Comment: Keep the Ban!
Published: July 31, 2011
Virginia Uranium isn’t the only entity in our state that owns land containing uranium. Uranium is found in many, many places around Virginia — and the world, for that matter.
As Virginia continues to struggle with the question of whether to allow uranium mining and the milling that turns the raw ore into the more valuable yellowcake, opponents have raised the specter that VUI or other companies could set up mines and even mills in other parts of the Dan River Region — and around the commonwealth. They even point to the old leases that Marline had in the early 1980s as proof that there’s a lot more uranium available for mining.
Ironically, it’s the moratorium on uranium mining that has kept some of those questions from being answered. With the moratorium in place, it makes no financial sense for a mining company to expend the kind of money, time and effort to find the next Coles Hill in Virginia.
If the moratorium were lifted, that would certainly encourage mining companies to look for more uranium deposits. .
Now the question for Virginia is whether this industry can be trusted with the health and safety of the people, animals, land and water beyond the borders of its own property — a case that hasn’t been made yet.
But let’s not pretend that the debate over uranium mining and milling is only a debate about Virginia Uranium’s project at Coles Hill. If there is demand for uranium and Virginia allows VUI to move forward with its project, the entire uranium mining industry will be taking a good, long look at other parts of the Dan River Region — and the state.
Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/jul/31/uraniums-everywhere-virginia-ar-1206460/
