Comment: Great Letter, Mr. Lovelace, No to Uranium mining!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 8:52 AM EST
The Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC) reported several unusual events in the last four to five weeks concerning uranium use. Don't we just love this "new state of the art technology?"
My point is, if they cannot get this new technology to work safely in a controlled environment, we should know they cannot control radiation, dust or radon gas in an open environment.
This new technology is just words like "monitor"; it is nothing more than a word to make us think they are doing it safely and to make us feel good.
Let's go on facts and not Mr. Coles' or Mr. Wales' words about jobs.
The U.S. government facts state in all of the uranium industry in the United States there are 1,563 jobs in 17 uranium mining production and sources in 2008. (www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/dupr/umine.html)
Let's divide 1,563 jobs by 17 operations, which is about 92 jobs per operation.
I would like to know how Virginia Uranium Inc. is going to work a third of the work force for the entire United States at this one site?
I think we need to forget $4 billion to $5 billion worth of uranium (today's prices since the price per pound has dropped) over a period of 30 years versus $79 billion dollars "a year" from our agriculture and forestry (which is Virginia's number one industry) and thousands of jobs that will be lost possibly if uranium contamination is let to happen over the entire state of Virginia.
That's right. If the moratorium is lifted, the entire state will be open to uranium mining.
The Danville Register and Bee recently published a story about the incidents of contamination of modern-day facilities that George Stanhope brought to the newspaper's attention.
This article quotes statements about NRC and EPA and what they will do after your air, water and land become contaminated from radioactive releases.
EPA and NRC stated they may face penalties and fines so the governmental agencies walk away with money and the people of Pittsylvania County and the state sit here with a destroyed environment from uranium mining and milling.
I hope the people of Virginia and Pittsylvania County feel better knowing EPA and NRC are going to look out for you.
Mr. Coles spoke about a picture in the paper of the flood and said it was two miles below him, but what he did not say was his pasture borders White Thorn Creek that flooded a few hundred feet from the proposed north hole uranium pit.
On a private tour, Mr. Coles told my wife and me his pasture went all the way to White Thorn Creek. This flood was when Pittsylvania County was declared a state of emergency just a few weeks ago and the schools were closed.
I hope people understand God gave us two great gifts: life and a clean environment.
It was just published in Hampton Roads that Virginia's waterways ranked second dirtiest in the country. Why are the environmental agencies letting this go on?
It is because they are making big money off of fines and penalties? No!
These agencies were created to protect us and our environment. Why are they letting this happen?
Just an opinion: your state and federal government might let uranium mining and milling operate for big tax revenue they hope it will generate to balance their wasteful budget.
Their thinking may be: let's allow uranium mining and milling, maybe that will fix Virginia's $3 billion over budget problem.
But let's cut off more state employees and raise taxes so the state or Virginia Uranium can pay $1.5 million to the National Academy of Sciences, the last I heard in installment, for only part of the study that will study regulations among other things.
Mr. Coles of Virginia Uranium stated that he would not mine uranium, "if" it was going to harm the people or the environment, but he refuses to pay for the second part of the study that will address these very issues.
What happened? Did he have a change of heart?
There are a lot of questions not answered yet.
Why did Patrick Wales say that water does not run uphill to the Gross home when in fact the Gross home is lower than the drill test wells proven on topographical maps?
The state health director, Charles Devine, stated that the lead came from interior plumbing, when all five tests were done from an outside faucet, which bypassed the interior plumbing.
Are they trying to make you feel safe? Do you feel safe?
If you have doubts, call or write your representatives and let them know you want to be protected not only now but for future generations.
Phillip Lovelace
Gretna
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/01/20/chatham/opinion/opinion01.txt
