Report Tackle$ Lobbying Effort$

Published: November 23, 2008

Virginia Uranium Inc. paid nearly $100,000 to lobbyists during its efforts to get the General Assembly to approve a study to determine the safety of uranium mining in the commonwealth.

VUI spent $95,434 toward three firms from May 2007 to April 2008, including $48,376 to Hunton & Williams law firm in Richmond, where former Danville Delegate Whitt Clement is a partner, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The other firms were Vectre Corp. and Kemper Consulting Inc. Fifteen people from among the three firms, including Clement, were listed as lobbyists.

VUI’s spending was for “matters relating to establishment of a regulatory program controlling development of Virginia’s uranium resources,” according to VPAP’s Web site.

An official with VUI said lobbying is a necessary part of pushing through legislation for a study, which was killed in a House committee in February.

“Doing business in Richmond, unfortunately, requires someone to guide you through that process,” Patrick Wales, VUI geologist, said.

The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission approved the study earlier this month. Wales said he doesn’t know when the commission’s study will begin.

Environmental groups that would oppose a study are well-funded and experienced in lobbying, Wales said.

“That’s what we’re up against as a small, locally-owned company,” he said, adding that VUI has a “very
difficult, uphill battle.”

Members of Southside Concerned Citizens have expressed uneasiness, alleging that VUI wants to establish regulations for mining and milling plans that have not been approved. Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining since the early 1980s.

“The lifting of the moratorium was never part of anything we had plans for,” Wales said.

Eloise Nenon, a board member with Southside Concerned Citizens in Chatham, said the idea that environmental groups have lots of money to spend on lobbying against uranium mining is “ludicrous.” Anti-mining interests had five lobbyists at the most in Richmond during the Assembly’s debate on the study in January and February, she said.

“These are non-profit organizations,” Nenon said.

Those groups spent barely any money on lobbying efforts during the time, she said.

• Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or 434-791-7987.

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