Comment: Look at this statement: "Merricks fully supports a study"! Mr. Merricks supports a study, he did not say which one, the NAS Uranium Study paid for by Virginia Uranium Inc or the socio-economic study for uranium mining paid for by the TIC, with an investor for VUI ask for the monies, the studies are flawed! No to U mining!
Reporter: Ashley Singh
Danville, VA - Many people who have been against uranium mining in Virginia from the start now have their chance to tell an official committee why.
The National Academy of Sciences committee that will be examining potential impacts of uranium mining are holding hearings in Danville.
The results of the committee’s study are expected to be huge. It’ll go a long way toward determining whether uranium mining is allowed.
On Monday, the committee heard from several presenters who say lifting the moratorium would be a serious problem for the area. They also heard from the company that wants to mine it.
Katherine Mull with the Dan River Basin has many concerns about uranium mining. One of her major fears has to do with uranium tailings, a waste byproduct. She and others say this is not a sustainable or safe operation for Virginia.
“Being radioactive they can become more dangerous over time and so in effect the charge to monitor and maintain these tailings becomes greater over time long after the mining company has shut down and left the area,” said Mull.
Delegate Don Merricks says if he had to vote today he would vote No.
Merricks fully supports a study. He says he wants to hear the facts.
“From day one, I’ve said that until somebody proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that this can be done and done safely then I’m not going to be in favor of lifting the moratorium,” said Merricks. “I’m surely not going to fuel America at the expense of Pittsylvania County.”
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http://www.direct-2you.com/roanokerec/archives/5755
