Comment: Chatham Faces a Real Nuisance: Uranium Mining ruining people's wells now! Chatham is the County Seat, the Leader of our Lovely County, Chatham needs to take a Stronger Stand, no Resolution but a COMPLETE BAN ON URANIUM MINING AND MILLING!!!!!
By Denice ThibodeauPublished: March 9, 2009
The town of Chatham has spent several thousand dollars as it struggles to clear a clogged sewer line at the intersection of Route 57 and Main Street that could be a danger to residents.
The town also approved a suggestion by Mayor George Haley to draft a more “comprehensive” uranium mining resolution than the town currently has and present it at the April meeting.
He called the current resolution, drafted a year ago, “neutral.”
“It doesn’t really say much of anything. It’s not as comprehensive as I believe it should be,” Haley said. “Then you can vote it down, approve it or change it.”
The next meeting will be held April 13.
Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com
Showing posts with label Chatham Town Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chatham Town Council. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Chatham to Consider New Uranium Resolution
Town Council to Meet Monday on New Uranium Resolution
Meeting to be Held at Fire Station at 7:00 pm
Mayor George Haley has offered a new Uranium Mining resolution for the town council's decision.
Be There to Make Sure Your Interests are Heard!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Gretna targets uranium
By SUSAN WORLEY/Star-Tribune Staff WriterWednesday,
February 11, 2009 10:47 AM EST
GRETNA - Gretna Town Council passed a resolution Monday night addressing concerns about the possibility of mining uranium in Pittsylvania County.
The town endorses the concept of asking the National Academy of Sciences to join the Coal and Energy Commission on the state study that is under way.
The town takes the position that unless mining and milling can be done safely, Gretna opposes the lifting of the state moratorium enacted in 1983."That unless and until it can be demonstrated to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that there will be no significant release of radioactive sediments downstream or in the air, the Town of Gretna is opposed to the elimination of the existing legislative moratorium on uranium mining," states the resolution.
The town stresses that a study should include a thorough evaluation of the risks, including those resulting from natural events such as floods.Also safeguards must be in place to protect the environment, agricultural lands and the health and well-being of citizens.
The town would like for the study process to be open to the public and the press.Since Gretna is the closest town to the site, a town representative should be included in the study, not for influence, but to make sure the town is kept informed.
It is a non-binding resolution that is simply the expression of the position of the town, said town attorney Michael Turner.
Joe Aylor, chief geologist for Virginia Uranium Inc., which plans to mine the site, grew up in Gretna.He said there are 119 million pounds of uranium at Coles Hill which could mean between 300 and 500 jobs for the long term.
"The jobs would mean economic gains for the community and Pittsylvania County," said Aylor.He invited those present to visit the VUI office in Chatham or the proposed site to better understand what uranium mining means for the community.
Aylor said the resolution basically mirrors what the state is already doing.
Bunny Eanes, who represents a group that earlier asked council to pass a resolution addressing uranium mining, said she is very concerned."The studies I have seen don't address the long range effects in this area's climate and rainfall," said Eanes."I'm worried about my grandchildren. The jobs all sound fine and well, but I don't think jobs are worth the health of our community."
The resolution will be forwarded to the town's Congressional and General Assembly delegations.
February 11, 2009 10:47 AM EST
GRETNA - Gretna Town Council passed a resolution Monday night addressing concerns about the possibility of mining uranium in Pittsylvania County.
The town endorses the concept of asking the National Academy of Sciences to join the Coal and Energy Commission on the state study that is under way.
The town takes the position that unless mining and milling can be done safely, Gretna opposes the lifting of the state moratorium enacted in 1983."That unless and until it can be demonstrated to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that there will be no significant release of radioactive sediments downstream or in the air, the Town of Gretna is opposed to the elimination of the existing legislative moratorium on uranium mining," states the resolution.
The town stresses that a study should include a thorough evaluation of the risks, including those resulting from natural events such as floods.Also safeguards must be in place to protect the environment, agricultural lands and the health and well-being of citizens.
The town would like for the study process to be open to the public and the press.Since Gretna is the closest town to the site, a town representative should be included in the study, not for influence, but to make sure the town is kept informed.
It is a non-binding resolution that is simply the expression of the position of the town, said town attorney Michael Turner.
Joe Aylor, chief geologist for Virginia Uranium Inc., which plans to mine the site, grew up in Gretna.He said there are 119 million pounds of uranium at Coles Hill which could mean between 300 and 500 jobs for the long term.
"The jobs would mean economic gains for the community and Pittsylvania County," said Aylor.He invited those present to visit the VUI office in Chatham or the proposed site to better understand what uranium mining means for the community.
Aylor said the resolution basically mirrors what the state is already doing.
Bunny Eanes, who represents a group that earlier asked council to pass a resolution addressing uranium mining, said she is very concerned."The studies I have seen don't address the long range effects in this area's climate and rainfall," said Eanes."I'm worried about my grandchildren. The jobs all sound fine and well, but I don't think jobs are worth the health of our community."
The resolution will be forwarded to the town's Congressional and General Assembly delegations.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Group calls for uranium mining solution
Published: February 9, 2009
BY JOHN R. CRANE
Register & Bee staff writer
CHATHAM — A founding member of Southside Concern Citizens asked the Chatham Town Council to pass a resolution calling for a study to determine whether uranium can be mined safely in the commonwealth, as well as a companion study to examine issues other than scientific aspects.
The resolution needs to be broader than the one passed by the town of Hurt last week, Eloise Nenon, SCC founding member, said to Chatham Town Council members Monday night. Like Hurt’s, Chatham’s resolution should call for the study to open to scrutiny by the press and public, but another study should address concerns not covered in the study’s “hard science”
aspects, Nenon said.
“We need something more than what the town of Hurt has done,” Nenon said during Chatham Town Council’s regular meeting.
Nenon praised Hurt’s move, but said a study by the National Academy of Science, or another similar entity, would not cover issues such as the community, heritage or history of Chatham and Pittsylvania County or quality-of-life issues.
Nenon said Hargrave Military Academy and Chatham Hall could be vulnerable to the environmental effects of uranium mining and milling.
Other questions Nenon wants answered is what type of emergency plan Chatham has in place in case of disaster.
Nenon also wants to know the names of at least five communities with similar geography to Pittsylvania County that have had uranium mining and milling but have not suffered environmental consequences. In addition, Nenon asked who would be held liable in the event of a disaster at Coles Hill.
Dust at uranium mining sites has never been controlled, she said.
“Are we destined to become the Pittsylvania dustbowl?” Nenon said.
Nenon said the National Trust for Historic Preservation could possibly conduct a separate study.
The town of Chatham passed a resolution opposing the lifting of the state’s moratorium against uranium mining in the absence of a thorough study in February 2008. Chatham Mayor George Haley said he would discuss Nenon’s request with the town manager and report back to the council.
VUI wants to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill six miles northeast of Chatham.
Patrick Wales, a geologist and spokesman for Virginia Uranium Inc, said profits made from mining and milling at Coles Hill would go toward land conservation and maintaining the area’s history and agriculture. VUI would impose an excise tax on itself and use the funds to help pay for initiatives to improve the county’s schools, Wales said during a phone interview Monday night after the meeting.
All VUI has asked for is a study to determine the safety of mining and milling uranium, he said. Also, the study has nothing to do with lifting the moratorium on mining, he said. That decision will be up to the General Assembly, Wales said.
John Crane can be reached at jcrane@registerbee.com
BY JOHN R. CRANE
Register & Bee staff writer
CHATHAM — A founding member of Southside Concern Citizens asked the Chatham Town Council to pass a resolution calling for a study to determine whether uranium can be mined safely in the commonwealth, as well as a companion study to examine issues other than scientific aspects.
The resolution needs to be broader than the one passed by the town of Hurt last week, Eloise Nenon, SCC founding member, said to Chatham Town Council members Monday night. Like Hurt’s, Chatham’s resolution should call for the study to open to scrutiny by the press and public, but another study should address concerns not covered in the study’s “hard science”
aspects, Nenon said.
“We need something more than what the town of Hurt has done,” Nenon said during Chatham Town Council’s regular meeting.
Nenon praised Hurt’s move, but said a study by the National Academy of Science, or another similar entity, would not cover issues such as the community, heritage or history of Chatham and Pittsylvania County or quality-of-life issues.
Nenon said Hargrave Military Academy and Chatham Hall could be vulnerable to the environmental effects of uranium mining and milling.
Other questions Nenon wants answered is what type of emergency plan Chatham has in place in case of disaster.
Nenon also wants to know the names of at least five communities with similar geography to Pittsylvania County that have had uranium mining and milling but have not suffered environmental consequences. In addition, Nenon asked who would be held liable in the event of a disaster at Coles Hill.
Dust at uranium mining sites has never been controlled, she said.
“Are we destined to become the Pittsylvania dustbowl?” Nenon said.
Nenon said the National Trust for Historic Preservation could possibly conduct a separate study.
The town of Chatham passed a resolution opposing the lifting of the state’s moratorium against uranium mining in the absence of a thorough study in February 2008. Chatham Mayor George Haley said he would discuss Nenon’s request with the town manager and report back to the council.
VUI wants to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill six miles northeast of Chatham.
Patrick Wales, a geologist and spokesman for Virginia Uranium Inc, said profits made from mining and milling at Coles Hill would go toward land conservation and maintaining the area’s history and agriculture. VUI would impose an excise tax on itself and use the funds to help pay for initiatives to improve the county’s schools, Wales said during a phone interview Monday night after the meeting.
All VUI has asked for is a study to determine the safety of mining and milling uranium, he said. Also, the study has nothing to do with lifting the moratorium on mining, he said. That decision will be up to the General Assembly, Wales said.
John Crane can be reached at jcrane@registerbee.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
