By: The Editorial Board
Published: December 05, 2011
To the editor:
A recent letter to the editor by a South Boston resident insinuated that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors had not taken a position on uranium mining in Virginia. Not so. In fact, it was one of the first municipalities to present resolutions regarding the issue.
In December 2007 supervisors passed a resolution asking the General Assembly "to develop a neutral and comprehensive legislative study that takes into account all relative factors in deciding whether it is possible to mine uranium safely in Pittsylvania County and the Commonwealth of Virginia; and further, that the Board of Supervisors requests the General Assembly to closely monitor the proposed study to ensure that it meets the long-term interests of the County of Pittsylvania and the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the protection of the citizens and our environment."
In February 2009 a resolution was adopted which stated, "Therefore, be it hereby resolved, that the State Mining Study Commission determine by its study and report that no damage or harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining, as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages …"
In June 2010, supervisors passes another resolution regarding the Berry Hill Road industrial mega park which reads, "Be it hereby resolved, that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors respectfully request the Board of Directors of the Danville Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facilities Authority to include in the covenants of the Mega Park, ‘no mining or milling operations.’"
The National Academy of Science report will not state whether or not mining can be done safely in Virginia. The socio-economic studies will be based on assumptions and can not guarantee outcomes. Pittsylvania County’s resolutions have made it clear that the county government and its citizens expects "no damage or harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to this issue or simply accepting minimal damages."
KAREN B. MAUTE
Mount Cross, Danville, VA
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/dec/05/county-has-spoken-mining-ar-1510361/
