Talvivaara has leaked heavy metals into the surrounding nature
Updated: Monday, 12 Nov 2012, 6:38 PM EST
Published : Monday, 12 Nov 2012, 5:25 PM EST
David Culver
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Underneath the earth in Pittsylvania County, Va. sits uranium.
However, there’s one problem. It boils down to the water Hampton Roads residents drink.
If mining in Pittsylvania County takes place, some worry a radioactive by-product could flow downstream and into local homes.
In the next few months, Virginia’s General Assembly could overturn a 30-year ban on uranium mining. The move could bring a huge boom to the Commonwealth’s economy.
On his Twitter account, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms posted a simple: “No to uranium mining” on Oct. 15. He cited to 10 On Your Side a frightening “what-if” scenario.
“This is radioactivity in your water,” Sessoms said. “And I don't think we want our citizens drinking water that has radioactivity in it."
For Sessoms, it’s all about the water that flows into Lake Gaston and in turn is pumped about 85 miles into hundreds thousands of homes.
"This is the water supply for Virginia Beach and a large part of Hampton Roads,” Sessoms said. ”I would suggest we never, and I repeat never, want to jeopardize our water supply."
The Mayor’s worried about the by-product of uranium mining, called tailings. They’re the sand-like substance left over after the uranium is milled. They’re also radioactive.
If stored improperly an act of nature, like a storm or earthquake, could potentially send them back into the environment.
"If these tailings got into our water, it could be a devastating event for our region,” Sessoms said.
Driving west along Route 58 from Hampton Roads, billboards are posted sharing the Mayor’s sentiment to keep Virginia's ban on uranium mining. The many signs target Walter Coles’ land in Pittsylvania County.
In the nearby town of Chatham, where not everyone is so comfortable with the thought of mining for uranium.
"It's scary, it is a scary thought not knowing what it could do to you," Chatham resident Patricia McClintock said.
Cynthia Brandt is from nearby Danville.
“I know the people that live in the county are really worried, concerned, about their health," Brandt said. "But they're also concerned about property value. I mean, who wants to live next to a uranium mine?"
Sessoms said there’s no legislation guaranteeing the tailings must be buried, and even if there was, he worries it wouldn’t be enforced.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/va_beach/wavy-the-impact-of-uranium-mining-on-your-water
More info on Problems in Modern Mining in Finland:
More heavy metals found in waters around Talvivaara
http://yle.fi/uutiset/more_heavy_metals_found_in_waters_around_talvivaara/6375294
However, there’s one problem. It boils down to the water Hampton Roads residents drink.
If mining in Pittsylvania County takes place, some worry a radioactive by-product could flow downstream and into local homes.
In the next few months, Virginia’s General Assembly could overturn a 30-year ban on uranium mining. The move could bring a huge boom to the Commonwealth’s economy.
On his Twitter account, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms posted a simple: “No to uranium mining” on Oct. 15. He cited to 10 On Your Side a frightening “what-if” scenario.
“This is radioactivity in your water,” Sessoms said. “And I don't think we want our citizens drinking water that has radioactivity in it."
For Sessoms, it’s all about the water that flows into Lake Gaston and in turn is pumped about 85 miles into hundreds thousands of homes.
"This is the water supply for Virginia Beach and a large part of Hampton Roads,” Sessoms said. ”I would suggest we never, and I repeat never, want to jeopardize our water supply."
The Mayor’s worried about the by-product of uranium mining, called tailings. They’re the sand-like substance left over after the uranium is milled. They’re also radioactive.
If stored improperly an act of nature, like a storm or earthquake, could potentially send them back into the environment.
"If these tailings got into our water, it could be a devastating event for our region,” Sessoms said.
Driving west along Route 58 from Hampton Roads, billboards are posted sharing the Mayor’s sentiment to keep Virginia's ban on uranium mining. The many signs target Walter Coles’ land in Pittsylvania County.
In the nearby town of Chatham, where not everyone is so comfortable with the thought of mining for uranium.
"It's scary, it is a scary thought not knowing what it could do to you," Chatham resident Patricia McClintock said.
Cynthia Brandt is from nearby Danville.
“I know the people that live in the county are really worried, concerned, about their health," Brandt said. "But they're also concerned about property value. I mean, who wants to live next to a uranium mine?"
Sessoms said there’s no legislation guaranteeing the tailings must be buried, and even if there was, he worries it wouldn’t be enforced.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/va_beach/wavy-the-impact-of-uranium-mining-on-your-water
More info on Problems in Modern Mining in Finland:
More heavy metals found in waters around Talvivaara
http://yle.fi/uutiset/more_heavy_metals_found_in_waters_around_talvivaara/6375294
