The board of directors of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce adopted a resolution on uranium mining at their meeting on Dec. 18. The resolution endorses a scientific study of the Coles Hill mine site in Pittsylvania and the continuation of the state’s moratorium on uranium mining unless it can be shown “beyond a reasonable doubt” that radioactive ore can be mined safely.
The resolution comes on the heels of a document prepared by the Chamber’s Uranium Study Group that points to possible problems with uranium mining. The group was appointed by the Chamber board in September, at the request of Del. Clarke Hogan, to solicit input from citizens regarding concerns about uranium mining.
“The document articulated the issues and incorporated a tremendous amount of research on the topic. The group’s work is thorough, comprehensive and credible and provided the board with the information needed to create the Chamber’s resolution,” said Nancy Pool, Chamber president.
In the resolution the Chamber “strongly endorses a thorough, evidence-based study by a credible, independent scientific body of the consequences of uranium mining on surrounding populations and the environment before any change in the laws of the Commonwealth” are made to permit uranium mining.
The Chamber said the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission should recommend that the moratorium remain in place if it has “any reasonable doubt as to the possibility of adverse environmental, health, or economic effects” from uranium mining operations in Pittsylvania.
The full resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, in 1982, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted a legislative moratorium prohibiting the mining of uranium, which remains in effect today; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission (VCEC) on November 6, 2008, passed a motion to ask the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research (VCCER) to contract with the National Academy of Sciences, or other comparable scientific or academic institutions, to conduct a study or studies of the impact of uranium mining on the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Uranium Inc. has developed plans to initiate mining and processing of uranium in neighboring Pittsylvania County, at the Coles Hill site; and, in the 1980s Marline Uranium Corporation leased mineral rights on an additional 36,000 acres in Pittsylvania County; and
WHEREAS, the Coles Hill site lies in close proximity to the Banister River, upstream of Halifax County; and
WHEREAS, the Banister River is the source of drinking water for many citizens of Halifax County; and
WHEREAS, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has sponsored a review of the literature related to the issue of uranium mining in Virginia, and said study has determined that:
The uranium mining industry has experienced widespread, frequent, and repeated environmental excursions which have contaminated groundwater and aquifers with toxic materials.
Predictive modeling by mine operators has often been unreliable, with the consequence that initial permitted environmental standards, judged appropriate and protective of health, have frequently been violated.
Remediation of contaminated groundwater and aquifers to their original state has proven to be expensive and rarely successful in fully restoring water quality.
Most uranium mining in the United States has been conducted in the west, in arid areas with sparse surrounding populations.
There are no long-term studies that have determined that uranium mining is not hazardous to the health of the surrounding population.
Uranium mining has been opposed by many medical and environmental organizations in the United States and Canada, and has been prohibited by various local, state, and provincial governments due to its environmental record and perceived heath risks.
WHEREAS, Pittsylvania County has considerable annual rainfall and net precipitation, has experienced frequent severe weather events, and has a hydrogeological profile that will present difficult challenges to the mine operator; and
WHEREAS, Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties have significant populations that reside in close proximity and downwind and downstream from the proposed mining site;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HALIFAX COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
That the Halifax Chamber of Commerce strongly endorses a thorough, evidence-based study by a credible, independent scientific body of the consequences of uranium mining on surrounding populations and the environment before any change in the laws of the Commonwealth so as to allow uranium mining in Virginia;
That the study review the recent and past history of operations in the United States and elsewhere, including compliance with initial permitted environmental standards; health effects and risks to the surrounding communities; and economic effects on current and future property owners and regional businesses, schools, and institutions;
That the study compare the physical characteristics of the proposed site in Pittsylvania County with existing sites, taking into account the hydrogeology of the Coles Hill site, the net precipitation, the frequency of severe weather events, and the density of the surrounding population;
That the study examine why uranium mining is currently banned in other places;
That the study considers the concerns of the citizens as outlined in the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce sponsored study submitted on Dec. 12, 2008, to the VCEC;
That if the Commission has ANY REASONABLE DOUBT as to the possibility of adverse environmental, health, or economic effects to Virginia citizens that might be caused by Virginia allowing uranium mining operations, the Commission should recommend the moratorium remain in place.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF THE HALIFAX COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
That if the Commission is convinced BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT that uranium production in Virginia would meet stringent health-protective environmental standards and not be detrimental to the community and regional economies and quality of life, then the Commission should consider under what conditions the Commission would recommend lifting the moratorium, including such stringent health-protective environmental quality standards as non-degradation of water.
These conditions should be a required part of any draft legislation that would establish uranium mining regulations and end the moratorium.
The conditions should clearly specify adequate bonds to cover the costs of reclamation, remediation, reconstruction of tailings containment cells, compensation for harm or injury, and monitoring in perpetuity.
The conditions should also stipulate adequate regulatory staff and funding, close monitoring, strict enforcement, severe penalties, and safeguards that will provide protection or prompt and adequate compensation if a permitted operation fails and contributes to harm or injury of people or contributes to damage or loss of property.
Adopted this the 18th day of December 2008.
Michele Ah, D.D.S.,
Chairman of the Board
Nancy Pool,
President
http://www.thenewsrecord.com/2008webfiles/20081222uraniumpanel.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment