Talvivaara waste water
Comments: I will email Robert J. Bodnar (rjb@vt.edu), with his statement: "hurricane could flush radioactive waste into streams: said the chance of that was about 1 in 10 million", happening right now a mine water breach from rain has happen in Finland: "Mine leak environmental impact worsens, Police estimated that about 1,000 people took part in a "Stop Talvivaara" demonstration in Helsinki on Wednesday afternoon. " So Mr. Bodnar, did a chance in 1-10 million happen in Finland? I may not be a " geochemistry professor" but according to the people in Finland, the "1-10 Million" is happening now with the Talvivaara Mine in Finland. What the odds? Keep the uranium mining ban in VA! Please everyone email Sen. John Watkins too: jnwatkins@johnwatkins.org since he loves mining too!
Is uranium mining worth the risk?
BY REX SPRINGSTON Richmond Times-Dispatch | Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 12:00 am
The chance of a catastrophic pollution spill at a proposed uranium mine in Pittsylvania County might be small, but it is not zero.
Questions of whether the benefits of a proposed mine would outweigh the risk of a catastrophe permeated debate during a downtown forum Tuesday.
“What really matters in people’s minds is the likelihood of that large loss,” said Daniel L. Meges, lead author of a 2011 Chmura Economics & Analytics study of uranium mining in Virginia.
Mine opponents fear, among other things, that a hurricane could flush radioactive waste into streams, contaminating drinking water as far away as South Hampton Roads.
But Robert J. Bodnar, a Virginia Tech geochemistry professor, said the chance of that was about 1 in 10 million — “about the same probability as one of us today being hit on the head by a meteorite and dying.”
In an interview, Bodnar said he didn’t know the probability of being hit by a meteorite but was using that to illustrate “a very rare” event.
Robert Burnley, a former Virginia environmental director now working as a consultant for mining opponents, said tough regulations don’t stop things like water pollution and landfill leaks and couldn’t guarantee a safe mine.
Noting that he has been involved in environmental issues for more than 40 years, Burnley said, “I’ve never been more concerned about the threat to human health and the environment as I am from this proposal.”
Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine and mill the radioactive metal
Before it can get to work, the company needs the General Assembly to lift the state’s 30-year ban on uranium mining.
Patrick Wales, Virginia Uranium’s project manager, said the company isn’t asking the state to endorse mining but to “write the rules of the game” through regulations.
State Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, indicated clear support for mining, if it can be done safely.
“To categorically deny anyone the ability to mine minerals off of their property gives me a lot of problems,” Watkins said.
The forum ended on a fiery note when Wales said environmentalists aren’t working to find a solution because “these guys can make too much money raising funds fighting projects like ours.”
Cale Jaffe, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, shot back: “Patrick fundamentally, frankly, has no clue how environmental organizations, nonprofits, work. ... From a donor perspective, this is a massive net loser for us. This is not where our money is coming from.”
The forum was sponsored by the Richmond Association for Business Economics, a nonpartisan group, and held at the Hunton & Williams office in Riverfront Plaza.
rspringston@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6453
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/is-uranium-mining-worth-the-risk/article_3615b1b9-b251-52de-af3b-324043b3d5a2.html
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Mine leak environmental impact worsens
New measurements show that the environmental load of heavy metals has risen over the past week in areas both north and south of the Talvivaara mine in Kainuu. However, as of Monday, no dangerous levels of radioactivity had been detected outside the mine area. The uranium released will, however, pose a potential health problem if it makes its way into drinking
"Stop Talvivaara"Police estimated that about 1,000 people took part in a "Stop Talvivaara" demonstration in Helsinki on Wednesday afternoon.
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Safety authority launches Talvivaara investigation
Finland’s Safety Investigation Authority has launched a preliminary investigation into the environmental disaster at the Talvivaara nickel mine. The team of investigators is to be announced in coming days.
Talvivaara: Leak has stoppedEnvironment Committee Chair calls for halt to Talvivaara operations
More heavy metals found in waters around Talvivaara
http://yle.fi/uutiset/mine_leak_environmental_impact_worsens/6373577
