Many questions about the plan to mine uranium in Pittsylvania

Hi Dan,

Thank you for pointing out the question of who is going to pay for “clean up” of uranium mines and mills long after the companies have extracted what they need.

Proponents keep pushing what they contend are the economic benefits for a region thirsty for jobs, but they won’t address what happens when those jobs — and tax revenue — disappear after the life of the mine expires (which it will one day).

They also don’t address who will pay to decommission this uranium mill. In America’s history, decommissioning a uranium mill — some which are now deemed SuperFund sites — runs into the millions of dollars and takes many years to accomplish.

And if this would be the only uranium mill on the East coast (is it?), proponents haven’t released any kind of estimate for how much waste (or tailings) would be generated over 30-plus years?

And where exactly would that be buried in containment cells?

And who pays to monitor, repair and even replace those containments if there is a breach, where there very well could be?

I imagine that could get very costly — and Virginia’s budget, well, enough said

Any short-term economic boost certainly wouldn’t outweigh the negative economic ramifications for the Commonwealth.

That industry is not sustainable.

And once the uranium is mined and milled, what is left of the communities that now rely on clean land and water for cattle, crops and organic farming.

Can you imagine what the winds from that recent derecho storm system would have done with an open pit uranium mine? Geez…

Thanks for doing what journalists do best.

Annette Ayres
NORTH CAROLINA

http://blogs.roanoke.com/dancasey/2012/07/your-daily-letter-to-the-columnist-july-18-2012/