Comment: Baby Whales comments are below but what is international best practices and regulatory standards? International best practices and regulatory standards are written by the uranium and nuclear companies so I would call this conflict of interest, maybe......here are the links to the "so call International best practices and regulatory standards witten by the uranium and nuke industry:
Great comments from: UraniumFree Virginia
Governor McDonnell just went around his constituents and our misguided undecisive representatives in the General Assembly and did what he apparently promised to VUI - issued an executive order to draft up uranium regs to have the ball rolling to ensure that VUI can get more investor money to fund lobbyists until 2013.
Governor McDonnell just went around his constituents and our misguided undecisive representatives in the General Assembly and did what he apparently promised to VUI - issued an executive order to draft up uranium regs to have the ball rolling to ensure that VUI can get more investor money to fund lobbyists until 2013.
More comments: read it and weep...the "$%#@-U*&%" wants regulations drafted. call now to say you do not want regs. drafted and want to continue the ban. 804-786-2211.
Virginia Uranium Inc. has proposed mining a 119-million pound deposit in Pittsylvania County.
McDonnell received a letter Wednesdayfrom a bipartisan group of state legislators asking them to delay any action until more studies could be done.
As a result of our analysis, and consideration of the points made in the letter, I believe that such an on-site study must take place before any action is taken. The NAS study was broadly helpful in providing a better understanding of the associated economic benefits, which are potentially significant, as well as the possible risks, which are potentially serious, associated with uranium mining in this geography and climate," McDonnell said in the release.
Virginia Uranium says it welcomes the governor's decision.
NEWS7's Joe Dashiell is in Richmond and NEWS7's Justin Ward is in Pittsylvania County covering this story.
Here is the response Virginia Uranium Project Manager Patrick Wales:
By Patrick Wales, Project Manager
“Virginia Uranium welcomes Governor McDonnell’s decision to have Virginia’s regulatory agencies begin the process of drafting a regulatory and permitting program for uranium mining in the Commonwealth. The Governor’s decision is an important step toward establishing a regulatory framework that will enable our company to build and operate the safest uranium mine in the world right here in Virginia.
The Governor’s decision moves the Commonwealth one step closer toward adopting these standards and will allow our company to demonstrate our sincere commitment to protecting the environment and the well-being of Virginia’s citizens.
As the National Academy of Sciences and Chmura socioeconomic studies have shown, there is a strong foundation of international best practices and regulatory standards on which the Commonwealth can draw to establish a rigorous program for regulating uranium mining. These advanced practices and regulatory standards adopted in Canada and in some Western U.S. states have proven successful over the last 30 years at protecting the environment, worker safety and public health. Over the next year, the Commonwealth will have the benefit of reviewing these international models to ensure we establish the most robust and protective program in the world.
We look forward to the opportunity to work with the citizens of Virginia and Virginia’s regulatory agencies over the next year to ensure that the Commonwealth establishes a comprehensive regulatory program for uranium mining that is protective of public health and safety and the environment.”
Read more:
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-governor-mcdonnell-asks-general-assembly-to-keep-uranium-mining-ban-in-place-for-the-year-20120119,0,4960646.story
