Early Christmas present : Virginia Uranium’s decision to suspend its efforts to overturn the state’s ban on uranium mining
- Last Updated on 08:07 AM 12/18/13
- BY Paula I. Bryant
- A brief sabbatical.”
- That’s how former Virginia Coalition Chairman John Cannon described Virginia Uranium’s decision to suspend its efforts to overturn the state’s ban on uranium mining.
- And opponents of uranium mining are gladly embracing this early Christmas present with open arms.
- The Chatham-based uranium company feverishly 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.
- Now the announcement that they plan to retreat from this fight… well, it seems almost too good to be true.
- A moratorium on uranium mining has been in place since 1982.
Now some three decades later, opponents are once again breathing a sigh of relief, albeit temporarily.
We the People Chairman Jack Dunavant rejoiced at the news, although he admitted he is surprised at Virginia Uranium’s decision to retreat in the face of the political reality that Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe plans to veto any pro-uranium mining legislation in the upcoming General Assembly session.
“I think this thing is going to fall apart at the seams now,” he said over the weekend.
Other uranium opponents, however, are not as optimistic, warning anti-uranium supporters not to let their guard down now.
Efforts to lift state’s uranium mining ban suspended
Posted: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 2:50 pm
Virginia Uranium Inc. has suspended efforts to introduce uranium mining legislation in 2014, citing insurmountable opposition from incoming governor Terry McAuliffe.
In a financial statement to shareholders and investors, Virginia Uranium’s parent company, Virginia Energy Resources Inc., said state Sen. John Watkins had planned to re-introduce uranium mining legislation during the upcoming General Assembly session.
However, Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe’s public announcement that he intends to veto any pro-uranium legislation means that any such bill would fail to become law,” the company said.
“Therefore, the company has decided not to support the introduction of new uranium mining legislation in January 2014.”
Just days after the election, McAuliffe said he would veto any bill to lift the moratorium or establish regulations for uranium mining.
“I don’t support uranium mining,” McAuliffe told the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk. “First and foremost as governor, my job is to make sure that our communities and our citizenry are safe.
“I’m not comfortable with the science to the point that I can say that with uranium mining, we would be safe,” the governor-elect said. “I’m afraid it would get into the drinking water.”
McAuliffe also said he sees no point in developing regulations for mining.
http://www.southhillenterprise.com/news/article_4d6a8996-6754-11e3-a5c9-001a4bcf887a.html
In a financial statement to shareholders and investors, Virginia Uranium’s parent company, Virginia Energy Resources Inc., said state Sen. John Watkins had planned to re-introduce uranium mining legislation during the upcoming General Assembly session.
However, Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe’s public announcement that he intends to veto any pro-uranium legislation means that any such bill would fail to become law,” the company said.
“Therefore, the company has decided not to support the introduction of new uranium mining legislation in January 2014.”
Just days after the election, McAuliffe said he would veto any bill to lift the moratorium or establish regulations for uranium mining.
“I don’t support uranium mining,” McAuliffe told the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk. “First and foremost as governor, my job is to make sure that our communities and our citizenry are safe.
“I’m not comfortable with the science to the point that I can say that with uranium mining, we would be safe,” the governor-elect said. “I’m afraid it would get into the drinking water.”
McAuliffe also said he sees no point in developing regulations for mining.
http://www.southhillenterprise.com/news/article_4d6a8996-6754-11e3-a5c9-001a4bcf887a.html
