Uranium mining focus of panel discussion Thursday at
annual AP Day at the Capitol
RICHMOND, Va. — A forum on uranium mining offered a look at some of the issues the Virginia General Assembly will tackle in 2013.
Four panelists laid out some of the issues Thursday at AP Day at the Capitol in Richmond.
The panel included a representative from Virginia Uranium Inc., the chairman of National Academy of Sciences study on uranium mining, a state delegate from Pittsylvania County and an attorney from the Southern Environmental Law Center. They discussed regulations to oversee the mining and milling of the ore and environmental concerns raised by opponents.
Virginia Uranium wants to mine a 119-million-pound deposit of the radioactive metal. First, however, Virginia would have to end a 30-year ban on uranium mining
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/uranium-mining-focus-of-panel-discussion-thursday-at-annual-ap-day-at-the-capitol/2012/12/06/94904918-3fba-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html
Posted: Thursday, December 6, 2012 12:21 pm | Updated: 12:19 am, Fri Dec 7, 2012.
RICHMOND, Va. — A forum on uranium mining offered a look at some of the issues the Virginia General Assembly will tackle in 2013.
Four panelists laid out some of the issues Thursday at AP Day at the Capitol in Richmond.
The panel included a representative from Virginia Uranium Inc., the chairman of National Academy of Sciences study on uranium mining, a state delegate from Pittsylvania County and an attorney from the Southern Environmental Law Center. They discussed regulations to oversee the mining and milling of the ore and environmental concerns raised by opponents.
Virginia Uranium wants to mine a 119-million-pound deposit of the radioactive metal. First, however, Virginia would have to end a 30-year ban on uranium mining
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/uranium-mining-focus-of-panel-discussion-thursday-at-annual-ap-day-at-the-capitol/2012/12/06/94904918-3fba-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html
Uranium mining focus of AP Capitol forum
Comments: The next statement is a liar, Wales and Coles live in the City of Danville, very fancy area: "We drink the water. Our children play in these fields," Wales said. "We have the highest stakes as well ensuring that this is done in an environmentally friendly way." Cows drink the water and play in the fields, not children!
By STEVE SZKOTAK, Associated Press Updated 12:30 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A forum on uranium mining Thursday addressed the thicket of regulatory, environmental and economic issues Virginia will need to address in 2013 and beyond if it ends a 30-year ban on the practice.
Four panelists who are among the leading voices on uranium mining participated in the discussion at AP Day at the Capitol, an annual program that examines key legislation and policy to be taken up by the General Assembly and political leaders in the year ahead.
The panel included Cale Jaffe of the Southern Environmental Law Center; Paul Locke, who led a National Academy of Sciences study of uranium mining; Delegate Donald Merricks, a Republican whose Southside Virginia district includes one of the largest known uranium deposits in the world; and Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium Inc., the company that wants to end the 1982 moratorium and mine the 119-million-pound deposit in Pittsylvania County.
Wales made it clear the company is committed to mining the radioactive ore, even if it suffers a setback in 2013 in Richmond. Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, announced this week he would have legislation drafted to end the ban and establish regulatory controls for the industry. Its prospects in the legislature are not known.
"We've got a $7 billion project," Wales told the gathering of journalists at the Statehouse. "We've got one of the best projects in the world, and do you really think we're going to give up and walk away? This issue is not going away."
Jaffe, a senior staff attorney at the SELC, and Merricks said they aren't convinced uranium can be mined and milled safely. They and other opponents fear radioactive waste might be scattered in a devastating storm or a torrential rain, fouling public drinking supplies and farm fields.
"We see the risks as significantly outweighing the potential benefits," Jaffe said. "We're looking at an extraordinarily high-stakes gamble, and it's not a gamble the state of Virginia should take."
Merricks said a report issued last week by the state's Uranium Working Group provided the framework for regulations that would need to be in place for the mining to occur, but he said it didn't address all his concerns.
"I'm convinced in my mind that even if you had the best management practices, it doesn't eliminate the risks involved with the mining and the milling," Merricks said.
Milling involves the separation of rock and uranium. Waste rock laced with uranium, called tailings, ultimately must be stored for generations.
Locke,He agreed that even the most robust regulatory oversight does not ensure that uranium mining would be risk-free.
"It's a very, very, very formidable task," Locke said. "It will require a lot of analysis. We can't give anybody a bullet-proof guarantee."
Locke also said establishing the appropriate controls for mining would require a high level of expertise and resources.
Full-scale uranium mining has never occurred east of the Mississippi River.
"We drink the water. Our children play in these fields," Wales said. "We have the highest stakes as well ensuring that this is done in an environmentally friendly way."
Posted: Thursday, December 6, 2012 12:21 pm | Updated: 12:19 am, Fri Dec 7, 2012.
People involved in Virginia's uranium debate differed today on the safety of
mining the radioactive metal.
A report issued Friday by a state study group laid out potential regulations that would make mining safe, said Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium, which wants to mine and mill the radioactive metal in Pittsylvania County.
But Cale Jaffe, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, a conservation group, said Virginia would be taking a “high-risk gamble” if it allowed mining and milling.
“Right now it's not a gamble Virginia should take,” Jaffe said.
They were among the panelists who discussed the issue during AP Day at the Capitol, an annual event that focuses on Virginia issues.
The 2013 General Assembly is expected to consider lifting Virginia's 30-year ban on uranium mining.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news/uranium-mining-advocates-opponents-clash-over-safety-issues/article_5436d918-3fc9-11e2-8a55-001a4bcf6878.html
A report issued Friday by a state study group laid out potential regulations that would make mining safe, said Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium, which wants to mine and mill the radioactive metal in Pittsylvania County.
But Cale Jaffe, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, a conservation group, said Virginia would be taking a “high-risk gamble” if it allowed mining and milling.
“Right now it's not a gamble Virginia should take,” Jaffe said.
They were among the panelists who discussed the issue during AP Day at the Capitol, an annual event that focuses on Virginia issues.
The 2013 General Assembly is expected to consider lifting Virginia's 30-year ban on uranium mining.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news/uranium-mining-advocates-opponents-clash-over-safety-issues/article_5436d918-3fc9-11e2-8a55-001a4bcf6878.html
Environment, economy, energy factors in debate over uranium mining in Virginia
The question of whether to allow uranium mining in Virginia could come down
to a debate over the environment, energy and the economy.
“You’re looking at an extraordinarily high-stakes gamble,” said Cale Jaffe,
senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Right now, it’s not a
gamble Virginia should take.”
The commonwealth has been under a 30-year moratorium on issuing uranium-mining permits until regulations are established for safely mining the mineral. Lifting the ban could be the first step in clearing the way to mine a 119-million-pound uranium lode in south central Virginia.
“This decision is the go (or) no-go point,” Jaffe said. “If you lift the ban, you’ve started down the process. You don’t buy the ticket and get on the train if you don’t plan on going to the big city. This is that moment for Virginia right now.”
“It would be very easy to make a decision because we need the money,”
Merricks said. “There’s a lot of ifs. It’s a lot of things that have to be
looked at. We can’t get this wrong.”
The uranium site, considered the largest in the nation
And investors with Virginia Uranium, the company seeking to mine the Coles Hill site, have put $7 billion into the project.
“Do you really think we’re just going to give up and walk away?” said spokesman Patrick Wales. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Merricks said he worries a uranium mine could create a stigma that would turn off potential new residents and businesses.
“We’ll be known as the uranium mill,” Merricks said, comparing the perception to that of the southwest region of the state, which is synonymous with the coal industry. “That could be hard to overcome in trying to attract other industries.
“There’s only one factor that matters to me: Can we create a high degree of
certainty that regulations that might be put in place? . . . Can
provide for a high degree of public safety, including health, water, air and the
rest?” McDonnell told reporters. “I’m not going to base this on political or
financial issues.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/environment-economy-energy-factors-part-of-debate-over-uranium-mining-in-virginia/2012/12/06/c7ccc802-3fd7-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_blog.html
A panel convened to discuss the
issue on Wednesday at the annual AP Day at the Capitol in Richmond largely
agreed that proposed guidelines outlined in a recently published state-ordered report
won’t completely eliminate the potential risks associated with uranium mining.
There was less consensus about whether those risks outweighed the possible
benefits.
The commonwealth has been under a 30-year moratorium on issuing uranium-mining permits until regulations are established for safely mining the mineral. Lifting the ban could be the first step in clearing the way to mine a 119-million-pound uranium lode in south central Virginia.
“This decision is the go (or) no-go point,” Jaffe said. “If you lift the ban, you’ve started down the process. You don’t buy the ticket and get on the train if you don’t plan on going to the big city. This is that moment for Virginia right now.”
The General Assembly is likely to
take up the issue during its upcoming session, and a proposed bill is in the works. Del. Donald W. Merricks,
(R-Pittsylvania), whose district includes the uranium site, said the issue has
weighed heavily on him as a legislator.
The uranium site, considered the largest in the nation
And investors with Virginia Uranium, the company seeking to mine the Coles Hill site, have put $7 billion into the project.
“Do you really think we’re just going to give up and walk away?” said spokesman Patrick Wales. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Merricks said he worries a uranium mine could create a stigma that would turn off potential new residents and businesses.
“We’ll be known as the uranium mill,” Merricks said, comparing the perception to that of the southwest region of the state, which is synonymous with the coal industry. “That could be hard to overcome in trying to attract other industries.
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) also
addressed the issue later Thursday. He said he has not yet read the Uranium Working Group’s report, but plans to
meet with stakeholders, lawmakers and the report’s authors in coming days.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/environment-economy-energy-factors-part-of-debate-over-uranium-mining-in-virginia/2012/12/06/c7ccc802-3fd7-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_blog.html
