Friday, January 25, 2013

1/24 u-news: In clear voice, Pittsylvania supervisors say no to uranium /



 1/24 u-news
Comments from KM:  The "special meeting" of yesterday's meeting was truly "special"! Mr. Ecker conducts BOS meetings in a manner that is calm, respectful and citizen friendly. Mr. Snead and Mr. Barber crafted a well written resolution. Mr. Barksdale was eloquent and unambiguous in his desire to send the message that the county was not supportive in and way of legislation that could minutely resemble endorsement of uranium mining. Therefore, any mention of proposed legislation was gutted. Barber and Snead acquiesce to the amendments in order to pass the resolution. Mr. Hagerman expressed desire for legislators NOT to vote in favor of the bills regarding U mining. It was inspiring to witness these gentlemen work together for the protection of the Couny which we call home and for the States of both VA and NC. When push came to shove...they refused to let Pittsylvania become the posterchild for a "sacrifice zone".
 
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 3:31 pm | Updated: 7:51 pm, Wed Jan 23, 2013.
In clear voice, Pittsylvania supervisors say no to uranium

BY MARY BETH JACKSONmjackson@registerbee.com(434) 791-7981newsadvance.com
CHATHAM — Working past differences in how to word it, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has finally issued a clear resolution asking legislators to just say no to uranium mining and milling.In a 5-to-1 vote during a special called meeting Wednesday, members approved a new resolution supporting the 1982 moratorium on uranium mining and milling. The resolution was given to the supervisors 15 minutes before the meeting.“I’m hoping we are not too late,” said Chairman Marshall Ecker. “Decisions are being made now.”
The board showed more unity than in past meetings, keeping their eyes on the end message to legislators: Vote against the bills that would bring uranium mining and milling to Pittsylvania County.
“It’s almost a first,” said Jessie Barksdale. “I’m really pleased. This resolution, to me, should not be about the legislators. It has to be a resolution by this board, for this board, reflecting the fears of our citizens.”
The wording was construed by some to convey support for the proposed Coles Hill project. Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine a 119-million-pound uranium ore deposit six miles from Chatham. The company has been lobbying legislators to direct the state to write regulations for their industry, which would effectively lift the moratorium.
There was no confusion Wednesday, with supervisors being clear in their intentions.
Supervisors Tim Barber and James Snead crafted the resolution that ultimately passed, although with significant changes.
“In my heart, I need to know I did all I could to protect the health and property of all who call Pittsylvania County home,” Barber said.
Supervisors took issue with several components within the four bills now pending before the General Assembly, including the finance bills that would create a 3 percent severance tax on the sale of uranium ore and divide the revenues between the state and the county.
In Senate bill 919, Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, creates a subfund for the county’s share of the taxes. It directs the county money be spent on economic development and environmental cleanup and establishes a local board to oversee distribution of the money. Watkins did not consult with county officials in crafting the bill, and said he would be “amenable” to changing the direction of the funds if the county had other ideas.
 
Jackson reports for the Danville Register & Bee.
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/access/va-county-home-to-uranium-deposit-backs-ban/article_0aa97e00-661a-11e2-a782-0019bb2963f4.html
CHATHAM, Va. (AP) — The Board of Supervisors in Pittsylvania County is asking Virginia lawmakers to keep in place a moratorium on uranium mining.
The Danville Register & Bee (http://bit.ly/10StlzJl) says supervisors approved the resolution Wednesday.
The General Assembly is considering legislation in Richmond that would end the 1982 ban on uranium mining, which would clear the way for a mining company to tap a 119-million-pound deposit outside of Chatham.
The legislation proposed in the General Assembly would limit uranium mining to the Pittsylvania County deposit and the company proposing to mine it, Virginia Uranium Inc.
Many in the Roanoke Valley, including civic groups, chambers, local governments and elected leaders, have come out against lifting the mining ban.
Many cities that draw their water supplies from Lake Gaston fear the contamination of drinking water, adding Virginia would face formidable challenges to ensure the safe mining and milling of uranium, something that has never been done on the East Coast.
Locally, state Rep. Michael Wray, D-Gaston, has already spoken to the Virginia governor in person, saying Bob McDonnell received a letter from the N.C. General Assembly speaking in opposition to lifting the ban on uranium mining.
The Roanoke River Basin Association, a leading organization in the fight against lifting the ban on uranium mining in Virginia, is calling on Roanoke Valley residents to take a stand.
Concerned residents can visit www.commonhealthva.org for information on how to contact Virginia legislators.

WSET Video of BOS meeting 1/23/13
http://www.wset.com/story/20661702/pittsylvania-co-board-of-supervisors-vote-against-uranium-mining


http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news/va-county-home-to-uranium-deposit-backs-ban/article_f31686e8-65ab-11e2-9063-001a4bcf6878.html
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:26 pm
Va. county home to uranium deposit backs ban
CHATHAM, Va. (AP) — The Board of Supervisors in Pittsylvania County is asking Virginia lawmakers to keep in place a moratorium on uranium mining.The Danville Register & Bee (http://bit.ly/10StlzJl) says supervisors approved the resolution Wednesday.


Comments:  The editorial below was submitted to local newspapers on Tuesday but the author has given permission to distribute. Ms. Wages highlight's a number of issues that do not appear to have been considered in the uranium debate.
Letter to the Editor:
Who will speak for women and children in the uranium debate in Richmond? If the Virginia Energy and Coal Commission deliberations that I witnessed in Richmond two weeks ago are indicative of what will happen when the Senate and the House discuss the issue, then I see little hope that the concerns of women and children will be given serious consideration. The only woman who attempted to speak in favor of keeping the moratorium at the Commission's January 7 meeting was ordered by Chairman Kilgore to“sit down.” During the discussion by Commission members, no women's voices were heard and no men's voices mentioned concerns about the health or well-being of women or children. This seems like a shameful situation to me.
It is particularly troubling in light of the fact that women are at significantly greater risk than men of suffering and dying as a result of the ionizing radiation released into the environment during mining and milling of uranium. Yet this fact has been ignored and left out of the debate thus far.
According to a 2006 National Academy of Sciences report, women have a 50% greater risk of suffering and dying from radiation-induced cancer than men. The Nuclear Information and Resource Service reports, “the fact that this information has not been widely reported has deprived women of our right to know about this threat and protect ourselves from this harm. It is more often acknowledged that children are at higher risk of disease and death from radiation, but it is rarely pointed out that the regulation of radiation and nuclear activity (worldwide) ignores the disproportionately greater harm to bothwomen and children. Radiation harm includes not only cancer and leukemia, but reduced immunity and also reduced fertility, increases in other diseases including heart disease, birth defects including heart defects, other mutations (both heritable and not). When damage is catastrophic to a developing embryo spontaneous abortion or miscarriage of a pregnancy may result.” (www.nirs,org)
In other words, the increase in radiation in our environment that occurs when uranium is mined and milled is a clear threat to life: it is a threat to our children and grandchildren's future.
On Friday January 18, the first bill aimed at lifting the 30 year moratorium on uranium mining was filed in the House of Delegates (HB 2330). It directs the state to write regulations for uranium mining and milling. We cannot allow a few misguided people to steal our children's future. It is time now to get out on the streets of Richmond; this is where our voices can be heard, our hands can be joined and our unity can be seen. Remember, we need not apologize for our passion on this issue. As Martin Luther King Jr., said “our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter.” I am not ready to end my life, are you?

Joan Wages
Floyd, VA