Published: January 6, 2009
Register & Bee
CHATHAM – Residents packed the auditorium at Chatham High School on Tuesday night to urge that a study on mining and milling uranium determines its effect on the area’s air and water, public health, economic development and agriculture.
At least 400 people nearly filled the high school auditorium to capacity for the hearing conducted by the Uranium Subcommittee of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy. The event’s purpose was to gather questions from area residents to be answered in a state study.
Local representatives also attended and several of the subcommittee members listened to constituents, at times refuting accusations from attendees that they were receiving political contributions from Virginia Uranium Inc. to influence a study’s results.
Virginia Uranium wants to mine and mill a uranium deposit at Coles Hill about six miles northeast of Chatham. In November, the commission approved a study to determine whether uranium can be mined and milled safely in the area. Uranium mining has been banned in Virginia since the early 1980s.
About two hours into the hearing that began at 6 p.m., at least 30 people had aired their concerns to the subcommittee chaired by Delegate Lee Ware, R-Powhatan. Most spoke against mining.
Residents and representatives from Virginia Uranium also said they want the study to focus on the positive impacts it would have, including how many jobs it would provide, how much it would expand the local tax base and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign countries for energy sources, and what would be the consequences of opting against uranium mining.
Gary Fountain, rector at Chatham Hall, said the study needs to answer how mining and milling would affect students’ health at the all-girls boarding school and parents’ decisions whether to let their children attend the school.
“The market for… boarding schools is a highly competitive one,” Fountain said to subcommittee members. “Safety is a major factor in Chatham Hall’s appeal to families.”
Joel Gregory, a petroleum geologist, said the study should address mining-dust management and abatement, movement of local groundwater, and consider underground tailings management. Jennifer-East Cole, VUI geologist, said the study should examine the character of the hydrology at Coles Hill, how the water there moves through soil and rock.
Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, said the study should determine what the area mined and milled would look like 300 years from now, and how tailings would be managed to minimize harm to the environment and public health.
Walter Coles Jr., VUI executive vice president, said the study should analyze what would happen if uranium is not mined at Coles Hill. The U.S. consumed more than 50 million pounds of uranium in 2007 and Russia supplied 34 percent of it, he said.
The U.S. produced less than 5 million pounds of uranium in 2007, less than 10 percent of annual consumption, Coles added.
“What are the risks if this project doesn’t go forward?” Coles said. “Is there the possibility that government comes in and just takes the uranium if the supply situation becomes dire?”
He maintained mining and milling would supply more education funding for the county, and without it, unemployment would be higher.
Mining opponents from Southside Concerned Citizens openly accused subcommittee members of taking contributions from VUI. Two members of the subcommittee, delegates Watkins Abbitt Jr. and Charles W. Carrico Sr., denied taking money from VUI.
Gregg Vickrey, SCC president for the Chatham-Pittsylvania County chapter, pointed out that it was VUI, not the residents of the county, who asked for the study. He also wanted to know who will pay for the study, especially since the state of Virginia is facing a $6 billion shortfall.
• Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.
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