"Image of Corruptions about Uranium Studies in Virginia"
By TIM DAVIS/Star-Tribune Editor
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 8:51 AM EDT
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission agreed Thursday to fund up to $200,000 for a study on the socio-economic impact of uranium mining.
The study, which is separate from the scientific study set to begin soon, will address the effects of uranium mining on businesses, schools and the community in Pittsylvania County, Danville and Halifax County, according to Del. Terry Kilgore, chairman of the tobacco commission.
Kilgore also is chairman of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy. Its Uranium Mining Subcommittee applied for the tobacco money and will oversee the study.
Virginia Uranium Inc. announced plans three years ago to explore mining uranium at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham.
The Uranium Mining Subcommittee's chairman, Del. Lee Ware of Powhatan, said the next step will be to poll members to select a date for a meeting to discuss the framework for the study.
"The format and procedures will be precisely as were the format and procedures in crafting the scope of study for the technical study being conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences," Ware said.
"The purpose of the socio-economic study is to determine not only the economic ramifications of uranium mining in the commonwealth, but also the 'socio' ramifications, both pro and con, and these socio matters will be those qualitative 'quality-of-life' elements that are somewhat difficult to quantify."
The subcommittee will seek proposals from universities and other qualified organizations for the study, which is expected to begin late this summer or early fall and take about 18 months.
Retired state Sen. Charles Hawkins of Chatham, chairman emeritus of the tobacco commission, said the socio-economic study is a good idea.
"There are legitimate questions that need to be answered, said Hawkins. "The only way to work through this is to have a study. Hopefully, this will move the process along."
The 31-member tobacco commission also includes Clarence Bryant III and Buddy Mayhew, both of Blairs, and Del. Danny Marshall of Danville.
"I think it's very important that the second phase - the socio-economic study- be done," said Mayhew, a retired tobacco farmer.
Mayhew underscored the independent nature of the study, noting it will produce a "fair and unbiased" report.
"Hopefully, the study will come back and everybody will depend on it to be honest and fair," he said.
"I think that's important because obviously you have people with strong feelings on both sides.
"Hopefully, there won't be any finger pointing. The tobacco commission doesn't have an ax to grind on this issue."
Mayhew is an investor in Virginia Uranium Inc.
He spoke with the tobacco commission's attorney before the meeting and was advised he did not have a conflict of interest since Virginia Uranium was not receiving any tobacco funding.
"I admitted up front to everybody I had an interest in it," he said. (Dude, you should have said that you are an investor up front, your name now is Weasel!)
Mayhew said he could have abstained from the discussion, but felt it was a local issue and other commission members wanted to hear his opinion.
"I felt like the group was looking to me to speak on it since I'm right here at it," he said.
Mayhew said although he has invested in the company, he doesn't believe uranium should be mined unless it can be done safely.
"We've said from day one, if it can't be done safely, forget it," he said.
"But if it can be done safely, thing of the economic benefit to this area. It would be a big boost."
Executive director Neal Noyes (A former federal economic development official) said the tobacco commission's only role in the study will be funding.
"We're not going to be involved in the design of the study," he said. "That will be up to the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy."
Noyes, however, said the commission hopes organizations conducting similar studies on uranium mining will share information (We the people of VA, do not want the studies to share info but can we trust VA who protects uranium investors and put them on their boards, think not, so any studies for Va about uranium mining is tainted, WE DO NOT TRUST STUDIES THAT THE STATE OF VA IS PUSHING) .
Danville Regional Foundation is moving forward with plans for its own independent socio-economic study on uranium mining and milling.
"The report will be widely shared with the public and interested groups," said Stauber.
Stauber hopes the foundation's work will build on a statewide scientific study of uranium mining by the National Research Council in Washington, D.C.
The National Research Council signed a contract with Virginia Tech for the $1.4 million study in February and expects to begin work this summer.
The technical study, which is being funded by Virginia Uranium through Virginia Tech, (more Weasels) will take about a year and a half.
A final report is due Dec. 1, 2011.
tim.davis@chathamstartribune.com
434-432-2791
Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/04/21/chatham/news/news50.txt
