Posted: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:20 am
Mark Thomas/Altavista Journal Editor
Uranium.
It's a material in Pittsylvania County that draws strong feelings on both sides. Some see it as a job-producing economic boon for the area; for others, it raises fears of a possible environmental disaster with long-term effects.
It's going to be one of the big issues for the Virginia General Assembly, which opened its new session Wednesday.
"Uranium is going to be a hot topic," said 15th District Sen. Frank Ruff Jr., who represents Brookneal and Gladys in Campbell County.
Ruff and several other area legislators - 59th District Del. Matt Fariss, 16th District Del. Don Merricks and 60th District Del. James Edmunds II - talked last week about uranium and other issues that will dominate the 60-day session. Efforts to reach 23rd District Sen. Steve Newman, who represents Altavista, and 22nd District Del. Kathy Byron, who covers the Brookville and New London areas of Campbell County, were unsuccessful.
"This thing is a two-edged sword. It could bring in a lot of jobs, but it could cost the state to regulate and it could affect a lot of local landowners and businesses," Fariss said.
If he had to vote today, Fariss said he would vote against lifting the moratorium because he doesn't know enough about it.
"I think anybody who pushes for a vote this session would be completely irresponsible. ... Anybody who pushes for a vote didn't care about what the studies said," Edmunds said.
Three studies came out before Christmas.
Edmunds, whose district includes Brookneal and Gladys, said he thinks the anti-uranium side is strengthening. He said a lot of legislators and citizens were waiting to see if mining could be done safely. He said all of the studies say there's no way to eliminate the potential risk to human health.
"When something happens with this, the damages are irreversible. There's nothing you can do."
Ruff said $2 million was spent on the studies. He said it would be irresponsible to ignore them.
"I don't hear the passion from other legislators to do anything about it this year," Ruff said.
Merricks, whose House district covers much of Pittsylvania County, announced his opposition to lifting the moratorium in a letter to the editor.
He noted the area's need for jobs, but said, "The risks associated with mining and milling are real." He said the state also has no regulations in place to monitor the industry.
"If only one thing can be interpreted from all these studies, it is the fact that there needs to be more study," Merricks wrote. He said if the state wants to pursue a uranium operation in Pittsylvania County, it should do a site-specific study that would lead to a more-informed decision.
Merricks said with all of the unanswered questions, he couldn't support lifting the ban.
All of the contacted area legislators said they want to hear from constituents.
Newman can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-7523 ordistrict23@senate.virginia.gov.
Merricks can be emailed at DelDMerricks@house.virginia.gov. His local phone number is 434-432-3370.
Byron can be contacted in Richmond at 804-698-1022 orDelKByron@house.virginia.gov.
Fariss can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-1059 orDelMFariss@house.virginia.gov.
Edmunds can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-1060 orDelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov.
Ruff is available at 804-698-7515 or district15@senate.virginia.govin Richmond.
http://www.wpcva.com/altavista/news/article_87647b5e-3c70-11e1-9260-0019bb2963f4.html
Mark Thomas/Altavista Journal Editor
Uranium.
It's a material in Pittsylvania County that draws strong feelings on both sides. Some see it as a job-producing economic boon for the area; for others, it raises fears of a possible environmental disaster with long-term effects.
It's going to be one of the big issues for the Virginia General Assembly, which opened its new session Wednesday.
"Uranium is going to be a hot topic," said 15th District Sen. Frank Ruff Jr., who represents Brookneal and Gladys in Campbell County.
Ruff and several other area legislators - 59th District Del. Matt Fariss, 16th District Del. Don Merricks and 60th District Del. James Edmunds II - talked last week about uranium and other issues that will dominate the 60-day session. Efforts to reach 23rd District Sen. Steve Newman, who represents Altavista, and 22nd District Del. Kathy Byron, who covers the Brookville and New London areas of Campbell County, were unsuccessful.
"This thing is a two-edged sword. It could bring in a lot of jobs, but it could cost the state to regulate and it could affect a lot of local landowners and businesses," Fariss said.
If he had to vote today, Fariss said he would vote against lifting the moratorium because he doesn't know enough about it.
"I think anybody who pushes for a vote this session would be completely irresponsible. ... Anybody who pushes for a vote didn't care about what the studies said," Edmunds said.
Three studies came out before Christmas.
Edmunds, whose district includes Brookneal and Gladys, said he thinks the anti-uranium side is strengthening. He said a lot of legislators and citizens were waiting to see if mining could be done safely. He said all of the studies say there's no way to eliminate the potential risk to human health.
"When something happens with this, the damages are irreversible. There's nothing you can do."
Ruff said $2 million was spent on the studies. He said it would be irresponsible to ignore them.
"I don't hear the passion from other legislators to do anything about it this year," Ruff said.
Merricks, whose House district covers much of Pittsylvania County, announced his opposition to lifting the moratorium in a letter to the editor.
He noted the area's need for jobs, but said, "The risks associated with mining and milling are real." He said the state also has no regulations in place to monitor the industry.
"If only one thing can be interpreted from all these studies, it is the fact that there needs to be more study," Merricks wrote. He said if the state wants to pursue a uranium operation in Pittsylvania County, it should do a site-specific study that would lead to a more-informed decision.
Merricks said with all of the unanswered questions, he couldn't support lifting the ban.
All of the contacted area legislators said they want to hear from constituents.
Newman can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-7523 ordistrict23@senate.virginia.gov.
Merricks can be emailed at DelDMerricks@house.virginia.gov. His local phone number is 434-432-3370.
Byron can be contacted in Richmond at 804-698-1022 orDelKByron@house.virginia.gov.
Fariss can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-1059 orDelMFariss@house.virginia.gov.
Edmunds can be reached in Richmond at 804-698-1060 orDelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov.
Ruff is available at 804-698-7515 or district15@senate.virginia.govin Richmond.
http://www.wpcva.com/altavista/news/article_87647b5e-3c70-11e1-9260-0019bb2963f4.html
