Written by Staff
07:31 am 12/21/11
The National Academy of Sciences released a highly anticipated report on the risks of uranium mining and milling in Virginia Monday, which confirmed this activity would expose Virginians to serious risks of radioactive contamination of water, air, land and farm products.
State law has maintained a nearly 30-year ban on uranium mining. Virginia Uranium, Inc., which wants to establish a uranium mine, mill and waste disposal site in Pittsylvania County, is pushing the General Assembly to lift the ban in 2012, beginning with the drafting of regulations.
Halifax County Town Council representatives Jack Dunavant and William Confroy traveled to Richmond along with members of “We The People” and “Keep The Ban” for the study’s unveiling Monday.
Confroy said although the report was not site specific, “it clearly highlighted many unanswered questions and pointed out tremendous risks.”
The report does not include any site-specific data or make recommendations about whether Virginia should lift the 30-year old ban on uranium mining and milling. However, the report provides ample evidence of the potential for contamination of ground and surface water and highlights the devastating legacy left by the industry, both decades ago and in recent years, he added.
Confroy said he was pleased the report highlighted what the Town of Halifax representatives have been saying all along.
“It’s extremely risky,” Confroy said, adding uranium has not been mined at any other site in such a highly populated area as Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County.
“We need to continue to study this,” he said.
Confroy also pointed out the state did not have the money to do the study, so it had to be funded by Virginia Uranium Inc., the company desiring to mine uranium at Coles Hill.
“If they don’t have money for the study, where will they find money for regulation?” he asked.
Confroy said the worst part about nuclear energy is the mining aspect, describing it as “so, so dangerous.”
Referring to the Town of Halifax and Banister River, Confroy said, “We’re ground zero. This is where all the unwanted particulates will be deposited…at the base of our lake and dam.”
Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller said his group’s initial review of the report confirms that uranium mining would be a dangerous experiment for Virginia.
“The report establishes that neither the mining industry nor federal or state regulators have any experience with uranium mining or milling in climatic and hydrogeological conditions like Virginia’s. The risks of containing huge amounts of waste for thousands of years--especially in a wet climate like Virginia’s--have never been addressed,” Miller said.
“Although Virginia Uranium Inc., seems eager to push for an end to the ban in the 2012 General Assembly Session, The Piedmont Environmental Council hopes that the National Academy of Sciences will be given time to meet its contractual obligations with regard to public outreach and education,” he continued. “It is critical that the public and the legislature are able to fully understand the findings and limitations of this study. Only then will we be able to discuss what it means to lift the ban and if it is even possible to draft regulations that would protect the commonwealth and its citizens.”
Miller said it will likely take months to begin to understand the findings of this lengthy, technical document. But upon an initial scan, the council finds plenty of evidence that supports its long-standing opposition to the proposal.
The Roanoke River Basin Association, a non-profit representing over 70 localities in Virginia and North Carolina, said Monday it hoped the NAS report would provide a definitive answer to the only question that is truly important – is it safe to mine and mill uranium in the Roanoke River basin watershed considering Virginia’s wet climate?
Read more:
http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34-news/4590-locals-react-to-uranium-study
07:31 am 12/21/11
The National Academy of Sciences released a highly anticipated report on the risks of uranium mining and milling in Virginia Monday, which confirmed this activity would expose Virginians to serious risks of radioactive contamination of water, air, land and farm products.
State law has maintained a nearly 30-year ban on uranium mining. Virginia Uranium, Inc., which wants to establish a uranium mine, mill and waste disposal site in Pittsylvania County, is pushing the General Assembly to lift the ban in 2012, beginning with the drafting of regulations.
Halifax County Town Council representatives Jack Dunavant and William Confroy traveled to Richmond along with members of “We The People” and “Keep The Ban” for the study’s unveiling Monday.
Confroy said although the report was not site specific, “it clearly highlighted many unanswered questions and pointed out tremendous risks.”
The report does not include any site-specific data or make recommendations about whether Virginia should lift the 30-year old ban on uranium mining and milling. However, the report provides ample evidence of the potential for contamination of ground and surface water and highlights the devastating legacy left by the industry, both decades ago and in recent years, he added.
Confroy said he was pleased the report highlighted what the Town of Halifax representatives have been saying all along.
“It’s extremely risky,” Confroy said, adding uranium has not been mined at any other site in such a highly populated area as Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County.
“We need to continue to study this,” he said.
Confroy also pointed out the state did not have the money to do the study, so it had to be funded by Virginia Uranium Inc., the company desiring to mine uranium at Coles Hill.
“If they don’t have money for the study, where will they find money for regulation?” he asked.
Confroy said the worst part about nuclear energy is the mining aspect, describing it as “so, so dangerous.”
Referring to the Town of Halifax and Banister River, Confroy said, “We’re ground zero. This is where all the unwanted particulates will be deposited…at the base of our lake and dam.”
Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller said his group’s initial review of the report confirms that uranium mining would be a dangerous experiment for Virginia.
“The report establishes that neither the mining industry nor federal or state regulators have any experience with uranium mining or milling in climatic and hydrogeological conditions like Virginia’s. The risks of containing huge amounts of waste for thousands of years--especially in a wet climate like Virginia’s--have never been addressed,” Miller said.
“Although Virginia Uranium Inc., seems eager to push for an end to the ban in the 2012 General Assembly Session, The Piedmont Environmental Council hopes that the National Academy of Sciences will be given time to meet its contractual obligations with regard to public outreach and education,” he continued. “It is critical that the public and the legislature are able to fully understand the findings and limitations of this study. Only then will we be able to discuss what it means to lift the ban and if it is even possible to draft regulations that would protect the commonwealth and its citizens.”
Miller said it will likely take months to begin to understand the findings of this lengthy, technical document. But upon an initial scan, the council finds plenty of evidence that supports its long-standing opposition to the proposal.
The Roanoke River Basin Association, a non-profit representing over 70 localities in Virginia and North Carolina, said Monday it hoped the NAS report would provide a definitive answer to the only question that is truly important – is it safe to mine and mill uranium in the Roanoke River basin watershed considering Virginia’s wet climate?
Read more:
http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34-news/4590-locals-react-to-uranium-study
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