Request for Qualifications—Regional Socioeconomic Study of Impact of Uranium Mining and Milling

The Danville Regional Foundation is requesting evidence of qualifications from interested firms, nonprofits and academic programs.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is considering lifting its twenty-seven year moratorium on uranium mining. This statewide consideration is under the jurisdiction of the Coal and Energy Commission of the Virginia Legislature.

The proposed lifting of the moratorium is prompted by the announced plans of Virginia Uranium, Inc. to mine and mill a deposit of an estimated 119 million pounds of ore at Coles Hill Farm located in central Pittsylvania County, south central Virginia, approximately 20 miles north of the City of Danville.

The Coal and Energy Commission has entered into negotiations with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a statewide study of the “scientific, technical, environmental, human health and safety, and regulatory aspects of uranium mining, milling, and processing as they relate to the Commonwealth of Virginia.” As proposed, this study would be funded by Virginia Uranium, Inc.

A separate, statewide study of the socioeconomic implications of the proposed mining and milling is under consideration. (See http://dls.virginia.gov/groups/cec/Uranium/meetings.htm for more information.)

The Danville Regional Foundation (DRF) was created in 2005. It uses its approximately $165 million in assets to assist in the economic and cultural transformation of the region limited to Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville in Virginia and Caswell County in North Carolina.
(See www.danvilleregionalfoundation.org for more information.)

DRF is considering sponsoring an independent and rigorous socioeconomic examination of the effects of the proposed mine, mill, and long-term waste management upon the people and institutions, including the economy, limited to the region served by DRF. The proposed study would include the examination of three scenarios—best reasonable, worst reasonable, and reasonable, based on a variety of economic, social and ecological variables to be developed by the independent researchers. Impact of similar mining, milling and tailings storage from other sites around the world could be part of the analysis.

This proposed socioeconomic study would be conducted by an organization that is located outside of Virginia and is without conflicts-of-interest. This proposed regional study would be separate from the statewide efforts of the Virginia Legislature, while potentially building on those efforts. The results of the regional study would be widely shared with the residents and institutions of the target region. DRF is requesting letters of interest, with qualifications by December 1, 2009.

Qualifications should include background and history of organization, contact information, resumes of principals likely to be assigned to this effort, samples or examples of related work completed, and reference list of previous clients.

DRF will review the letters of interest and qualification and may invite full proposals from a small number of qualified candidates.

Inquiries should be directed to Karl Stauber, President & CEO, Danville
Regional Foundation at kstauber@danvilleregionalfoundation.org. October 1, 2009