Uranium study leader following issue in Va.
By: | The Associated Press
Published: August 05, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. --
Like many fellow Virginia residents, the chairman of the National Academy of Sciences panel that studied uranium mining is following the issue as the state wrestles with the possibility of ending a 30-year ban on mining the radioactive metal.
Unlike another Virginian on the committee, however, Paul A. Locke is keeping his opinion to himself. A member of his committee, Peter deFur, publicly stated his opposition to uranium mining in Virginia last week, and he outlined the reasons in detail Thursday. He called the obstacles to uranium mining "insurmountable."
That conclusion goes beyond the NAS findings last December that Virginia faced "steep hurdles" before it could safely allow mining. The committee did not say whether a 1982 ban should be ended.
In an opinion piece he publicly released, deFur argues that Virginia faces too many obstacles to allow uranium mining. He cites concerns raised by mining opponents. He's the founder of an environmental consulting firm in the Richmond area.
"Neither Virginia nor the U.S. government has any experience with uranium mining and processing east of the Mississippi in a rainy climate," deFur wrote.
The Uranium Working Group brought in a team from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Pittsylvania County on Thursday to explain the agency's possible role in overseeing the milling of uranium, a process that has generated the most concern among opponents. They fear storms or torrential rains could scatter vast amounts of radioactive waste called tailings into public water supplies.
Even before the meeting had begun, the Roanoke River Basin Association issued a statement critical of the NRC.
"They appear to have no relevant expertise or experience in regard to what is being proposed here in Virginia," said Andrew Lester, executive director of the association. "They have not licensed a single new conventional uranium mill in almost three decades."
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/state-news/2012/aug/05/tdmet05-uranium-study-leader-following-issue-in-va-ar-2109205/
Environment: Formal hearing set for proposed Piñon Ridge uranium mill in southwestern Colorado
Posted on August 5, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
State’s previous approval voided as unlawful
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Residents of southwest Colorado will have their chance to scrutinize plans for the proposed Piñon Ridge uranium mill in the Paradox Valley later this year at a court-ordered hearing in Montrose County.
The new hearing was scheduled after Denver District Court Judge John McMullen ruled in June that the state’s previous review process was unlawful. Conservation groups and community activists and towns in the area have repeatedly expressed concerns about potential impacts to air and water quality from the proposed mill.
McMullen found that the state had denied the public its right to a formal, adjudicatory hearing and ordered the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to start a new public review process.
“We are pleased that the public will finally get a formal chance to scrutinize this proposal,” said Hilary White, executive director of Sheep Mountain Alliance. “As a party in this hearing process, we will continue to ensure that the clean air and clean water of this region are protected.”
Sheep Mountain Alliance filed a lawsuit against the CDPHE in February, 2011, after it issued a license to Energy Fuels to construct the first uranium processing mill in the United States since 1980. The governments of the towns of Telluride and Ophir, Colo., joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs in October, 2011.
Following the court’s ruling, the parties in the lawsuit negotiated the terms of the formal hearing process, which will allow the public to provide oral or written comments and also allow other organizations and individuals to enter the proceedings more formally with the right to submit evidence and testimony and cross-examine witnesses.
http://summitcountyvoice.com/2012/08/05/environment-formal-hearing-set-for-proposed-pinon-ridge-uranium-mill-in-southwestern-colorado/
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Residents of southwest Colorado will have their chance to scrutinize plans for the proposed Piñon Ridge uranium mill in the Paradox Valley later this year at a court-ordered hearing in Montrose County.
The new hearing was scheduled after Denver District Court Judge John McMullen ruled in June that the state’s previous review process was unlawful. Conservation groups and community activists and towns in the area have repeatedly expressed concerns about potential impacts to air and water quality from the proposed mill.
McMullen found that the state had denied the public its right to a formal, adjudicatory hearing and ordered the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to start a new public review process.
“We are pleased that the public will finally get a formal chance to scrutinize this proposal,” said Hilary White, executive director of Sheep Mountain Alliance. “As a party in this hearing process, we will continue to ensure that the clean air and clean water of this region are protected.”
Sheep Mountain Alliance filed a lawsuit against the CDPHE in February, 2011, after it issued a license to Energy Fuels to construct the first uranium processing mill in the United States since 1980. The governments of the towns of Telluride and Ophir, Colo., joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs in October, 2011.
Following the court’s ruling, the parties in the lawsuit negotiated the terms of the formal hearing process, which will allow the public to provide oral or written comments and also allow other organizations and individuals to enter the proceedings more formally with the right to submit evidence and testimony and cross-examine witnesses.
http://summitcountyvoice.com/2012/08/05/environment-formal-hearing-set-for-proposed-pinon-ridge-uranium-mill-in-southwestern-colorado/
Get the Word Out: Keep the Ban
The following was written by guest blogger Michael Kovick and first appeared as a letter to the editor in The Floyd Press, July 26, 2012. Kovick is a musician and an active member of Floyd UBAN, a citizens formed group named for the goal of keeping a 30 year statewide ban on uranium mining in place
As you know the governor of VA is pushing heavily to enable Uranium mining to proceed in Virginia. His special committee to study the issue is made up entirely of mining advocates. Citizens groups banned.
Last count shows 17 paid Virginia Uranium lobbyists in Richmond.
In this last month the governor has committed one Million $ toward more research to mining advocates.
The mining issue continues to be framed within an economic context by the corporate media.
“Can mining be done safely” is the question bantered about which refers to the time frame of an active mine.–This is simply a diversion question so that the real question of long term storage of toxic waste in a Fema designated flood zone can be ignored.
The facts are in. The National Academy of Sciences study has been presented. No viable solution for long term toxic waste storage has been offered.
Millions and millions of gallons of Virginia water would be needed to process these toxins. That water must then be contained for over 10,000 years in a Fema designated flood zone. Virginia Uranium’s solution is to provide eight -forty acre ponds each lined with plastic. These ponds have a life expectancy of 40 years in a perfect world.
Virginia Uranium’s commitment to the safety of our water is nonexistent. They would be long gone and restructured as is the history of mining companies in the US following a mining disaster. No uranium mine to date has been without a serious environmental pollution problem. Uranium mines have thus far existed only in the southwestern US where they receive one fourth as much rain as does Virginia. In addition Virginia’s underground water is virtually everywhere.
The potential for disaster is beyond horrendous.
In addition to the proposed mine at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania county we should be mindful of several other sobering facts:
- Lifting the statewide ban precludes a county by county fight to keep mining out.
- The Coles Hill site would become a processing site for out of state minerals as well, resulting in even more water and air contamination.
- Airborne contamination radius of a processing site is 50 miles.
- Water contamination within a community brings sickness and death.
- Property owners who do not own their mineral rights have no power to keep mining out.
- A frenzy of mineral rights purchases has transpired in the Blue Ridge recently.
- If the ban is not reinstated, formerly abandoned mines such as copper mines in Floyd county would become a target of profit seekers.
As you know the governor of VA is pushing heavily to enable Uranium mining to proceed in Virginia. His special committee to study the issue is made up entirely of mining advocates. Citizens groups banned.
Last count shows 17 paid Virginia Uranium lobbyists in Richmond.
In this last month the governor has committed one Million $ toward more research to mining advocates.
The mining issue continues to be framed within an economic context by the corporate media.
“Can mining be done safely” is the question bantered about which refers to the time frame of an active mine.–This is simply a diversion question so that the real question of long term storage of toxic waste in a Fema designated flood zone can be ignored.
The facts are in. The National Academy of Sciences study has been presented. No viable solution for long term toxic waste storage has been offered.
Millions and millions of gallons of Virginia water would be needed to process these toxins. That water must then be contained for over 10,000 years in a Fema designated flood zone. Virginia Uranium’s solution is to provide eight -forty acre ponds each lined with plastic. These ponds have a life expectancy of 40 years in a perfect world.
Virginia Uranium’s commitment to the safety of our water is nonexistent. They would be long gone and restructured as is the history of mining companies in the US following a mining disaster. No uranium mine to date has been without a serious environmental pollution problem. Uranium mines have thus far existed only in the southwestern US where they receive one fourth as much rain as does Virginia. In addition Virginia’s underground water is virtually everywhere.
The potential for disaster is beyond horrendous.
In addition to the proposed mine at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania county we should be mindful of several other sobering facts:
- Lifting the statewide ban precludes a county by county fight to keep mining out.
- The Coles Hill site would become a processing site for out of state minerals as well, resulting in even more water and air contamination.
- Airborne contamination radius of a processing site is 50 miles.
- Water contamination within a community brings sickness and death.
- Property owners who do not own their mineral rights have no power to keep mining out.
- A frenzy of mineral rights purchases has transpired in the Blue Ridge recently.
- If the ban is not reinstated, formerly abandoned mines such as copper mines in Floyd county would become a target of profit seekers.
