Friday, August 3, 2012
On Dec. 9, 2011, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science released its 300 page study of "Uranium Mining in Virginia." On Dec. 28, 2011, after studying the report, six Republican state legislators from Southside Virginia issued a reflective "Letter to the General Assembly" in which they stated that rescinding the statewide ban on uranium mining in Virginia was a "very bad idea" given the risks to the quality of life in our region.
Noticeably absent from this and other statewide discussions, absent from regional leadership on this issue, from public hearings and informational symposiums, and particularly from attendance at meetings and hearings of the governor's legislative Uranium Working Group, is State Sen. Bill Stanley. Stanley is supposed to represent Danville, Martinsville and the counties of Halifax, Henry and Franklin, all having vested interests in this issue. State Sen. John S. Edwards (21st District) stated that whether or not to lift the uranium mining ban proposed for the 2013 legislative session is probably the "most important issue to come before the General Assembly in 50 years." (Public Symposium on Uranium Mining; July 27, 2012, VA. Western Community College)
State Sen. Stanley told us during his November 2011 campaign that he would wait on the research studies. There have been four.
Also conspicuously absent from both the state and grassroots efforts to explore the issue are representatives from the governments of Martinsville, Rocky Mount, Henry and Franklin counties who seem reluctant to consider this as a regional issue and, instead, a Pittsylvania local concern.
Some localities in the region are doing their homework. To date, the following have passed resolutions in support of keeping the statewide ban on uranium mining. These include: (1) the cities of Chesapeake, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Roanoke and Virginia Beach; (2) the counties of Floyd, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Orange, Patrick and Rappahannock; and (3) the towns of Clarksville, Halifax, Hurt and South Boston. In addition, the Virginia Municipal League and the Bi-State Commission on the Roanoke River Basin have adopted positions to oppose uranium legislation in 2013.
On Thursday night, Aug. 2 in Chatham, the Governor's Uranium Working Committee (who is charged with developing a regulatory framework for consideration by the 2013 General Assembly) will hear from scientists from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. According to July 29 Associated Press news reports, the NRC delegation will take questions from the audience, particularly on aspects of the uranium milling process. The NRC presentation will be on its website.
Let's hope State Sen. Bill Stanley can find the time to attend. Let's hope Franklin and Henry counties' government and economic development representatives, can find the interest.
John A. Hollandsworth
Rocky Mount
http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=22782
