Comment: Great article! Attention Board of Supervisors, protect our county and find out the source of lead in our wells, pass an chemical trespass ordinance to protect our county!!
By Published by The Editorial Board
Published: April 19, 2009
Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis wants to know why lead levels have been rising in the Gross family’s well in Sheva.
It’s a question everyone in Pittsylvania County should be asking.
To opponents of uranium mining in the county, the circumstantial evidence points to Virginia Uranium Inc.
VUI has drilled exploratory holes at Coles Hill to learn more about what is believed to be the largest uranium deposit in North America. Lead levels in the Gross’ well started to rise after the drilling started.
But that doesn’t prove anything. It only makes further investigation more important.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s caused by the uranium,” Davis said this week. “What’s important is finding what’s causing it and getting those people help.”
To get the basic questions answered, Davis wants the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Health to investigate. (yes, we need to find out answers now but the EPA's water laws are weak!)
That’s a smart use of public resources to answer questions that pertain to everyone who drinks well water in the county. We strongly urge other supervisors to get behind Davis on this issue. (yes, the Supervisors better stand up with Davis, and that means all of them!)
For its part, VUI has said that the Gross’ well is located upstream from Coles Hill and the exploratory drilling could not have been the source of the rising lead levels.
Today, we know of no scientific evidence that links VUI and its exploratory well drilling to any environmental problems in the area. The company deserves the benefit of the doubt.
But this well water issue has become a challenge for VUI — and Pittsylvania County.
For Virginia Uranium Inc., this accusation puts the company on the defensive as the state undertakes a study of the safety of uranium mining. We believe the company should join with Davis and the Board of Supervisors and ask for the EPA and the state health department to investigate.
For Pittsylvania County, this accusation is a test. Virginia Uranium has been accused of damaging local water wells. The Board of Supervisors has proclaimed that the company’s activities must not harm the community.
It’s time for definitive answers.
We don’t know why there were 2.83 parts per billion of lead in the Gross’ well before VUI started exploratory drilling, and why there were 17.9 parts per billion last September.
If the company had something to do with that, the community needs to know.
If the company had nothing to do with that, the community needs to know that, too.
It’s time for answers, and one way to get them is for the Board of Supervisors to follow Davis’ lead and bring in the outside help the county needs to get to the bottom of this issue.
http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/opinion/editorials/danville_editorials/article/its_time_for_supervisors_to_take_action/10490/
Showing posts with label Uranium Resolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uranium Resolution. Show all posts
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Stop Uranium Mining in New Brunswick
Comment: I thought the petition below was interesting because it explains certain country's government defines safe uranium mining, the gov. has weak environmental laws! Also, the drill core cuttings located in Pittsylvania county are just stored in a metal building (is this building shielding the cores?)
Sponsored by:
SCARE NB - Support Citizens Against Radioactive Emissions, NB
Uranium Mining is dangerous and has harmful effects on the environment and people. Here's what we know for sure:
1. "Exploration crews searching for uranium will receive radiation exposure from uranium and its associated radioactive decay products in the drill core cuttings" (Radiation Protection Guidelines for Uranium Exploration. Saskatchewan Labour Department, Occupational Health and Safety Division: http://www,labour.gov.sk.ca/safety).
2. "Whether or not [uranium] mining is conducted in open pits or underground, there are environmental health hazards and impacts to workers and the general public that need to be considered. These include radiation hazards from radon gas, radium, thorium, and non-radioactive contamination from dust and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and nickel"(Health Canada, Environment and workplace health. Canadian Handbook on Health Impact Assessment. Volume 4, Chapter .4 Uranium Mining. http://hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt).
3. Radiation is one of the few exposures for which the cause-effect relationship with childhood leukemia has been established (Belson et al. 2007). Children are 20% more sensitive to radioactivity because their cells are actively dividing.
4. Uranium mining creates risks to workers and the community in several ways: through radioactive dust and radon released from exploring, milling, and tailing piles. (Stephens and Ahern 2001. institute for Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
5. Uranium enters the body by ingestion or inhaling airborne uranium contain dust particles or aerosols. Uranium is absorbed from the intestine or lungs, enters the bloodstream, and is rapidly deposited in the tissues, predominately kidney and bone excreted in the urine. (Taylor and Taylor 1997)
6. "Inhalation of radon and radon progeny [daughter products] lead to radiation exposure of the bronchial tissue of the lung with a resultant risk of cancer" (Health Canada: Environmental and Workplace Health. Exposure Guidelines for Residential Indoor Air Quality Section 4.B.2 Radon). Risks of lung cancer in uranium workers, who have been exposed to higher levels of radon, or to longer periods of low exposure, are 2 to times higher than unexposed workers. (Stephens and Ahern 2001. Institute of Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development).
7. "The current Canadian guideline for residential radon levels is two to four times weaker than European and Australian guidelines, more than five times weaker than American guidelines, and more than three times weaker than the World Health Organization recommendation" (www.davidsuzuki.org).
8. Residents living near uranium mining operation have a higher risk of genetic damage than people living further away. (Au et al 1998)."Cradon is the second most significant cause of lung cancer after smoking tobacco, and accounts for approximately 9 to 1 percent of lung cancer deaths" (http://www.davidsuzuki.org/).
9. Miners exposed to uranium are at increased risk of various degrees of genetic damage. . (Stephens and Ahern 2001. Institute of Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development).
10. Uranium mining is a federal responsibility, but according to the British Columbia Medical Association to a Royal Commission on Uranium Mining, "the Atomic Energy Control Board is unfit to regulate uranium mining".
There is no safe way to dispose of the radioactive waste that it leaves behind.
Let's join together in banning this type of mining in New Brunswick, and eventually in the rest of Canada!
Sponsored by:
SCARE NB - Support Citizens Against Radioactive Emissions, NB
Uranium Mining is dangerous and has harmful effects on the environment and people. Here's what we know for sure:
1. "Exploration crews searching for uranium will receive radiation exposure from uranium and its associated radioactive decay products in the drill core cuttings" (Radiation Protection Guidelines for Uranium Exploration. Saskatchewan Labour Department, Occupational Health and Safety Division: http://www,labour.gov.sk.ca/safety).
2. "Whether or not [uranium] mining is conducted in open pits or underground, there are environmental health hazards and impacts to workers and the general public that need to be considered. These include radiation hazards from radon gas, radium, thorium, and non-radioactive contamination from dust and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and nickel"(Health Canada, Environment and workplace health. Canadian Handbook on Health Impact Assessment. Volume 4, Chapter .4 Uranium Mining. http://hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt).
3. Radiation is one of the few exposures for which the cause-effect relationship with childhood leukemia has been established (Belson et al. 2007). Children are 20% more sensitive to radioactivity because their cells are actively dividing.
4. Uranium mining creates risks to workers and the community in several ways: through radioactive dust and radon released from exploring, milling, and tailing piles. (Stephens and Ahern 2001. institute for Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
5. Uranium enters the body by ingestion or inhaling airborne uranium contain dust particles or aerosols. Uranium is absorbed from the intestine or lungs, enters the bloodstream, and is rapidly deposited in the tissues, predominately kidney and bone excreted in the urine. (Taylor and Taylor 1997)
6. "Inhalation of radon and radon progeny [daughter products] lead to radiation exposure of the bronchial tissue of the lung with a resultant risk of cancer" (Health Canada: Environmental and Workplace Health. Exposure Guidelines for Residential Indoor Air Quality Section 4.B.2 Radon). Risks of lung cancer in uranium workers, who have been exposed to higher levels of radon, or to longer periods of low exposure, are 2 to times higher than unexposed workers. (Stephens and Ahern 2001. Institute of Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development).
7. "The current Canadian guideline for residential radon levels is two to four times weaker than European and Australian guidelines, more than five times weaker than American guidelines, and more than three times weaker than the World Health Organization recommendation" (www.davidsuzuki.org).
8. Residents living near uranium mining operation have a higher risk of genetic damage than people living further away. (Au et al 1998)."Cradon is the second most significant cause of lung cancer after smoking tobacco, and accounts for approximately 9 to 1 percent of lung cancer deaths" (http://www.davidsuzuki.org/).
9. Miners exposed to uranium are at increased risk of various degrees of genetic damage. . (Stephens and Ahern 2001. Institute of Environment and Development. World Business Council for Sustainable Development).
10. Uranium mining is a federal responsibility, but according to the British Columbia Medical Association to a Royal Commission on Uranium Mining, "the Atomic Energy Control Board is unfit to regulate uranium mining".
There is no safe way to dispose of the radioactive waste that it leaves behind.
Let's join together in banning this type of mining in New Brunswick, and eventually in the rest of Canada!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Panel seeks facts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:24 AM EST
An Altavista Town Council committee asked for more information Tuesday after looking at a proposed resolution on uranium mining in neighboring Pittsylvania County.After hearing from two mining opponents, the Legislative Committee said it wanted to know the state's position on uranium mining. Since 1982, Virginia has had a moratorium on mining.
"Personally, I think we're hearing one side of the story and we should write the state for their intentions," Councilman Mike Mattox said.Town Manager J. Waverly Coggsdale III will contact Del. Kathy Byron, Secretary of Natural Resources Preston Bryant and others for more information, including facts about a study being overseen by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission.
The committee, which also includes council members Rayetta Webb and Bill Ferguson, will report to Altavista Town Council in March.Dr. Francis Carter, who attended the committee meeting, said he was satisfied with the panel's decision to seek more information.
"The state's rather quiet on this," he said.Carter and Deborah Lovelace presented the resolution at the Feb. 10 council meeting that, among other things, supported Altavista being part of the current study on the impact of uranium mining in Pittsylvania County.
Councils in Hurt and Gretna have adopted the resolution.At Tuesday's meeting, Carter praised town leaders for money being spent in downtown.
However, he said history has shown that uranium mines pollute in a 20-mile radius."We're within 15 miles of this mine."He said wind will carry radioactive particles and there's a danger of water holding ponds breaking.
Pittsylvania County is home to what is believed to be the largest uranium deposit in the United States, worth an estimated $10 billion. Virginia Uranium Inc. was formed two years ago to explore the possibility of mining the material.
An Altavista Town Council committee asked for more information Tuesday after looking at a proposed resolution on uranium mining in neighboring Pittsylvania County.After hearing from two mining opponents, the Legislative Committee said it wanted to know the state's position on uranium mining. Since 1982, Virginia has had a moratorium on mining.
"Personally, I think we're hearing one side of the story and we should write the state for their intentions," Councilman Mike Mattox said.Town Manager J. Waverly Coggsdale III will contact Del. Kathy Byron, Secretary of Natural Resources Preston Bryant and others for more information, including facts about a study being overseen by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission.
The committee, which also includes council members Rayetta Webb and Bill Ferguson, will report to Altavista Town Council in March.Dr. Francis Carter, who attended the committee meeting, said he was satisfied with the panel's decision to seek more information.
"The state's rather quiet on this," he said.Carter and Deborah Lovelace presented the resolution at the Feb. 10 council meeting that, among other things, supported Altavista being part of the current study on the impact of uranium mining in Pittsylvania County.
Councils in Hurt and Gretna have adopted the resolution.At Tuesday's meeting, Carter praised town leaders for money being spent in downtown.
However, he said history has shown that uranium mines pollute in a 20-mile radius."We're within 15 miles of this mine."He said wind will carry radioactive particles and there's a danger of water holding ponds breaking.
Pittsylvania County is home to what is believed to be the largest uranium deposit in the United States, worth an estimated $10 billion. Virginia Uranium Inc. was formed two years ago to explore the possibility of mining the material.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Uranium Mining
The board takes a big step
To the editor:
On Feb. 17, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution setting forth a zero tolerance standard for negative impacts from uranium mining in Pittsylvania County. That resolution signals a new attitude on the part of the supervisors. It seems that they are finally beginning to realize the seriousness of the highly questionable prospect that Virginia Uranium Inc. has brought to the table.
They should have taken this step much sooner, but the fact that they passed this resolution at all is reason enough to congratulate them — Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis in particular — for standing up to VUI and establishing a precedent of allowing no room for error if uranium mining should proceed. The resolution will send a strong message not only to the uranium study group, but also to the legislators in Richmond.
VUI contends that they, too, want uranium mining to happen without harm to the public or to the environment.
But they are wishing for something that cannot be, because they are limited to mining practices (namely, open pit mining) that have never been done without severe environmental consequences as well as inevitable negative impact on the health of people living within 30 miles or so of such mines.
VUI claims to have knowledge of “new technologies” that would make their mine different from those in other places. But they have not been able to put a name on those new technologies, nor have they been able to cite even one place where uranium has been mined safely. They cannot, because safe uranium mines do not exist anywhere.
VUI has given us no solid reason to believe that uranium mining at Coles Hill would be anything but one huge experiment, with the residents of Pittsylvania County and Southside serving as their lab rats.
And so I say, “congratulations” to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors for deciding that uranium mining might not really be the wonderful thing VUI would have us believe.
This resolution is definitely a step in the right direction.
JESSE ANDREWS
Halifax County
To the editor:
On Feb. 17, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution setting forth a zero tolerance standard for negative impacts from uranium mining in Pittsylvania County. That resolution signals a new attitude on the part of the supervisors. It seems that they are finally beginning to realize the seriousness of the highly questionable prospect that Virginia Uranium Inc. has brought to the table.
They should have taken this step much sooner, but the fact that they passed this resolution at all is reason enough to congratulate them — Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis in particular — for standing up to VUI and establishing a precedent of allowing no room for error if uranium mining should proceed. The resolution will send a strong message not only to the uranium study group, but also to the legislators in Richmond.
VUI contends that they, too, want uranium mining to happen without harm to the public or to the environment.
But they are wishing for something that cannot be, because they are limited to mining practices (namely, open pit mining) that have never been done without severe environmental consequences as well as inevitable negative impact on the health of people living within 30 miles or so of such mines.
VUI claims to have knowledge of “new technologies” that would make their mine different from those in other places. But they have not been able to put a name on those new technologies, nor have they been able to cite even one place where uranium has been mined safely. They cannot, because safe uranium mines do not exist anywhere.
VUI has given us no solid reason to believe that uranium mining at Coles Hill would be anything but one huge experiment, with the residents of Pittsylvania County and Southside serving as their lab rats.
And so I say, “congratulations” to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors for deciding that uranium mining might not really be the wonderful thing VUI would have us believe.
This resolution is definitely a step in the right direction.
JESSE ANDREWS
Halifax County
Thursday, February 19, 2009
By PUBLISHED BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Published: February 19, 2009
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has made its strongest statement yet on a proposed uranium mine and mill.
Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution that “no damage or harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining, as opposed to a cost-benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages … ”
With those 35 words, supervisors said they want what the county has today. While they are certainly willing to accept the jobs, tax dollars and the resulting economic rollover effect a successful uranium mine would bring to Pittsylvania County, they don’t want those benefits at the cost of losing what Pittsylvania County has right now.
No damage is a much higher standard than simply weighing the costs versus the benefits of a project or accepting a small amount of damage.
The no-damage motion was pushed by Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis. It followed a previous board motion — and the community’s consensus — that the proposed project should be studied by the state.
That study is already being developed, and one of the proposed motions before supervisors Tuesday would have thanked the Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee for meeting in Chatham to hear citizen comments.
But that could be handled with a lovely note written on county stationary and dropped in the mail.
Resolutions don’t have the force of law, but they do speak loudly about intentions, motivations and concerns.
Clearly, a lot has changed in the past year on the uranium mining issue to convince the Board of Supervisors that they needed to do more than simply support the state study.
The Board of Supervisors has set a high standard for what it will accept from a uranium mine and mill. Davis and the other board members should be congratulated for taking a tough, proactive stance on an issue of community concern.
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has made its strongest statement yet on a proposed uranium mine and mill.
Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution that “no damage or harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining, as opposed to a cost-benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages … ”
With those 35 words, supervisors said they want what the county has today. While they are certainly willing to accept the jobs, tax dollars and the resulting economic rollover effect a successful uranium mine would bring to Pittsylvania County, they don’t want those benefits at the cost of losing what Pittsylvania County has right now.
No damage is a much higher standard than simply weighing the costs versus the benefits of a project or accepting a small amount of damage.
The no-damage motion was pushed by Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis. It followed a previous board motion — and the community’s consensus — that the proposed project should be studied by the state.
That study is already being developed, and one of the proposed motions before supervisors Tuesday would have thanked the Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee for meeting in Chatham to hear citizen comments.
But that could be handled with a lovely note written on county stationary and dropped in the mail.
Resolutions don’t have the force of law, but they do speak loudly about intentions, motivations and concerns.
Clearly, a lot has changed in the past year on the uranium mining issue to convince the Board of Supervisors that they needed to do more than simply support the state study.
The Board of Supervisors has set a high standard for what it will accept from a uranium mine and mill. Davis and the other board members should be congratulated for taking a tough, proactive stance on an issue of community concern.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
County takes mining stance
Comment: The County needs to ban uranium mining forever, it has never been mine safely!
By John CranePublished: February 17, 2009
CHATHAM — Pittsylvania County Administrator Dan Sleeper and Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis each had a resolution on uranium mining on the table Tuesday night for the Board of Supervisors to choose.
The board picked Davis’ more strongly worded and comprehensive resolution in a unanimous vote.
Davis’ resolution requests that a study finds no harm to the county, “its businesses, institutions, environment, and citizens by uranium, as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages.”
Sleeper’s version thanks the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Subcommittee for holding a public hearing at Chatham High School and reiterates the county’s 2007 resolution calling for an independent study.
It also states the county’s “highest concern that the safety and welfare of the people and property in Pittsylvania County remain unharmed and undamaged by uranium mining.”
Davis said he wanted a resolution that addressed more than just safety concerns, but how the county will be perceived if uranium mining is approved.
Supervisors rejected, by a 4-3 vote, a substitute motion by Dan River Supervisor James Snead to combine the two resolutions.
A uranium mining opponent, Karen Maute, asked supervisors to consider banning uranium mining in the county, and requested they explore updating and enforcing the county’s minerals tax.
Virginia Uranium Inc. hopes to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit six miles northeast of Chatham.
The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission has approved a study on uranium mining.
By John CranePublished: February 17, 2009
CHATHAM — Pittsylvania County Administrator Dan Sleeper and Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis each had a resolution on uranium mining on the table Tuesday night for the Board of Supervisors to choose.
The board picked Davis’ more strongly worded and comprehensive resolution in a unanimous vote.
Davis’ resolution requests that a study finds no harm to the county, “its businesses, institutions, environment, and citizens by uranium, as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages.”
Sleeper’s version thanks the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Subcommittee for holding a public hearing at Chatham High School and reiterates the county’s 2007 resolution calling for an independent study.
It also states the county’s “highest concern that the safety and welfare of the people and property in Pittsylvania County remain unharmed and undamaged by uranium mining.”
Davis said he wanted a resolution that addressed more than just safety concerns, but how the county will be perceived if uranium mining is approved.
Supervisors rejected, by a 4-3 vote, a substitute motion by Dan River Supervisor James Snead to combine the two resolutions.
A uranium mining opponent, Karen Maute, asked supervisors to consider banning uranium mining in the county, and requested they explore updating and enforcing the county’s minerals tax.
Virginia Uranium Inc. hopes to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit six miles northeast of Chatham.
The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission has approved a study on uranium mining.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Chatham mulls updating uranium resolution
By John CranePublished: February 11, 2009
The towns of Hurt and Gretna have passed resolutions on uranium mining this month, and now Chatham is mulling a resolution of its own to replace the previous one the town passed a year ago.
Chatham Mayor George O. Haley said he wants to bring the town’s resolution up to par with the other towns’ more detailed documents.
“Their resolutions were a little more comprehensive than ours,” Haley said.
Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill six miles northeast of Chatham.
Chatham passed a simple resolution on Feb. 11, 2008, asking the state’s General Assembly not to consider scrapping Virginia’s moratorium on uranium mining unless a thorough, independent study finds uranium mining and milling safe.
A year later, the situation has changed. Senate bill 525, which called for a study, was tabled in the House Rules Committee in March 2008. The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission approved a study in November to be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences or a comparable institution.
Also, Gretna and Hurt have passed resolutions calling for the study to meet certain criteria. Both request the entire process be open to the press and public and that the respective towns be allowed to participate in the study.
Both also call for a peer-review group separate from the parties conducting the study and made up of representatives from agencies in environmental public health, water supply and resources, air quality and the Army Corps of Engineers to monitor and critique the study.
In addition, the towns want ample time and adequate funding for the study. And the study must be thorough, unbiased and conducted by an agency outside the mining industry.
Eloise Nenon, a founding member of Southside Concerned Citizens, asked the Chatham Town Council during its regular meeting Monday night 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.
Nenon wants the resolution to be broader than those passed in Gretna and Hurt and to include a request for a parallel study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation or other comparable institution. Nenon would like to see a study cover quality-of-issues separate from “hard science” aspects.
Haley said he would discuss Nenon’s request with the town manager and report back to the council. Haley said he is anti-uranium mining but supports a study to determine whether it can be done safely. Chatham’s original resolution was “not as comprehensive as I would like for it to be,” he said. However, “it was a step in the right direction,” Haley said.
Besides public health and environmental issues, Haley said he is also concerned about the aesthetic effects uranium mining and milling would yield.
“What are we going to look like physically when this takes place?” Haley said.
Delegate Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, who heads the Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Subcommittee, said the study process will be open and honest. Ware said the towns’ resolutions will not fall on deaf ears.
“There is no question that we are highly interested in and attuned to the views of those who are the most directly affected,” Ware said.
Ware said the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research will present the scope of the study at the subcommittee’s next meeting. A date and time have not been set. The NAS would examine the study’s language next, Ware said. The NAS would probably designate about a dozen or 15 internationally known scientists to conduct the study, Ware said.
The study will take about 18 months.
The towns of Hurt and Gretna have passed resolutions on uranium mining this month, and now Chatham is mulling a resolution of its own to replace the previous one the town passed a year ago.
Chatham Mayor George O. Haley said he wants to bring the town’s resolution up to par with the other towns’ more detailed documents.
“Their resolutions were a little more comprehensive than ours,” Haley said.
Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine and mill a uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill six miles northeast of Chatham.
Chatham passed a simple resolution on Feb. 11, 2008, asking the state’s General Assembly not to consider scrapping Virginia’s moratorium on uranium mining unless a thorough, independent study finds uranium mining and milling safe.
A year later, the situation has changed. Senate bill 525, which called for a study, was tabled in the House Rules Committee in March 2008. The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission approved a study in November to be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences or a comparable institution.
Also, Gretna and Hurt have passed resolutions calling for the study to meet certain criteria. Both request the entire process be open to the press and public and that the respective towns be allowed to participate in the study.
Both also call for a peer-review group separate from the parties conducting the study and made up of representatives from agencies in environmental public health, water supply and resources, air quality and the Army Corps of Engineers to monitor and critique the study.
In addition, the towns want ample time and adequate funding for the study. And the study must be thorough, unbiased and conducted by an agency outside the mining industry.
Eloise Nenon, a founding member of Southside Concerned Citizens, asked the Chatham Town Council during its regular meeting Monday night 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.
Nenon wants the resolution to be broader than those passed in Gretna and Hurt and to include a request for a parallel study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation or other comparable institution. Nenon would like to see a study cover quality-of-issues separate from “hard science” aspects.
Haley said he would discuss Nenon’s request with the town manager and report back to the council. Haley said he is anti-uranium mining but supports a study to determine whether it can be done safely. Chatham’s original resolution was “not as comprehensive as I would like for it to be,” he said. However, “it was a step in the right direction,” Haley said.
Besides public health and environmental issues, Haley said he is also concerned about the aesthetic effects uranium mining and milling would yield.
“What are we going to look like physically when this takes place?” Haley said.
Delegate Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, who heads the Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Subcommittee, said the study process will be open and honest. Ware said the towns’ resolutions will not fall on deaf ears.
“There is no question that we are highly interested in and attuned to the views of those who are the most directly affected,” Ware said.
Ware said the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research will present the scope of the study at the subcommittee’s next meeting. A date and time have not been set. The NAS would examine the study’s language next, Ware said. The NAS would probably designate about a dozen or 15 internationally known scientists to conduct the study, Ware said.
The study will take about 18 months.
Gretna residents applaud Hurt action
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:22 AM EST
My husband and I are very pleased with the decision by Hurt Town Council to approve a resolution on behalf of their townspeople asking for representation from Hurt to oversee an unbiased uranium study.
This certainly shows that Hurt Town Council really cares about the health, safety and welfare of their citizens.
We think it is commendable of Mr. Tommy Neal for his leadership on this matter by making the motion to adopt this, and we would like to thank him and council personally and on behalf of all the citizens of Hurt. Mr. Neal made his career by protecting citizens and certainly showed at the meeting he is still doing so.
All towns, counties, businesses, churches and civic organizations should follow Hurt's fine example and put in their own resolutions.
Your livelihood is going to be decided by others if you don't take action to protect yourself!
All citizens should call or write your local and state representatives to make sure they protect you. Citizens, you need to get involved; don't leave it up to someone else or it won't get done.
Take your future, your children's future and your grandchildren's future into your own hands or you will get mined!
Don't believe those who will say that the government will come in and take this uranium if they want it.
The United States Department of Energy Office of Public Affairs just released their Excess Uranium Inventory Plan Dec. 16, 2008, and how they plan to sell part of it. A total of 550 metric tons of uranium yellowcake from Iraq was shipped to Canada (Cameco bought it) by the U.S. military, which cost the taxpayers $70 million.
If we really needed uranium, we would have brought this 550 metric tons here and we would not be selling our excess uranium!
If you need any help with resolutions, education information or anything else we can do, please do not hesitate to call us at 434-656-2046 or e-mail us at lovelace1265@fairpoint.net.
We do not belong to any groups, but are concerned citizens, parents and grandparents. We are trying to do our part to get the word out. Won't you do your part also?
Deborah LovelaceGretna
My husband and I are very pleased with the decision by Hurt Town Council to approve a resolution on behalf of their townspeople asking for representation from Hurt to oversee an unbiased uranium study.
This certainly shows that Hurt Town Council really cares about the health, safety and welfare of their citizens.
We think it is commendable of Mr. Tommy Neal for his leadership on this matter by making the motion to adopt this, and we would like to thank him and council personally and on behalf of all the citizens of Hurt. Mr. Neal made his career by protecting citizens and certainly showed at the meeting he is still doing so.
All towns, counties, businesses, churches and civic organizations should follow Hurt's fine example and put in their own resolutions.
Your livelihood is going to be decided by others if you don't take action to protect yourself!
All citizens should call or write your local and state representatives to make sure they protect you. Citizens, you need to get involved; don't leave it up to someone else or it won't get done.
Take your future, your children's future and your grandchildren's future into your own hands or you will get mined!
Don't believe those who will say that the government will come in and take this uranium if they want it.
The United States Department of Energy Office of Public Affairs just released their Excess Uranium Inventory Plan Dec. 16, 2008, and how they plan to sell part of it. A total of 550 metric tons of uranium yellowcake from Iraq was shipped to Canada (Cameco bought it) by the U.S. military, which cost the taxpayers $70 million.
If we really needed uranium, we would have brought this 550 metric tons here and we would not be selling our excess uranium!
If you need any help with resolutions, education information or anything else we can do, please do not hesitate to call us at 434-656-2046 or e-mail us at lovelace1265@fairpoint.net.
We do not belong to any groups, but are concerned citizens, parents and grandparents. We are trying to do our part to get the word out. Won't you do your part also?
Deborah LovelaceGretna
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.
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