Supervisors reject ban on uranium mining around Berry Hill mega park

Comment:  What would happen if the mega park failed to develop and the land belongs to RIFA, will RIFA mine and mill uranium then with the taxpayers paying for the land?  We want the resolution to ban uranium mining and milling all over our county but we demand the ban in the Mega Park at Berry Hill!  Also, several board of supervisors own land within 25 miles of the park!  Maybe they should not have voted on the resolution!
By TIM DAVIS/Star-Tribune Editor
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:18 AM EST

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 last Tuesday to reject a proposed ban on uranium mining and milling in and around the county's Berry Hill Road "mega" industrial park.

Karen Maute of Danville, an outspoken advocate for the environment, asked supervisors to protect the industrial park in November and repeated her concerns in December.

"I think it's very important that we protect the park," she said, urging supervisors to "dispel" rumors the county may use the property for uranium mining and milling.

Pittsylvania County and Danville, acting through the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facilities Authority, have spent about $13 million for land along Berry Hill Road, just west of Danville.

Officials plan to develop a state-certified 4,000-acre "mega" industrial park, with both localities sharing expenses and revenue.

According to County Administrator Dan Sleeper, it may cost $220 million to develop the huge industrial park.

Maute opposes uranium mining at Coles Hill near Chatham, and has repeatedly asked supervisors to tighten the county's zoning ordinance to block the proposed mine and mill.

In her proposed resolution, she pointed out some of the Berry Hill property had mineral leases with Marline Uranium Corp., which discovered the huge uranium deposit in the late 1970s.

In order to avoid the appearance that the county and city are entering into a "joint uranium mining venture," she said both localities should sign a resolution prohibiting uranium mining and milling within a 25-mile radius of the Berry Hill park.

The resolution was later changed to a 20-mile radius to avoid including Coles Hill.

Maute said the resolution would protect the region's investment in the mega park and create a "safe haven" for residents.

Staunton River District Supervisor Marshall Ecker agreed, and made a motion in December to approve the resolution and ask Danville to do the same.

"I believe this board should step up to the plate and make sure the mega park investment is protected in case the state ever lifts the ban on uranium mining," Ecker said.

Chatham-Blairs District Supervisor Henry "Hank" Davis Jr. seconded Ecker's motion for discussion, but Dan River District Supervisor James Snead made a substitute motion to table it.

Ecker had the resolution back on the board's agenda last week where it met a similar fate.

Ecker, Davis and Callands-Gretna District Supervisor Fred Ingram voted for it. Pritchett, Barber, Snead and Harville voted against it.

Harville, who is chairman of the Regional Industrial Facilities Authority, said the county has no intention of mining uranium at Berry Hill.

"We bought it for a mega park. That's it - cut and dry," he said.

In negotiating to buy the land, Harville said the authority insisted on purchasing mineral rights to protect the park from future uranium mining.

"We never considered that (uranium mining) and never had it on the table. We didn't buy the park for that," Harville said.

Ecker still believes the ban is important for the industrial park.

"It shows businesses that may come to the park that the board is interested in protecting their investment," he said. "It's also to protect the citizens' investment of $220 million."

In addition to Maute, several residents spoke in favor of the proposed ban at last week's supervisors' meeting in Chatham.

Deborah Dix of Blairs said the regional authority amounts to "taxation without representation."

"I don't want my tax money going to uranium mining and milling," she said.

North Carolina residents also expressed concern about possible contamination of the Dan River, which borders the mega park.

tim.davis@chathamstartribune.com
434-432-2791

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