Uranium Mining on the Blue Ridge

Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Along the BlueRidge Parkway, VA

This ran in this week's Floyd Press:

Virginia placed a moratorium on uranium mining in the early 1980s but continued to allow for exploration of the ore. The price of "yellowcake" (milled ore) dropped in the 1980s and it was not economically feasible to mine uranium. There is currently a uranuim feeding frenzy and the uranium industry, lobbyists and politicians are "spinning" and "spending" to have the moratorium lifted. If the moratorium is lifted all of Virginia will feel its negative impacts ranging from falling property values to radioactive and heavy-metal ladened water and air. Uranium has never been mined anywhere in the world without human heath and environmental detriment.

I live in Pittsylvania County, VA where a uranium company, Virginia Uranium, Inc., is currently operating (exploring) in anticipation Virginia's lifting of the moratorium on uranium mining. VUI will merge with a Canadian Company, Santoy Resources, during the month of May. VUI/Santoy plans to mine and mill uranium and store toxic/radioactive tailings near the Bannister River that feeds lake Gaston from which millions receive their drinking water.

I'd like to think that the town of Floyd, Floyd and Patrick Counties would be immune to uranium mining if the moratorium is lifted; but I do not think that will be the case.

A friend sent a news article from to me from a 1978 publication which is disturbing. It states, "Chevron Resources, subsidiary of Standard Oil Company of California, is another company exploring in Virginia, and is seeking to obtain mineral rights in Floyd and Patrick Counties".

Is there uranium in Floyd and Patrick counties?

Rest assured that US and international companies are perched like vultures to swoop down on all of Virginia if the moratorium is lifted.

One might choose to believe that Floyd County's proximity to the "Parkway" may bring protection. Unfortunately, there are presently companies with plans to mine uranium on Federal park land at the Grand Canyon. The Parkway will not deter uranium mining.

I hope your paper will cover the attempts by the uranium industry, the VA Coal and Energy Commission and politicians to lift the current moratorium on uranium mining.

Perhaps if your subscribers are aware that they may be impacted by uranium mining they will remind (demand) the politicians that frequent the "Country Store" during campaigning that they want to continue the statewide moratorium on uranium mining.

Floyd County's beautiful vistas, rich cultural heritage and wonderful, diverse population make it not only a nice place to visit, but also a nice place to live.

My husband and I own a small cabin in Floyd County and we go there as often as possible. We're in the process of purchasing additional land in hopes of retiring there someday. Is buying property for a home in Virginia is a wise investment with the prospect of statewide uranium mining?

As I penned this letter, I was sitting and rocking on the cabin's front porch. Buffalo Mountain, visible all winter, is now beginning to hide behind the leaves on the trees. I wonder if there is uranium on the Buffalo?

http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,391,0,44,html/Uranium offers an overview of information re: proposed lifting of the moratorium and potential effects.

Karen B. Maute,
Danville, VA...and Meadows of Dan, Floyd Co.