By: | WSLS 10
Published: August 04, 2012
ROANOKE, VA --
John Douglass has written what he calls a frank and very direct letter to Congressman Robert Hurt asking for his stance on uranium mining in Virginia and across the country. The two are running against each other for the 5th District Congressional Seat.
"I urge you to take action in Congress, before the Virginia legislature puts families and farmers at risk, by introducing federal legislation to ban uranium mining near residential communities" said Douglass in the letter.
“Uranium mining is a thing that once it happens, you can't take it back very easily. it's not a like an oil spill or something like that, where you can go clean up” said Douglass in an interview with WSLS.
In the letter, Douglass also claims the republican has accepted more $3,000 in campaign contributions from Virginia uranium executives and Hurt’s family has a stake in the uranium deposit.
The following is a letter sent by John Douglass on Saturday,
August 4th.
Dear Congressman Hurt,
I urge you to take action in Congress, before the Virginia
legislature puts families and farmers at risk, by introducing federal
legislation to ban uranium mining near residential communities. As you may be
aware, the National Academy of Sciences report warns that there are “steep
hurdles” in protecting the health of the surrounding area to the proposed mining
at Coles Hill.
With the legislature
expected to consider lifting the ban on mining, the people of the 5th District
have very serious concerns about harmful toxins polluting our air and
water. Even one natural disaster could disturb huge amounts of radioactive waste
that could take decades to clean up, according Virginia Commonwealth University
Professor Peter DeFur. Experts also point out that transporting radioactive
material along major highways and railroads poses a high risk as well.
However difficult it may be to set aside your family’s ownership
stake in the $7 billion uranium deposit, please consider the safety of our
families, especially those who live in your hometown of Chatham. The more than
$3,000 dollars in campaign funds you have now taken from Virginia Uranium
executives, according to the FEC and VPAP, pales in comparison to the estimated
$10 billion it took the German government to clean up the contamination at the
Wismut mining site.
It is not enough to claim support for a temporary ban pending
further studies because studies only measure risk -- they don’t prevent it.
Having put my life on the line in defense of our country, I’m running for
Congress because our public safety comes first. So if you have the courage to
call on Republicans in Congress to vote for a federal ban upon your return from
the month-long adjournment, I will do all I can to help build some bipartisan
support.
Our district is counting on you to show your opposition to uranium
mining by taking Congressional action before the election. Should I be chosen by
the people to serve, I would be honored to carry on this effort.
Very respectfully,
John W Douglass
Brig General USAF (ret)
Fifth District Congressional Candidate
http://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2012/aug/04/candidates-spar-over-uranium-mining-ar-2108938/
