The Pittsylvania BOS legislative meeting at 4 PM today and the full BOS meeting at 7 p.m. Paul Robinson will present his report to the full Board at the 7 o'clock meeting, Info from Mr. Robinson, DMME
Comments from KM: Reminder:
Reminder: The Pittsylvania BOS legislative meeting at 4 PM today and the full BOS meeting at 7 p.m. Paul Robinson will present his report to the full Board at the 7 o'clock meeting.
The report, Review of Records of VA DMME U Exploration Permit to VUI is attached. It is important that you read this report.
Then, thank God that the moratorium has been maintained. Things could be much worse if mining was occurring. This information should further every one's resolve to make sure the ban is not only maintained, but that it is permanent.
Mr. Robinson's newly released report, Review of Records of DMME uranium exploration permit 90484EX issued to VUI) graphically illistruate to disappointing performance of DMME and their acceptance of VUI's non-compliance...at Pittsylvania County's expense.
Mr. Robinson's report raised the question of the disposal of pit water after drilling. In reviewing FOIA requests I found this request and response from 2008.
Think of the time and resources spent McDonnell's UWG group (and his fleecing of taxpayers (http://www.washingtonian.com/
He should have instead demanded that DMME get its act together.
Report recommends to expand the current uranium mining moratorium to include uranium exploration
Chatham, VA - Today, the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA) released a report by Paul Robinson, Research Director of the Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, NM, that examined the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) records pertaining to uranium exploration conducted by Virginia Uranium Inc. (VUI) in 2007-2008. The report finds that the company and the industry regulator, DMME, failed to follow best practices for uranium exploration and regulatory oversight, and recommends to expand the current uranium mining moratorium to include uranium exploration.
"For the past few months some folks have insisted that the uranium mining industry is a conscientious steward of our resources and that Virginia governmental agencies can write and enforce uranium regulations which will protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. Roanoke River Basin Association decided to look at an example of both the industry and the regulators in regards to recent exploratory drilling at Coles Hill. We brought in an international expert, Paul Robinson, to look at the facts, and the analysis indicates that both the mining industry and the state regulators fail miserably," said Andrew Lester, the association’s executive director.
Based on DMME records, the report finds that, following exploratory drilling conducted by VUI, uranium and radium concentrations in groundwater from the Coles Hill uranium sites rose to the levels exceeding maximum concentration limits listed in the DMME-issued permit. In the only groundwater monitoring well drilled by VUI since exploratory work began in 2007, the registered uranium concentrations were more than 50 times the maximum concentration level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and radium 226 concentrations were more than 28 times the EPA’s maximum concentration level.
The report also describes a range of requirements in the DDME permit that the company failed to comply with and the agency failed to enforce, including reporting daily water use from the area’s streams during exploration, depth to water for monitoring wells, and completion reports for exploratory wells drilled under the permit.
The report concludes that despite the mandate from the General Assembly to promulgate uranium exploration regulations, DMME failed to do so before issuing the permit to VUI. Thereafter, DMME has renewed the permit every year since, including a renewal effective October 31, 2012 that extends the permit through the same date in 2013. No public notice was provided before issuing the permit or before the renewal. DMME failed to make public the records and documents pertaining to the issuance of the permit and follow-up inspections of the exploratory drilling sites, and keeps inspection logs and some water quality data confidential without providing the required reasoning.
“Virginia is currently vulnerable to impacts of poorly regulated uranium exploration. The Uranium Working Group report submitted to Virginia’s governor in November 2012 recognized that the state’s uranium exploration program is out of date and identified the need to extend the existing uranium mining moratorium to include uranium exploration. This report also recommends a moratorium on uranium exploration until the General Assembly adopts a strong and protective statute and the regulating agencies establish a comprehensive program under that statute, to ensure that uranium exploration is done in the most transparent manner in accordance with internationally recognized best practices,” said Paul Robinson.
Chatham, VA - Today, the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA) released a report by Paul Robinson, Research Director of the Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, NM, that examined the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) records pertaining to uranium exploration conducted by Virginia Uranium Inc. (VUI) in 2007-2008. The report finds that the company and the industry regulator, DMME, failed to follow best practices for uranium exploration and regulatory oversight, and recommends to expand the current uranium mining moratorium to include uranium exploration.
"For the past few months some folks have insisted that the uranium mining industry is a conscientious steward of our resources and that Virginia governmental agencies can write and enforce uranium regulations which will protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. Roanoke River Basin Association decided to look at an example of both the industry and the regulators in regards to recent exploratory drilling at Coles Hill. We brought in an international expert, Paul Robinson, to look at the facts, and the analysis indicates that both the mining industry and the state regulators fail miserably," said Andrew Lester, the association’s executive director.
Based on DMME records, the report finds that, following exploratory drilling conducted by VUI, uranium and radium concentrations in groundwater from the Coles Hill uranium sites rose to the levels exceeding maximum concentration limits listed in the DMME-issued permit. In the only groundwater monitoring well drilled by VUI since exploratory work began in 2007, the registered uranium concentrations were more than 50 times the maximum concentration level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and radium 226 concentrations were more than 28 times the EPA’s maximum concentration level.
The report also describes a range of requirements in the DDME permit that the company failed to comply with and the agency failed to enforce, including reporting daily water use from the area’s streams during exploration, depth to water for monitoring wells, and completion reports for exploratory wells drilled under the permit.
The report concludes that despite the mandate from the General Assembly to promulgate uranium exploration regulations, DMME failed to do so before issuing the permit to VUI. Thereafter, DMME has renewed the permit every year since, including a renewal effective October 31, 2012 that extends the permit through the same date in 2013. No public notice was provided before issuing the permit or before the renewal. DMME failed to make public the records and documents pertaining to the issuance of the permit and follow-up inspections of the exploratory drilling sites, and keeps inspection logs and some water quality data confidential without providing the required reasoning.
“Virginia is currently vulnerable to impacts of poorly regulated uranium exploration. The Uranium Working Group report submitted to Virginia’s governor in November 2012 recognized that the state’s uranium exploration program is out of date and identified the need to extend the existing uranium mining moratorium to include uranium exploration. This report also recommends a moratorium on uranium exploration until the General Assembly adopts a strong and protective statute and the regulating agencies establish a comprehensive program under that statute, to ensure that uranium exploration is done in the most transparent manner in accordance with internationally recognized best practices,” said Paul Robinson.
Comments:
The story below further illustrates how DMME
issues permits prior to submission of appropriate
documents. This permit was ultimately denied. VUI's permit shoud be revoked by DMME due to their own negligence and VUI's non-compliance
Posted: Monday, June 17, 2013 9:20 pm | Updated: 9:25 pm, Mon Jun 17, 2013.
Va. Department of Mines upholds decision to deny surface mining permit on Ison Rock RidgeBY ALLIE ROBINSON | BRISTOL HERALD COURIERTriCities.com
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy has upheld its decision to administratively deny a surface mining permit on Ison Rock Ridge.
The proposed mine, on more than 1,200 acres near Appalachia in Wise County, has been controversial since the company first filed a permit to mine there six years ago.
The permit, filed in March 2007 by A&G Coal Corp., was technically approved by the state department in May 2010, under the stipulation that certain documents must be submitted prior to final approval.
The permit was then administratively denied in February on the grounds that the company failed to fix certain violations needed to be resolved and bonds and fees were due to the Division of Mined Land Reclamation by November 2012.
In early May, an informal hearing was held on the subject, and the company submitted an appeal.
Last week, the DMME sent a letter to James C. Justice II, owner of A&G Coal and its parent company, Southern Coal Corp., telling him the decision to deny the application was upheld.
"I am affirming the decision to administratively disapprove [the application] for A&G Coal Corporation's failure to submit the required fees, performance bond and affidavits required," wrote Randy Casey, the state agency's director of the division of mined land reclamation.
The decision does not prevent A&G Coal from submitting another application for the proposed mine, Casey wrote.
The next step A&G could take is to request a formal public hearing to review the decision. The company has 30 days to submit that request.
Calls to Southern Coal officials were not returned Monday.
Local environmentalists approved of the decision, saying that a surface mine on Ison Rock Ridge could hurt the health of those who live in Appalachia.
"I am so pleased to finally see the DMME stand up for the people they are supposed to represent," said Sam Broach, president of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and a third-generation miner.
"The people living in the areas affected by surface mining can sleep well tonight knowing that the mountains above them won't be blown up and the air they breathe will be a little bit cleaner."
http://blog.rrba.org/?cat=3
The proposed mine, on more than 1,200 acres near Appalachia in Wise County, has been controversial since the company first filed a permit to mine there six years ago.
The permit, filed in March 2007 by A&G Coal Corp., was technically approved by the state department in May 2010, under the stipulation that certain documents must be submitted prior to final approval.
The permit was then administratively denied in February on the grounds that the company failed to fix certain violations needed to be resolved and bonds and fees were due to the Division of Mined Land Reclamation by November 2012.
In early May, an informal hearing was held on the subject, and the company submitted an appeal.
Last week, the DMME sent a letter to James C. Justice II, owner of A&G Coal and its parent company, Southern Coal Corp., telling him the decision to deny the application was upheld.
"I am affirming the decision to administratively disapprove [the application] for A&G Coal Corporation's failure to submit the required fees, performance bond and affidavits required," wrote Randy Casey, the state agency's director of the division of mined land reclamation.
The decision does not prevent A&G Coal from submitting another application for the proposed mine, Casey wrote.
The next step A&G could take is to request a formal public hearing to review the decision. The company has 30 days to submit that request.
Calls to Southern Coal officials were not returned Monday.
Local environmentalists approved of the decision, saying that a surface mine on Ison Rock Ridge could hurt the health of those who live in Appalachia.
"I am so pleased to finally see the DMME stand up for the people they are supposed to represent," said Sam Broach, president of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and a third-generation miner.
"The people living in the areas affected by surface mining can sleep well tonight knowing that the mountains above them won't be blown up and the air they breathe will be a little bit cleaner."
http://blog.rrba.org/?cat=3
Va. Regulator Upholds Decision Nixing Mountain Mine Permit
TwitterFacebookLinkedIn By Sean McLernon 0 Comments
Law360, New York (June 17, 2013, 5:25 PM ET) -- The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy upheld its decision to block a mountaintop removal coal mining permit proposed by A&G Coal Corp. over the company's failure to pay outstanding fees, environmental groups challenging the permit said Monday.
The Sierra Club and Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards had spent more than three years fighting the 1,300-acre project, which they said would severely harm local waterways that have already been damaged by other mining projects. The DMME's decision closes the door on the permit application after the...
The Sierra Club and Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards had spent more than three years fighting the 1,300-acre project, which they said would severely harm local waterways that have already been damaged by other mining projects. The DMME's decision closes the door on the permit application after the...
