VIRGINIA BEACH
City officials are gearing up to oppose a uranium mine about 200 miles west in Pittsylvania County, arguing it could threaten the city's water supply.
A company has been formed to explore extracting what is considered the largest uranium deposit on the East Coast, valued between $7 billion and $10 billion. The mine would produce what is known as "yellow cake" to fuel nuclear power plants.
The City Council was told Tuesday that under a worst-case scenario, a hurricane or tropical storm could destroy the landfill-like containers that would hold radioactive mining waste. Thomas Leahy, director of public utilities, said that also would contaminate downstream waterways, including Lake Gaston, the city's water source, which lies about halfway between Pittsylvania County and Virginia Beach.
Lake Gaston also contributes water to Norfolk and Chesapeake and, during droughts, to Suffolk and Portsmouth.
Mining supporters said Tuesday that they are concerned about water quality and stressed that a state study will look at that issue.
"We drink the water here, and we wouldn't want a situation where a tailings system could be impacted by a hurricane or any other type of disaster," said Walter Coles, who owns the land where the mine is proposed. He has formed Virginia Uranium Inc. to explore mining the uranium.
Virginia lawmakers barred uranium mining 25 years ago when another company sought to tap Coles' property. However, a state panel - the Commission on Coal and Energy - voted this month to study the impact of mining.
"It seems that Virginia Beach is in position to be a big loser," said Councilwoman Barbara Henley, noting that the city would get the risk without the economic benefit.
Some also questioned the validity of the study, which has yet to be funded. "The way it's shaping up, the uranium industry is going to pay for it," City Manager Jim Spore said.
"It should be an unbiased study," Coles said. "We'll just wait for the study, and we hope uranium can be mined in Virginia just like it's being mined in other parts of the world today."
The City Council will consider an official resolution against mining next month.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/11/beach-officials-uranium-mine-poses-threat-water-supply
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