* Marline, not VUI is said to have held leases on 62,000 acres of land in Virginia in the 1980s.
By Wanda Combs
Published: November 11, 2010
By Doug Thompson
Opponents of a proposed repeal of a ban against uranium mining in Virginia warned the Floyd County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that they need to take action now to make sure the county doesn’t end up with such a mine within its borders.
Karen Maute, who lives in Danville but also has property in Floyd County near the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mabry Mill, urged the board to “do its own research” on the threat posed by lifting of a ban against uranium mining and then:
—Pass a resolution opposing lifting of the ban;
—Contact legislators to demand the ban remain in place, and;
—Appoint a citizen committee to “gather information and conduct research regarding potential impacts to
Floyd County if uranium mining was to occur.”
“Do not depend on others to guide you,” Maute said. “Inform yourselves.”
Virginia Uranium Inc. currently holds mining leases on 62,000 acres of land in Virginia.
The leases were obtained by Marline Mining in the 80s before the Virginia General Assembly banned the mining.
In 1978, Chevron Resources sought uranium leases in Floyd and Patrick County.
“Those leases would not have been sought if there was no uranium to be mined,” Maute said.
Maute said uranium mining in Floyd County would affect property values, tourism, wine producers and agriculture. All that would be left, she said, would be “just the mining and milling or uranium.”
Maute said she met recently with County Administrator Dan Campbell and Burks Fork Supervisor Bill Gardner.
“Both were very knowledgeable regarding the situation,” she said.
Maute warned supervisors that Virginia Uranium “is extremely politically connected and well funded which adds to the concern that the ban will be lifted due to cronyism and corruption.”
Board Chairman David Ingram said the county will monitor the situation and consider the recommendations from Maute.
Read more:
http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/county_asked_to_oppose_lifting_of_uranium_mining_ban/8486/
