Protecting Our Natural Resources
winning for our water:
keeping the ban on uranium mining in place
keeping the ban on uranium mining in place
- Thirty years ago uranium was discovered in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
- The clear dangers resulted in the imposition of the ban soon after its discovery
- The mining would not only endanger local natural resources, but downstream drinking water supplies essential to life in southern Virginia.
- In January 2012 Governor Bob McDonnell, despite industry pressure, announced he opposed lifting the moratorium
- Clean Water Action members played a huge role – sending thousands of letters, making phone calls, and visiting Richmond to fight for the moratorium
Virginia banned uranium mining in the Commonwealth because mining uranium is an incredibly dangerous practice. Since the ban was enacted, industry and their allies in Richmond have worked to overturn it.
For just as long, Clean Water Action members have said “NO” to any effort to overturn the ban. In January, our advocacy paid off when Governor McDonnell announced that he opposed lifting the ban on uranium mining in 2012.
While the Governor’s support for maintaining the moratorium is positive, our work’s not done.
While the Governor’s support for maintaining the moratorium is positive, our work’s not done.
Unfortunately, Governor McDonnell also announced the creation of a multi-agency task force to study the proposed mining site and to draft regulations that could be used in the event that the ban is lifted.
This is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
More importantly, it means that will need to keep up the pressure on state legislators and the Governor.
