie Murray, 501-5121.

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Sheep to Shawl

Date: Saturday, April 16
Time: Noon to 4 p.m
Location: Meadow Farm Museum. Henrico County .
For all ages.
Admission: free

Meadow Farm is shearing its sheep and taking the wool through the entire process from sheep to shawl. Spinning, weaving and natural dyes are all part of this process. Come try your hand at some of these activities. Make a wool craft to take home. Information: Anna Truong, 501-2130.

http://www.co.henrico.va.us/departments/rec/at-your-leisure-program/specialevents/

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Earth Day 2011 "Down to Earth" In Hanover County

Date: Saturday, April 23
Time:, 10 am - 3 pm
Location: Hanover High School, Mechanicsville, VA

Save the Date & Participate! Mark you calendar for the premiere of Hanover Assoication of Businesses and Chamber of Commerce Earth Day event and learn how "being green makes the world go' round." Visit www.habcc.com for more information.
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Envirothon Earth Day Event to Focus on Earth Friendly Activities

Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: New Kent Extension Office, New Kenty County, VA

The New Kent Clean County Committee and the New Kent Extension Office will host Envirothon Earth Day to celebrate the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. A day of activities is planned for all ages.

Contact the New Kent Extension office for more information at (804) 966-9645.

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2011 Earth Day Celebration in Powhatan County

Date: Saturday, April 23
Time: 11 am - 2 pm
Location: Powhatan Courthouse Historic District, Powhattan, VA (Map)

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Earth Day Richmond Festival

Date: Saturday, April 23
Time: 12 noon- 5 pm
Location: City of Richmond. South end of Mayo Bridge (from James River to Art Works, about 4 blocks along Hull St.)
Admission: free

Music, art, dance, science, fishing and food. Many things for families with children, including displays from environmental organizations, non-profits, etc.

Visit www.earthdayrichmond.org or call Earth Day Richmond at (804) 646-0954 as well as Darlene Mallory, Richmond Clean City Commission at (804) 646-8325.
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Suffolk County Earth Day Recycling Event
Date: April 23, 2011
Time: 11:00 a.m. on
Location: Bennett's Creek Park, Suffolk VA
Registration from 12:00 am, January 31, 2011

Suffolk residents help Keep Suffolk Beautiful celebrate Earth Day with our very own Recycling Extravaganza at Bennett's Creek Park. Recycle your tires, electronics waste, plastics, newspapers and no cost shredding of office paper or files!
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2011 Earth Day Celebration

Date:Sunday, May 1, 2011
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Mount Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach
This event is free and open to the public.

The will once again be held at Mount Trashmore Park – Hampton Roads own landfill-to-park success story.

For more information, please contact Katie Whanger, 2011 Earth Day Coordinator at (757) 385-0426 or kwhanger@vbgov.com.

North Carolina


Charlotte Clean And Green 2010

This year’s Learning Festival and Earth Day Celebration will be bigger, better and greener this year as it returns to the Central Campus of Central Piedmont Community College on Saturday, April 16th, 2011. Now in its fourth year, Charlotte Clean and Green is the premier environmental and sustainability focused event in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region. This year’s festival will offer individuals, families and businesses the opportunity to learn how helping to save our natural resources can also save money, create economic opportunity and provide for healthier living. The 2011 Charlotte Clean and Green festival will be packed with educational and fun–filled activities, rain or shine.

Location: Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina
Date and time: Saturday, April 16 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Learn more about the event
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Raleigh-Durham

Earth Day - Planet Earth Celebration, Respect Your Mother

RAIN OR SHINE! IT'S FREE! Join us for the 4th Annual Planet Earth Celebration, downtown Raleigh’s premier sustainability festival showcasing all the ways to love the Earth – from repurposed art and music to expert advice on sustainable living.

Location: Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Road, Raleigh, North Carolina
Date and time: Saturday, April 16 – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Contact: (919) 733-7450, museum@naturalsciences.org

Learn more about the event
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2011 Durham Earth Day Festival Featuring Bull City Open Streets

"Go Green" at Durham’s 2011 Earth Day Festival. Celebrate Durham's sense of community, raise awareness of current local and global environmental issues, actively engage in hands-on learning activities, and celebrate our environmental success.

Bull City Open Streets (New Feature)

New this year, Bull City Open Streets will close the streets surrounding the Earth Day Festival to promote biking, walking and physical activities. Event organizers want to promote health, community, environmental awareness and downtown’s economic growth

Directions to E-Waste/ Shredding Drop Off Station: Take Morgan St. (Downtown Loop) to Foster Street. Make a right onto Foster Street. Make a right onto Seminary Ave.
Location: Durham Central Park, 201 Foster St., Durham, North Carolina

Date and time: Saturday, April 24 – 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Tina Chavis
Learn more about the event
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Other North Carolina Cities

Asheville Earth Day 2011

Asheville Earth Day strives to bring the community together in support of conscious lifestyles and business practices. The festival boasts live music, a kid's village, eco-village, and a whole lot of Asheville!

Asheville Earth Day is proud to announce our new partnership with the YMCA of Western North Carolina’s Healthy Kids Day. Every April communities and Y’s across the nation celebrate Healthy Kids Day, which is the nation’s largest health day for children and families. Healthy Kids Day brings children and families from over 10,000 communities together, providing education, activities and experiences that help teach good health and foster connections through wellness games, sports, fun and shared interests.

Location: Pack Square, 0 Pack Square, Asheville , North Carolina 28801
Date and time: Saturday, April 16 – 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Contact: info@avlearthday.org
Learn more about the event
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Viva Verde Earth Fest

The cities of Concord and Kannapolis join Cabarrus County in hosting the Viva Verde Earth Fest, a family-friendly Earth Day celebration with lots of fun and learning for everyone! Visitors can enjoy geocaching, recycling opportunities, guided nature walks, food, LIVE MUSIC, kids' activities, The Scrap Exchange, Carolina Raptor Center and more!For more details, please see the event flyer and visit our website & Facebook page.

Location: North Cabarrus Park, 760 Orphanage Rd., Kannapolis, North Carolina
Date and time: Saturday, April 16 – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Contact:
Concord: Mandy Smith-Thompson smithal@ci.concord.nc.us or 704-920-5379
Kannapolis: Elizabeth Cox ecox@cityofkannapolis.com or 704-920-4314
Cabarrus County: Pete Pasterz papsterz@cabarruscounty.us or 704-920-3280
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Wilmington's 2011 Earth Day Celebration: “Clear the Air”

The festivities will be held at Hugh MacRae Park on Saturday, April 30, 2010, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The new theme this year — “Clean the Air”. Free to attend. Free shuttle. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Location: Hugh MacRae Park, Wilmington, North Carolina
Date and time: Saturday, April 30 – 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Shannon Culpepper, (910) 798-4452, wilmingtonearthday@gmail.com
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Piedmont Earth Day Fair

The sixth annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair will be held at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This family-friendly event will feature over 100 exhibits offering a wide range of environmental topics, sustainable solutions, and local initiatives. Also offered are children’s activities and entertainment, live music, demonstrations, all-natural food and more. Drop off your used computer equipment and Goodwill will recycle it for you. Carpooling is encouraged and a free bike valet will be available. FREE admission and parking. Rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, the Fair will be held inside the Education Building. This event is presented by Piedmont Environmental Alliance.

Location: Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Date and time: Saturday, April 16 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Read more
http://www.epa.gov/region03/earthday/

Virginia Uranium Mining: Risks Outweigh Benefits

By Colleen Redman

When Deborah Lovelace first learned in 2008 that a small group of investors was planning to mine uranium about five miles from her Pittsylvania County home, she was interested in learning more. Because her grandfather and other family members had worked in coal mines, she thought uranium mining would be an opportunity for more jobs in the area.

Lovelace, a former real-estate agent and wife of a ninth-generation farmer, started doing research on uranium mining. She read information on the internet.

She attended meetings and symposiums, including one called “The Health and the Socio-economic Impact of Uranium Mining in Virginia,” hosted by Friends of the Earth in Richmond.

She quickly discovered that there was a big difference between coal mining and uranium mining because of the large amounts of radioactive waste that uranium mining creates. With a group of concerned citizens, she traveled to the Coal River Valley in West Virginia; that trip confirmed her worst fears about the mining industry. She learned about poor safety records and the lack of regard for regulations by mining companies. She saw economic depression in the form of closed schools and boarded-up businesses. She saw a creek flowing with contaminated yellowish water

Today, Lovelace heads up the nonprofit League of Individuals for the Environment (LIFE) and gives presentations in an effort to alert the public about a well-funded and politically connected campaign to lift a 29-year-old moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia.

In January, Lovelace and other organizers traveled from Pittsylvania County to Floyd County to meet with citizens there. A group of about 40 Floyd County residents learned that uranium mining in the U.S. has traditionally been limited to dry and lightly populated areas out West. With the price of uranium on the rise [at this writing], however, a Canadian-backed company called Virginia Uranium, Inc., is intent on bringing it to the East, specifically to Pittsylvania County, where a large deposit of uranium has been found.

The proposed mining site, Coles Hill, is situated on land owned by Walter Coles, Sr., the president and CEO of Virginia Uranium, Inc.

Lovelace gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the uses and hazards of uranium and the logistics of mining operations. She explained that uranium is a radioactive metal found in the ground that is primarily used to make nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It’s toxic to humans and the environment.

“It takes 1,000 pounds of ore to produce one pound of uranium, which leaves 999 pounds of mill tailings,” Lovelace explained. “The mill tailings retain 85 percent of their toxic radioactivity for 300,000 years.” She added that exposure to uranium adversely affects the kidney, brain, liver and heart. It also increases the risk of birth defects and is damaging to neurological, genetic and reproductive systems.

A uranium mining operation commonly involves open-pit or underground mining, a pulverizing mill and a chemical plant, Lovelace said. She showed mining photos and displayed a United States Geological Survey map that highlighted potential uranium mining sites throughout rural Virginia and North Carolina and up and down the Blue Ridge.

Do we need uranium for energy? According to Lovelace’s research, the Department of Energy has sold excess uranium to friendly countries. “It’s stockpiled,” she said. “We buy it from Russia to keep it out of the hands of unfriendly countries. Of the 1,100 nuclear reactors in the world, only 430 are used to generate electricity.”

The environmental consequences of uranium mining in Virginia’s wet climate and the risks to groundwater and waterways also were discussed at the meeting.

Other frustrations raised included the lack of home insurance coverage for radiation contamination or damage due to mine blasting, the cost to taxpayers for radioactive cleanup and storage, and the concern that if the moratorium is lifted and mining is allowed in Pittsylvania County, it will open the door to uranium mining all over Virginia.

Several studies are underway that need to be completed and reviewed before the General Assembly will make a decision about the mining moratorium. A study funded by Virginia Beach already has determined that heavy rains and flooding near the proposed mining site in Pittsylvania County could flush radioactive waste into Lake Gaston, contaminating the city’s main water source. Another study currently being conducted by a National Academy of Sciences committee is funded by Virginia Uranium, Inc., the company seeking to mine. The Washington Post reported in 2008 that an estimated 110 million pounds of uranium worth almost $10 billion dollars is at stake for mining backers.

In early February, Robert Tohe, a field representative for the Sierra Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a member of the Navajo nation, visited Pittsylvania County to address the issue. He spoke to farmers, a pastor, two elected county officials, the local president of the NAACP and about 50 others about the devastation caused by uranium mining in the West, which began in the 1940s.

Tohe reported that the Navajo people and other indigenous communities are still living with the legacy of contamination from past uranium mining, including high rates of cancer. Although many of their communities are without electricity, Tohe said, “The people have sacrificed their lands and lives to uranium mining.” He reminded the audience that in the 1970s, the National Academy of Sciences coined the term “national sacrifice area” for the Four Corners area (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado) of the Southwest.

Tohe considers the hazardous nature of uranium mining to be a human-rights issue that disproportionately affects low-income people. He explained that huge amounts of water are used to mine uranium and that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had to haul water into communities where drinking water is contaminated. Current efforts to use the judicial system to keep new uranium mining out of indigenous communities have been unsuccessful, and Congress has been dragging its feet on reclamation compensation.

“Waste is a huge issue,” Tohe said. “There is toxic waste in every step of the mining process. There’s really no place to hold this kind of waste, so why would you generate more if there is no place to store it? Is it need or greed?”

Tohe added that it’s the world market, primarily Korea and China, that will benefit from uranium mining. He warned of a large Canadian presence in U.S. mining and a web of partnerships that sell to global markets. “Once it gets into foreign-owned hands, we don’t know where it goes from there,” he said.

Tohe spoke of the boom-and-bust market cycles that hold hostage those residents near mines. Some short-term mining jobs can be expected, but water that is contaminated is changed forever. “You can’t pass regulations to address past hurts; it’s too late then,” he said. He advised that people look at the cumulative effects. “If there’s one mine, there will be two and three.”

During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, Bob Martin, a pastor from Pittsylvania County, commented that The National Academy of Science does the studies but doesn’t make recommendations. “That’s up to the politicians and that’s who I’m worried about,” he said. He expressed frustration at those who didn’t go to the polls to support politicians who stand against uranium mining.

Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the NAACP in Martinsville, suggested that each person in the room commit to speaking to his or her church and 10 other people, telling those 10 people to speak to their churches and 10 more people, and so on. “We are the people of Virginia,” she said. “Nobody has the right to come in and jeopardize our health and well-being. There are more of us than them.”

Mining moratorium supporter Karen Maute summed up the meeting, saying that Tohe’s message was clear.

“It’s better to avoid catastrophe than to deal with it after the fact,” she said. “We have the science behind us.

Lovelace remembers her initial hope that uranium mining might bring jobs to the area. Now, knowing what she knows, she thinks differently. “Jobs? What about the jobs lost?” she asks. “Who’s going to want to buy beef from us?”

• To read Deborah Lovelace’s blog, visit http://lifeincva.blogspot.com/, Deborah can be reached at lifeva2009@gmail.com
•  A local group of concerned citizens meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Jessie Peterman Library in Floyd. For more information on that group, contact Brad Miller at Brad@B-RadPercussion.com
• For more information, visit  http://uraniumfreeva.org/

Read more:
http://www.naswvamag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=432:virginia-uranium-mining&catid=101:features&Itemid=132

Energy efficiency program in early stages in Danville

By Denice Thibodeau
Published: April 11, 2011

The Danville Utility Commission had a marathon meeting Monday, getting updates on plans for a residential energy efficiency program, an update on the Biennial Utility Rate Study and holding a public hearing on Danville’s compliance with the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

The energy efficiency program will begin with a survey of utilities customers to determine age and efficiency of appliances, heat and air systems, hot water service, home insulation and other energy-users.

On Tuesday, The Center for Research is meeting with Danville Utilities staff to work on the survey questions and plan the project, which should be completed in June.

Once completed, the survey results will be studied by Nexant, which is designing a rebate program for residents who make improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes.

Doug Handley, a consultant who studies rate trends and makes recommendations to Danville Utilities, gave an update on the Biennial Utility Rate Study, which recommends no changes to base rates, but does recommend some changes to the gas transportation rate, tap fees and implementing a “time of use” program that will reward customers who do not use power during peak load times of day.

Based on commissioners’ requests for information from case studies of such a plan, Handley said he would bring more information to the May meeting.

The public hearing on Danville’s compliance with standards set by the policies act showed the city is following the act’s goals of setting up energy conservation programs, working toward optimal efficiency in its facilities and resources and providing “equitable” rates for its electric customers. Handley said the utility’s various energy-efficiency programs, the new Smart Meters and other initiatives mean the three standards Danville chose not to adopt in its policies in 2007 or 2009 can now be met.

The public hearing will remain open until the May 23 meeting to give customers a chance to comment on compliance efforts before the matter is up for final adoption.

Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/apr/11/energy-efficiency-program-early-stages-danville-ar-965938/