Meeting: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
This is an important meeting to attend. Please make every effort to do so:
This is an important meeting to attend. Please make every effort to do so:
Meeting: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Date/Time: September 4th, 7 PM
Location: General District Courtroom, Chatham VA.
Attention: Notice Important item on agenda. Item #12 is entitled Resolution on Uranium Mining and Milling
Notice: Mr. Ecker & Mr. Barksdale: These two Supervisor were responsible for the recent productive meeting in Chatham which solicited citizen comment and concern regarding uranium mining and milling in Pittsylvania County
UPDATE: WRITE AND CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR AND TELL TO UPDATE THE PRESENT RESOLUTION TO READ KEEP THE URANIUM MINING BAN! Ask BOS to remove the last 3 paragraphs, regulations do not support or protect anyone!
Please call your supervisors, ask them to keep the ban just like the Roanoke River Basins:
The Board Packet for the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors should be available on line on Friday. The packet will likely contain the resolution. the county's website is http://www.pittgov.org
History: The BOS unanimously passed a resolution previously in February of 2009 which was sent to Ms. Ellen Porter of the VA Coal and Energy Commission. This occurred prior to the completion the reports and studies issued at the end of 2011. The resolution was also passed prior to the 2011 election which resulted in some changes on the Board.
The 2009 resolution read" THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the State Mining Study Commission determine by its study and report that no harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining, as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to the issue or simply accepting minimal damages; and
The studies and reports have not concluded that uranium mining will cause "no harm". It is hoped and anticipated that the resolution will reflect this.
More info: BOS Uranium Resolution 9-4-12 - Pittsylvania County VA.doc
http://www.pittgov.org/weblink7/Browse.aspx
PLEASE READ:
Received last night and sent with permission...:
Tonight I will pray to the Lord that the attached resolution will never be passed by the Pittsylvania Board. Do the authors of this document realized that there is no possible monetary fund that can be set up to mitigate the destruction of an entire basins natural resources and the loss of the health and safety of it’s citizens? How much is a bout with cancer of a child worth for instance? Money is not the answer. Only science and technology can protect us, and the fact is, that does not exist.
Further, the concept that regulations can be put in place to protect the health, welfare and safety of your citizens is seriously flawed. Serious operational defects, errors, natural disasters and other factors cannot be not stopped by regulations. Did regulations stop any of the Coal mining deaths and disasters in past years? Did regulations stop the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? I could go on and on about the flawed reliance on government regulations in our society over decades of time, but I don’t think that is necessary.
Finally for an opinion on the practical side of this issue. The supporters of uranium mining and milling appeal to the people by the offer of jobs, jobs and jobs. 300 or more have been quoted. Assume the moratorium is lifted, and in fact a working group develops a comprehensive set of regulations for this industry in the Commonwealth. I have consulted with government agencies in both VA and NC on how long would it take to put all the agencies in a position, both legislatively and monetarily, to mange the regulations. Best estimate I got was 6 to 8 years. Add to that the need for environmental impact studies (which will likely include dealing with endangered species in our waters), water permits and possible Federal Coastal Management Act hurdles, because the waters are Bi-State, you can probably add another 5 years to timeframe. Then consider the likelihood that the State of North Carolina will file suit to stop this dangerous proposition in which they have nothing to gain and everything to lose, and you can add another 8 years or so. So, in perhaps 15 to 20 years Southside Virginia may get 300 jobs from this reckless endeavor. Now I ask, isn’t there a better means of creating jobs in your county? Can you wait 15 to 20 years?
I implore you not to go down that road. You can do better. Don’t destroy the Southside Virginia lifestyle. Consider where the major profits from uranium mining and milling will be going. Consider the stigma of being tagged “a mining community” no one wants to be near. Consider the negative impact on small businesses, schools and community centers.
Throw this resolution out and pass one that urges a permanent ban on uranium mining similar to those that have been passed by over 125 cities, towns, counties, citizens organizations, wildlife services, faith organizations, fishing and hunting association and others. I have also attached a complete list of those organizations for your information.
The RRBA has been awaiting a position on this issue to come out of the very county most directly impacted by this project. Your overdue in the minds of many. So be it, but please do not take the wrong position not only for your county but for the entire 410 mile long Roanoke Basin, which arguably is the finest natural resource in the eastern part of these United States of America.
Sincerely,
Gene Addesso
VP & Acting President
Roanoke River Basin Association
(919) 414-4591
UPDATE: WRITE AND CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR AND TELL TO UPDATE THE PRESENT RESOLUTION TO READ KEEP THE URANIUM MINING BAN! Ask BOS to remove the last 3 paragraphs, regulations do not support or protect anyone!
Please call your supervisors, ask them to keep the ban just like the Roanoke River Basins:
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors - 2012
| |
Tunstall District
Tim R. Barber Chairperson 10500 Martinsville Hwy Danville, VA 24541 Work (434) 685-1680 | Dan River District James Snead Vice-Chairperson 718 Ringgold Depot Rd Ringgold, VA 24586 Home (434) 822-7271 |
The Board Packet for the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors should be available on line on Friday. The packet will likely contain the resolution. the county's website is http://www.pittgov.org
History: The BOS unanimously passed a resolution previously in February of 2009 which was sent to Ms. Ellen Porter of the VA Coal and Energy Commission. This occurred prior to the completion the reports and studies issued at the end of 2011. The resolution was also passed prior to the 2011 election which resulted in some changes on the Board.
The 2009 resolution read" THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the State Mining Study Commission determine by its study and report that no harm will be done to Pittsylvania County, its businesses, institutions, environment and its citizens by uranium mining, as opposed to a cost/benefit approach to the issue or simply accepting minimal damages; and
The studies and reports have not concluded that uranium mining will cause "no harm". It is hoped and anticipated that the resolution will reflect this.
More info: BOS Uranium Resolution 9-4-12 - Pittsylvania County VA.doc
http://www.pittgov.org/weblink7/Browse.aspx
PLEASE READ:
Received last night and sent with permission...:
Tonight I will pray to the Lord that the attached resolution will never be passed by the Pittsylvania Board. Do the authors of this document realized that there is no possible monetary fund that can be set up to mitigate the destruction of an entire basins natural resources and the loss of the health and safety of it’s citizens? How much is a bout with cancer of a child worth for instance? Money is not the answer. Only science and technology can protect us, and the fact is, that does not exist.
Further, the concept that regulations can be put in place to protect the health, welfare and safety of your citizens is seriously flawed. Serious operational defects, errors, natural disasters and other factors cannot be not stopped by regulations. Did regulations stop any of the Coal mining deaths and disasters in past years? Did regulations stop the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? I could go on and on about the flawed reliance on government regulations in our society over decades of time, but I don’t think that is necessary.
Finally for an opinion on the practical side of this issue. The supporters of uranium mining and milling appeal to the people by the offer of jobs, jobs and jobs. 300 or more have been quoted. Assume the moratorium is lifted, and in fact a working group develops a comprehensive set of regulations for this industry in the Commonwealth. I have consulted with government agencies in both VA and NC on how long would it take to put all the agencies in a position, both legislatively and monetarily, to mange the regulations. Best estimate I got was 6 to 8 years. Add to that the need for environmental impact studies (which will likely include dealing with endangered species in our waters), water permits and possible Federal Coastal Management Act hurdles, because the waters are Bi-State, you can probably add another 5 years to timeframe. Then consider the likelihood that the State of North Carolina will file suit to stop this dangerous proposition in which they have nothing to gain and everything to lose, and you can add another 8 years or so. So, in perhaps 15 to 20 years Southside Virginia may get 300 jobs from this reckless endeavor. Now I ask, isn’t there a better means of creating jobs in your county? Can you wait 15 to 20 years?
I implore you not to go down that road. You can do better. Don’t destroy the Southside Virginia lifestyle. Consider where the major profits from uranium mining and milling will be going. Consider the stigma of being tagged “a mining community” no one wants to be near. Consider the negative impact on small businesses, schools and community centers.
Throw this resolution out and pass one that urges a permanent ban on uranium mining similar to those that have been passed by over 125 cities, towns, counties, citizens organizations, wildlife services, faith organizations, fishing and hunting association and others. I have also attached a complete list of those organizations for your information.
The RRBA has been awaiting a position on this issue to come out of the very county most directly impacted by this project. Your overdue in the minds of many. So be it, but please do not take the wrong position not only for your county but for the entire 410 mile long Roanoke Basin, which arguably is the finest natural resource in the eastern part of these United States of America.
Sincerely,
Gene Addesso
VP & Acting President
Roanoke River Basin Association
(919) 414-4591
