By Della Rose
The Daily Herald Staff Writer
LAKE GASTON — The negative impact from a uranium mining accident would be significant in the Roanoke Valley — for the community as well as being a downstream water supplier — according to a recently released Uranium Mining Impact Study for the city of Virginia Beach, Va.
Impacts from a uranium mining accident would have significant effects on downstream water supplies according to a recently released Uranium Mining Impact Study for the city of Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is opposed to lifting the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia, and the proposed uranium mining of 100 million pounds of uranium yellowcake from the Coles Hill deposit near the blue ridge mountains in Pittsylvania County, Va.
Leadership are concerned an industrial accident would contaminate the water supply for Virginia Beach and Norfolk, which is provided by the Virginia Beach pipeline from Lake Gaston.
Proponents of uranium mining say regulations will prevent any kind of accident. Downstream residents at Lake Gaston aren’t so sure.
The Virginia Beach study modeled 288 possible scenarios on the Roanoke River up to Kerr Lake Dam at Buggs Island, that could lead to contamination. It showed weather, river flows and other variables strongly impacted how an area would be impacted in case of an accident, but regardless Kerr Lake showed strong impacts.
Tom Leahy, director of Public Works for Virginia Beach, recently provided Lake Gaston Water Safety Council members with an overview of the study.
Leahy said the study shows it is possible the refuse from the mining process could become unleashed on the area’s water systems in one of these occurrences.
The study said radioactive particles, called tailings, and dissolved contaminants could be released into the river. If that happened, radioactive concentrations up to Kerr Dam would be at least 10 to 20 times greater than federal Safe Drinking Water allowances.
It could take between two months and two years to clear the contaminants depending on waterflows and weather conditions.
Leahy said any incident would result in radioactive sediment in the river bed, flood plain and reservoir. “The radioactivity of the sediments remains very high on a long-term basis,” he said.
“What is the experience and background of the company?” Bruce Parizo, of Henrico, said.
“They’re former tobacco farmers,” Leahy said, adding the property owners have been farmers for many years but have partnered with Virginia Uranium Inc., a Canadian firm with years of experience in uranium mining.
Mike Pucci, of Wildwood Point, wanted to know what Virginia legislators thought.
Leahy said reactions are mixed, but they were very interested in the uranium mining industry adding more than $6 billion to the state economy.
“Put this into operation over 76 miles and it will generate billions over 20 to 30 years,” said Leahy.
Leahy said impacts on Lake Gaston were not included in the study, but considering 93 percent of Lake Gaston’s inflows come from Kerr, one could easily expect similar results.
He is recommending additional investigation into the effects of a contamination event, including impacts on Lake Gaston.
Leahy said he expects General Assembly bills to lift the moratorium on uranium mining to be introduced next year.
For more information on the issue, visit the Virginia Beach Web site at http://www.vbgov.com/
Read more:
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2011/02/27/community/valley/doc4d6997e267c8e993355308.txt
