By: | GoDanRiver
Published: October 16, 2012
CHATHAM -- Three Pittsylvania County supervisors have adopted their own resolutions to be sent to the governor and state representatives, requesting that Virginia's moratorium on uranium mining and milling remain in place.
During a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in front of the Pittsylvania County Courthouse, Staunton River Supervisor Marshall Ecker, Banister Supervisor Jessie Barksdale and Callands-Gretna Supervisor Jerry Hagerman announced their intentions.
Except for minor changes, each of the three resolutions is the same as the one that the Board of Supervisors failed to pass at their meeting on Oct. 1. The resolutions were adopted on behalf of their respective magisterial districts.
Ecker has already sent his resolution to every state senator, state delegate and to Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The Virginia General Assembly is expected to decide in 2013 whether to lift the state's moratorium on uranium mining and milling.
Virginia Uranium Inc. in Chatham hopes to mine and mill uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham.
"I now believe that we are on the final countdown and I need to do what our leadership is unwilling to do to protect our citizens from uranium mining and milling from ever happening in Pittsylvania County and the state of Virginia," Ecker said during the press conference, where he was flanked by Hagerman and Barksdale.
About 30-40 citizens -- many of them uranium mining opponents -- attended the press conference.
Hagerman, in his statement, said, "I have been unable to find any group, person or organization which can absolutely assure me or our citizens that a radioactive spill or harmful waste spill will not ever happen in our beautiful state and I, as one of your supervisors, will not take a chance on our property, health or lives."
Barksdale said it is "imperative" that board members take a stand on uranium mining.
"If the board does nothing, we will have failed our citizens by not acting on this issue before the Uranium Working Group finishes its report," Barksdale said. "In my opinion, it would be perceived as a blatant disregard for the expressed concerns of the citizens of Pittsylvania County, and a dereliction to the oath that each board member made to protect the health, welfare and safety of those who elected us to office."
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/oct/16/three-pittsylvania-supervisors-make-their-own-anti-ar-2287912/
During a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in front of the Pittsylvania County Courthouse, Staunton River Supervisor Marshall Ecker, Banister Supervisor Jessie Barksdale and Callands-Gretna Supervisor Jerry Hagerman announced their intentions.
Except for minor changes, each of the three resolutions is the same as the one that the Board of Supervisors failed to pass at their meeting on Oct. 1. The resolutions were adopted on behalf of their respective magisterial districts.
Ecker has already sent his resolution to every state senator, state delegate and to Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The Virginia General Assembly is expected to decide in 2013 whether to lift the state's moratorium on uranium mining and milling.
Virginia Uranium Inc. in Chatham hopes to mine and mill uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham.
"I now believe that we are on the final countdown and I need to do what our leadership is unwilling to do to protect our citizens from uranium mining and milling from ever happening in Pittsylvania County and the state of Virginia," Ecker said during the press conference, where he was flanked by Hagerman and Barksdale.
About 30-40 citizens -- many of them uranium mining opponents -- attended the press conference.
Hagerman, in his statement, said, "I have been unable to find any group, person or organization which can absolutely assure me or our citizens that a radioactive spill or harmful waste spill will not ever happen in our beautiful state and I, as one of your supervisors, will not take a chance on our property, health or lives."
Barksdale said it is "imperative" that board members take a stand on uranium mining.
"If the board does nothing, we will have failed our citizens by not acting on this issue before the Uranium Working Group finishes its report," Barksdale said. "In my opinion, it would be perceived as a blatant disregard for the expressed concerns of the citizens of Pittsylvania County, and a dereliction to the oath that each board member made to protect the health, welfare and safety of those who elected us to office."
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/oct/16/three-pittsylvania-supervisors-make-their-own-anti-ar-2287912/
