Stories: State health leaders tackle environmental questions in Chatham/

Comments:  The following statement is a problem:  "Dempsey said the UWG will look for answers to the questions, using studies from the past and present, work being done by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the state Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and other agencies."  The groups mention by Ms. Dempsey are pro mining and pro nuclear at all cost, with little regards to health!  Who are the other agencies, Is Ms. Dempsey is including other reports like studies from the NAS on radiation or the studies listed on UWG?  Please write Ms. Dempsey to clarify her statement!  Another statement made:  "During a question and answer session, attendees asked if the UWG is looking at regulations in existence in other states; whether the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy can shut a mining operation down; if the state would consider putting in more stringent regulations than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission might have;" Regulations and best practices are not working in America, Canada, France, or anywhere!  Another statement by Baby Whales:” Uranium mining is safe it's conducted safe all over the world," said PW" Baby Whales, please give exact locations, I cannot find them!


State health leaders tackle environmental questions in Chatham


A group from the Virginia Department of Health spent hours this afternoon hoping to clear uncertainty.   Justin Ward WDBJ7 Reporter WDBJ7
2:08 p.m. EDT, September 17, 2012
CHATHAM, Va.—

Would a uranium mine contaminate groundwater and ruin freshwater sources?

This afternoon the Virginia Department of Health spent five hours trying to answer that question and dozens more from people who live near and downstream from the proposed mining site at Coles Hill near Chatham.   As a state work group investigates the health and economic impact of a mine in Virginia, state leaders continue to hold forums to ease tension between supporters and opponents.

"So our plan is to begin to answer some of those questions for health at the October 17th meeting but then to work on generating our final report that will be much more inclusive from all three agencies," said Maureen Dempsey, Chief Deputy Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Health.

The VDH says homeowners are responsible for updates or renovations to personal wells should a problem arise.


Two more question-answer sessions are scheduled before the end of the year.

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-state-health-leaders-tackle-environmental-questions-in-chatham-20120917,0,6940423.story  

Uranium and water supply: List of concerns released

By: Denice Thibodeau
GoDanRiver
Published: September 17, 2012 Updated: September 17, 2012 - 9:33 PM


CHATHAM --

During a series of public meetings and workshops last month, the Virginia Department of Health collected concerns and questions from residents of Chatham, Warrenton and Virginia Beach about a proposal to lift the uranium mining ban in Virginia.

A summary of what they learned was released Monday at Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex.

Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to have a ban lifted so it can mine and mill uranium at Coles Hill, near Chatham. Gov. Bob McDonnell formed the Uranium Work Group, which includes members of the VDH, to determine if the moratorium should be lifted and, if so, what would be the best way to do it.

The group also wants to find out what concerns residents have about such a mine and if they can be resolved — and to pass the information on to the General Assembly if a formal resolution to lift the ban makes it onto its agenda.

Maureen Dempsey, chief deputy commissioner of the VDH, said although the meetings were meant to focus on questions people might have about a uranium mining and milling site’s potential effect on water supplies, including personal water wells and recreational water sites, “very well informed” attendees raised issues that ranged from farming to health to potential for catastrophic events.

Dempsey said answers have not been found to all questions, but they are being researched. Those questions include:

» What will be the impact, real or perceived, on organic farmers?

» What will be the impact, real or perceived, on the “Virginia Grown” brand?

» If there is contamination of the surface water at the mine, which water supplies in Virginia and North Carolina would be affected — and what would be done to see people have safe water for people and farm stock?

» Who would be accountable for any contamination cleanup, now and after the site is decommissioned?

» Do Virginia agencies have the expertise (about uranium mining and milling) to protect the environment and public health?

» What other toxic elements could be released in the mining and milling process?

» What are the potential health hazards for mine workers as well as for the general public?

» Will the revenues from the site be enough to take care of the waste site?

Dempsey said the UWG will look for answers to the questions, using studies from the past and present, work being done by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the state Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and other agencies.

The complete summary of the public meetings will be posted at www.uwg.vi.virginia.gov (when, UWG has not updated comments since 9/7).

Attendees also heard a brief report from Richard Weeks, chief deputy of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, about water issues related to uranium mining and milling.

The DEQ also does permitting for industrial use of water and enforces standards there as well, which would include any use of water to process uranium, he said.

Weeks said many studies have been done, but answers are not all there as yet as to what standards would be if the moratorium were lifted.

“Our job is to make sure all potential risks are identified and develop a program to mitigate the risks to the extent its practical,” Weeks said. “The General Assembly will decide if that risk mitigation is adequate.”

During a question and answer session, attendees asked if the UWG is looking at regulations in existence in other states; whether the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy can shut a mining operation down; if the state would consider putting in more stringent regulations than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission might have; whether a citizen advisory board would be appointed to oversee uranium regulations; and a host of other questions.

Dempsey said all questions will go to the UWG and various agencies for research.

The next meeting being led by the VDH will be Oct. 17 at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex at 6 p.m. The focus of this meeting will be to gather health-related questions and concerns.

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/sep/17/uranium-and-water-supply-list-concerns-released-ar-2213018/