The Virginian-Pilot
January 23, 2012
Virginia's lawmakers were in no position to determine this year whether it's safe or prudent to lift the commonwealth's 30-year ban on uranium mining.
That much was clear in December, when the National Academy of Sciences issued its long-awaited, and highly technical, 302-page report analyzing Virginia's climate and geography, the global uranium market and the risks associated with mining, processing and reclamation.
Gov. Bob McDonnell made the right choice for Virginians last week when he asked legislators to postpone action. Instead, he directed a work group to conduct more research and focus specifically on the site in Pittsylvania County.
Environmental groups and others against mining praised the governor's announcement. So did officials with Virginia Uranium Inc., citing the governor's request for state agencies to begin drafting a regulatory framework to oversee uranium mining. It's a process that ultimately will take years.
It did point out that the mine region is susceptible to devastating storms, heavy rainfall, earthquakes and other conditions that could prove disastrous if mining debris contaminates the water supply. It noted that risk could never be eliminated, and state officials would have to set a high bar in establishing a regulatory system to protect the public.
More important, however, the contract with the academy required a five-month period following the publication of the report for the public to review its findings, to hear about the analysis from experts and to discuss the data.
With the governor's action last week, Virginians are assured of at least that opportunity.
Read more:
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/necessary-delay-uranium-decision
January 23, 2012
Virginia's lawmakers were in no position to determine this year whether it's safe or prudent to lift the commonwealth's 30-year ban on uranium mining.
That much was clear in December, when the National Academy of Sciences issued its long-awaited, and highly technical, 302-page report analyzing Virginia's climate and geography, the global uranium market and the risks associated with mining, processing and reclamation.
Gov. Bob McDonnell made the right choice for Virginians last week when he asked legislators to postpone action. Instead, he directed a work group to conduct more research and focus specifically on the site in Pittsylvania County.
Environmental groups and others against mining praised the governor's announcement. So did officials with Virginia Uranium Inc., citing the governor's request for state agencies to begin drafting a regulatory framework to oversee uranium mining. It's a process that ultimately will take years.
It did point out that the mine region is susceptible to devastating storms, heavy rainfall, earthquakes and other conditions that could prove disastrous if mining debris contaminates the water supply. It noted that risk could never be eliminated, and state officials would have to set a high bar in establishing a regulatory system to protect the public.
More important, however, the contract with the academy required a five-month period following the publication of the report for the public to review its findings, to hear about the analysis from experts and to discuss the data.
With the governor's action last week, Virginians are assured of at least that opportunity.
Read more:
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/necessary-delay-uranium-decision
