Comment: One comment, how do you do a study without a plan, sort of like taking a test and not knowing the subject, just my views. However, People in the Whole State of Virginia, wake up and PAY attention to the uranium mining issue, It is not just for the Southside!!! U R NEXT!!!!! Demand the local leaders to ban uranium mining & milling with an ordinance and not a resolution!!!!
By Linda Goin on June 4th, 2009
On 21 May 2009, The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee met to adopt a Statement of Task that was designed to set formal terms for a review of uranium mining. Although it has been reported that this Statement of Task was to focus on the Coles Hill uranium vein located near Chatham, it appears that the study now is statewide.
The statewide scope has been confirmed by Delegate Watkins Abbitt in a phone interview conducted Monday morning, 1 June 2009 and in a phone interview conducted this morning with Patrick Wales, geologist and project manager at Virginia Uranium, Inc .
The uranium subcommittee approved the study document in an 8-2 vote with Delegate Abbitt, I-59th District, and Delegate William Janis, R-56th District, opposing. Abbitt opposed the document, despite the fact that the subcommittee adopted his motion to review public health and safety impacts of uranium mining operations similar to what is being proposed in Pittsylvania County. However, the subcommittee rejected Abbitt’s motion to study methods for storing uranium tailings, designed to keep mining wastes from leaking into nearby water sources. (Read more about the Statement of Task)
“I was told that the Federal Government prohibits above-ground waste ponds,” Abbitt stated in the interview. Abbitt’s concern is over open waste ponds that would be subject to adverse weather, such as flooding rains, hurricanes and other natural disasters. “If those ponds were to leak, we don’t have a plan in place to treat the leakage.”
Abbitt also stated that the mining operation did not have a development plan. “How can we deal with a company that doesn’t have a plan?” Abbitt asked. In the conversation with Wales, however, it seems that the waste ponds and the mining plan are two issues that anti- and pro-uranium mining advocates could dance around for as long as the statewide study lasts. It appears that both the waste pond issue and the mining plans are on hold until the study is completed, according to Wales.
However, Wales did expand on the waste pond development issue. In our research, we did not find any federal regulations against open-air waste ponds except in cases of closed mining operations. Wales confirmed the open waste ponds in active mining in our conversation. In fact, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states, “…because U.S. laws do not classify mine overburden as a radioactive waste, its placement in radioactive waste disposal facilities is not required.” (See title=”Uranium Mining Wastes” Uranium Mining Wastes)
Mining is just one part of the operation proposed at Coles Hill. The other part is milling, or extracting the yellowcake from the mined ore. In the process of milling, the ore is crushed into smaller particles before leaching the uranium from the ore. Sulfuric acid often is the leaching agent, but alkaline solutions also are used. This leaching process can extract up to 95 percent of the uranium from the ore, and it also leaches out heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, vanadium and other metals such as selenium and molybdenum.
The waste produced by this milling process is stored in pits known as “waste ponds,” “tailing ponds” or “retention ponds.” From Wales’ description of the ponds, it appears they won’t be very different from those waste ponds developed in Uravan, Colorado. However, Wales stated, this plan for milling waste will be dictated by regulations that have yet to be written for Virginia.
Wales stated that the waste created by mining and milling at Coles Hill would be covered “every day” with water. Basically, the sludge created by mining and milling would be dampened, creating a liquid substance, known either by “slurry” or “sludge”, that would be “piped under a head of water” that would keep that sludge from becoming dry. Wetness is a necessary factor, as mined uranium dust and gasses are known to create health hazards.
When uranium is mined and milled, it is exposed to air. This exposure accelerates natural radioactive decay, and can produce radon gas. Because radon and its decay products (daughters) are radioactive and because the tailings are now on the surface, measures are taken to minimize the emission of radon gas. During the operational life of a mine the material in the tailings dam often is kept covered by water to reduce surface radioactivity and radon emission.
Wales also stated that they do not have a detailed plan for the mining and milling process, as they would need to conform to any regulations devised by the study, by the state or by federal entities regarding mining and milling uranium in Virginia. Since uranium mining has not been conducted in Virginia, Wales stated that they would follow “best industry practices” if the statewide moratorium against uranium mining is lifted.
By Linda Goin on June 4th, 2009
On 21 May 2009, The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee met to adopt a Statement of Task that was designed to set formal terms for a review of uranium mining. Although it has been reported that this Statement of Task was to focus on the Coles Hill uranium vein located near Chatham, it appears that the study now is statewide.
The statewide scope has been confirmed by Delegate Watkins Abbitt in a phone interview conducted Monday morning, 1 June 2009 and in a phone interview conducted this morning with Patrick Wales, geologist and project manager at Virginia Uranium, Inc .
The uranium subcommittee approved the study document in an 8-2 vote with Delegate Abbitt, I-59th District, and Delegate William Janis, R-56th District, opposing. Abbitt opposed the document, despite the fact that the subcommittee adopted his motion to review public health and safety impacts of uranium mining operations similar to what is being proposed in Pittsylvania County. However, the subcommittee rejected Abbitt’s motion to study methods for storing uranium tailings, designed to keep mining wastes from leaking into nearby water sources. (Read more about the Statement of Task)
“I was told that the Federal Government prohibits above-ground waste ponds,” Abbitt stated in the interview. Abbitt’s concern is over open waste ponds that would be subject to adverse weather, such as flooding rains, hurricanes and other natural disasters. “If those ponds were to leak, we don’t have a plan in place to treat the leakage.”
Abbitt also stated that the mining operation did not have a development plan. “How can we deal with a company that doesn’t have a plan?” Abbitt asked. In the conversation with Wales, however, it seems that the waste ponds and the mining plan are two issues that anti- and pro-uranium mining advocates could dance around for as long as the statewide study lasts. It appears that both the waste pond issue and the mining plans are on hold until the study is completed, according to Wales.
However, Wales did expand on the waste pond development issue. In our research, we did not find any federal regulations against open-air waste ponds except in cases of closed mining operations. Wales confirmed the open waste ponds in active mining in our conversation. In fact, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states, “…because U.S. laws do not classify mine overburden as a radioactive waste, its placement in radioactive waste disposal facilities is not required.” (See title=”Uranium Mining Wastes” Uranium Mining Wastes)
Mining is just one part of the operation proposed at Coles Hill. The other part is milling, or extracting the yellowcake from the mined ore. In the process of milling, the ore is crushed into smaller particles before leaching the uranium from the ore. Sulfuric acid often is the leaching agent, but alkaline solutions also are used. This leaching process can extract up to 95 percent of the uranium from the ore, and it also leaches out heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, vanadium and other metals such as selenium and molybdenum.
The waste produced by this milling process is stored in pits known as “waste ponds,” “tailing ponds” or “retention ponds.” From Wales’ description of the ponds, it appears they won’t be very different from those waste ponds developed in Uravan, Colorado. However, Wales stated, this plan for milling waste will be dictated by regulations that have yet to be written for Virginia.
Wales stated that the waste created by mining and milling at Coles Hill would be covered “every day” with water. Basically, the sludge created by mining and milling would be dampened, creating a liquid substance, known either by “slurry” or “sludge”, that would be “piped under a head of water” that would keep that sludge from becoming dry. Wetness is a necessary factor, as mined uranium dust and gasses are known to create health hazards.
When uranium is mined and milled, it is exposed to air. This exposure accelerates natural radioactive decay, and can produce radon gas. Because radon and its decay products (daughters) are radioactive and because the tailings are now on the surface, measures are taken to minimize the emission of radon gas. During the operational life of a mine the material in the tailings dam often is kept covered by water to reduce surface radioactivity and radon emission.
Wales also stated that they do not have a detailed plan for the mining and milling process, as they would need to conform to any regulations devised by the study, by the state or by federal entities regarding mining and milling uranium in Virginia. Since uranium mining has not been conducted in Virginia, Wales stated that they would follow “best industry practices” if the statewide moratorium against uranium mining is lifted.
Wales stated, “We will use whatever technique is required or safest to use in our situation.”
But, until the study is complete, no one will know whether uranium mining in Virginia is feasible, nor will anyone know what those safe practices might entail.
Since the moratorium against uranium mining is statewide, it seems to make some sense that the study concerning the safe practices of mining in Virginia would be statewide as well.
The study, which will be conducted by the U.S. National Research Council (NAS), is expected to cost $1.5 million and last about 18 months and it will cover mining’s effects on people’s health and ecosystems, identify pollution issues and review current mining regulations.
But, until the study is complete, no one will know whether uranium mining in Virginia is feasible, nor will anyone know what those safe practices might entail.
Since the moratorium against uranium mining is statewide, it seems to make some sense that the study concerning the safe practices of mining in Virginia would be statewide as well.
The study, which will be conducted by the U.S. National Research Council (NAS), is expected to cost $1.5 million and last about 18 months and it will cover mining’s effects on people’s health and ecosystems, identify pollution issues and review current mining regulations.
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