Comments: This is still war on uranium mining! We need to continue the fight to keep the ban
but demand our VA leaders to protect us with a stronger uranium mining and exploratory
drilling ban. Look at this: ""We are in this for the long haul and
are committed to developing the Coles Hill project. We will continue evaluating
all options to move the project forward." They are stopping for now
because of the price of uranium is down, the only reason they are stopping.
KTB!
LOL!
Drive to mine uranium in Va. comes to quiet pause
By staff and wire reportsThe company behind the proposed Coles Hill uranium mine has suspended efforts to mine the site - a facility opposed by Hampton Roads leaders for fear it could contaminate drinking water - because Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe's opposition has damaged its chance for approval.
Virginia Uranium Inc. will not request uranium mining legislation in the 2014 session of the General Assembly, which would be a first step to tap a 119-million-pound deposit of uranium in Pittsylvania County.
"The company is currently evaluating all its options going forward, including a substantial reduction of expenses on the Coles Hill project for the interim period," VUI's parent company Virginia Energy Resources Inc. wrote in a financial statement.
"That's some of the best news I've heard in a long time," Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms said Saturday.
"This is good news for the city, this is good news for Hampton Roads, this is good news for the state of Virginia."
Although the proposed mining site is more than 200 miles away, Hampton Roads officials have voiced strong opposition. They worry radioactive waste from the mine could contaminate Lake Gaston, which is a major source of the region's drinking water, especially for Virginia Beach.
McAuliffe, a Democrat, said before and after the election that he would not support lifting the state's decades-long ban on uranium mining. In Norfolk last month, he said he would veto any legislation that would facilitate uranium mining in the state.
Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium, issued a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday: "We are in this for the long haul and are committed to developing the Coles Hill project. We will continue evaluating all options to move the project forward."
The company's low-key announcement to at least temporarily abandon its bid to end the moratorium comes after it has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions, lobbying and to fly delegations of Virginia lawmakers to France and Canada to tour uranium mining and processing facilities. But legislation in the 2013 General Assembly never got out of committee.
Until recently, the company had expected that legislation to allow the mining would be introduced again in 2014, said Sen. John Watkins, a suburban Richmond Republican who has been its primary advocate.
"Terry McAuliffe's public announcement that he intends to veto any pro-uranium legislation means that any such bill would fail to become law," Virginia Energy wrote in its financial filing.
Officials in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk have been united in their opposition to ending the moratorium on uranium mining. Last month, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce also said it supports the ban.
Norfolk and Virginia Beach have also have paid for studies to examine the potential effect mining could have on the water supply.
Full-scale uranium mining has never been conducted on the East Coast, and opponents said Virginia would be a poor place to start. The Coles Hill project, they said, would be a threat to public drinking supplies and farmland that encircles the uranium deposit less than 10 miles from Chatham.
The mining would include a milling operation to separate the radioactive ore from the rock.
Critics said that posed one of the biggest threats to the environment because of radioactive waste that would have to be stored for generations.
Pilot writer Margaret Matray contributed to this story.
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/12/drive-mine-uranium-va-comes-quiet-pause
Virginia Uranium puts mining campaign on hold
- Last Updated on 12:24 PM 12/15/13
- BY The Gazette-Virginian
Opponents of uranium mining received an early Christmas present Saturday when Virginia Uranium Inc. announced it will temporarily abandon its efforts to end the moratorium on uranium mining and will not back legislation to that end in the upcoming legislative session of the General Assembly.
The company cited Gov.-Elect Terry McAuliffe’s expressed opposition to uranium mining as the reason for suspending its campaign.
The Chatham-based uranium company has been lobbying to mine a 119-million pound deposit of uranium ore at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County since 2007 when mining plans were resurrected.
A moratorium on uranium mining has been in place since 1982.
In a low-key statement issued to the Associated Press Saturday, Virginia Uranium Project Manager Patrick Wales said, “We are committed to developing the Coles Hill project. We will continue evaluating all options to move the project forward.”
The change of heart follows on the heels of McAuliffe’s position that he will not support lifting the state’s three-decade long ban on uranium mining.
McAuliffe said after his election in November he intends to veto any pro-uranium legislation in the upcoming 2014 General Assembly session.
Upon hearing Virginia Uranium’s announcement Saturday, We The People of Virginia Inc. Chairman Jack Dunavant said he is “a happy man.”
“It’s long overdue. Now we’ve just got to keep the pressure on and after the next four years elect someone equally as good to replace McAuliffe,” he added.
Dunavant admitted he was somewhat surprised by Virginia Uranium’s announcement Saturday.
Virginia Uranium has made political contributions totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbying efforts since the company revived plans to mine the ore at Coles Hill.
“I think this thing is going to fall apart at the seams now,” Dunavant said.
John Cannon, who previously served as chairman of The Virginia Coalition, warned anti-uranium supporters not to let their guard down now.
“In 1982 we went through this, and we beat them. But they took years to come back, and they are still going to continue to fight for this because it is a valuable resource for them.
“We have got to continue to keep our guard up and to keep our efforts in Richmond alive and on the scene making sure it doesn’t raise its ugly head again.”
Cannon expressed appreciation to governing bodies and local businesses for their support in the fight to keep the ban on uranium mining, but he added, “This is not over. We have just gotten a brief sabbatical.”
For the past six years, uranium mining opponents across the state have argued Virginia’s climate and oftentimes harsh weather would make the mining at the Pittsylvania County site an environmental nightmare - threatening contamination of groundwater supplies and neighboring farmland.
Proponents of uranium mining on the other hand have spent the past six years working to gain the confidence of the local community declaring mining can be conducted safely to protect human health and the environment.
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| Sunday, December 15, 2013
By BULLETIN AND AP REPORTS -
The company wants to mine a 119-million-pound deposit — thought to be one of the world’s largest uranium deposits — at Coles Hill, near Chatham in Pittsylvania County. Virginia Uranium said it will not support the introduction of uranium mining legislation in the 2014 session of the General Assembly, which starts Jan. 8. That would be the first step toward getting the ban repealed. McAuliffe, a Democrat, said before he was elected on Nov. 5, and has since confirmed, that he does not favor lifting the ban. Del. Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, did not seek re-election so he will not be in the General Assembly when it reconvenes. However, Merricks said Saturday, “it’s definitely going to be a better session (for the lawmakers) without having to deal with uranium” because it has become a controversial issue. Supporters of lifting the ban say mining uranium at Coles Hill could lead to an economic boon in Southside. Opponents say mining would be too risky from a health and safety perspective. According to Merricks, McAuliffe has said he would veto any legislation calling for lifting the ban. So pursuing lifting the ban would be “a useless thing (for Virginia Uranium) to do if you know your bill is going to be vetoed,” the delegate said. The 2013 effort to lift the ban never made it out of a General Assembly committee, according to reports. Merricks said that prices for uranium have dropped, and he speculated that also may have had something to do with Virginia Uranium’s decision. Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, has opposed lifting the ban. He could not be reached for comment Saturday night. Chatham lawyer Les Adams, also is a Republican, was elected to succeed Merricks. Adams also has said he opposes lifting the ban. |
Virginia Uranium Inc. Suspends Pittsylvania Co. Mining Campaign
Posted: Dec 14, 2013 10:31 PM EST
Uranium miner halts Virginia plan The Japan Times
RICHMOND VIRGINIA – A company is suspending its campaign to mine one of the world's largest known deposits of uranium ore located in Virginia, concluding ...
Drive to mine uranium in Virginia comes to quiet pause | News - Home
A company is suspending its campaign to mine one of the world's largest known deposits of the radioactive ore in Virginia, citing Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe's ...
| Tri-Cities TN/VA News |
| Drive to mine uranium in Virginia comes to quiet pause WJLA
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A company is suspending its campaign to mine one of the world's largest known deposits of the radioactive ore in Virginia, citing Gov.
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| Citing gov-elect, company quietly suspends bid for East Coast's first ... Victoria Times Colonist
Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium, issued a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday: "We are in this for the long haul and are
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