New uranium 'technology' doesn't inspire confidence

Comment:  Great Letter, Mr. Lovelace, No to Uranium mining!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 8:52 AM EST

The Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC) reported several unusual events in the last four to five weeks concerning uranium use. Don't we just love this "new state of the art technology?"

My point is, if they cannot get this new technology to work safely in a controlled environment, we should know they cannot control radiation, dust or radon gas in an open environment.

This new technology is just words like "monitor"; it is nothing more than a word to make us think they are doing it safely and to make us feel good.

Let's go on facts and not Mr. Coles' or Mr. Wales' words about jobs.

The U.S. government facts state in all of the uranium industry in the United States there are 1,563 jobs in 17 uranium mining production and sources in 2008. (www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/dupr/umine.html)

Let's divide 1,563 jobs by 17 operations, which is about 92 jobs per operation.

I would like to know how Virginia Uranium Inc. is going to work a third of the work force for the entire United States at this one site?

I think we need to forget $4 billion to $5 billion worth of uranium (today's prices since the price per pound has dropped) over a period of 30 years versus $79 billion dollars "a year" from our agriculture and forestry (which is Virginia's number one industry) and thousands of jobs that will be lost possibly if uranium contamination is let to happen over the entire state of Virginia.

That's right. If the moratorium is lifted, the entire state will be open to uranium mining.

The Danville Register and Bee recently published a story about the incidents of contamination of modern-day facilities that George Stanhope brought to the newspaper's attention.

This article quotes statements about NRC and EPA and what they will do after your air, water and land become contaminated from radioactive releases.

EPA and NRC stated they may face penalties and fines so the governmental agencies walk away with money and the people of Pittsylvania County and the state sit here with a destroyed environment from uranium mining and milling.

I hope the people of Virginia and Pittsylvania County feel better knowing EPA and NRC are going to look out for you.

Mr. Coles spoke about a picture in the paper of the flood and said it was two miles below him, but what he did not say was his pasture borders White Thorn Creek that flooded a few hundred feet from the proposed north hole uranium pit.

On a private tour, Mr. Coles told my wife and me his pasture went all the way to White Thorn Creek. This flood was when Pittsylvania County was declared a state of emergency just a few weeks ago and the schools were closed.

I hope people understand God gave us two great gifts: life and a clean environment.

It was just published in Hampton Roads that Virginia's waterways ranked second dirtiest in the country. Why are the environmental agencies letting this go on?

It is because they are making big money off of fines and penalties? No!

These agencies were created to protect us and our environment. Why are they letting this happen?

Just an opinion: your state and federal government might let uranium mining and milling operate for big tax revenue they hope it will generate to balance their wasteful budget.

Their thinking may be: let's allow uranium mining and milling, maybe that will fix Virginia's $3 billion over budget problem.

But let's cut off more state employees and raise taxes so the state or Virginia Uranium can pay $1.5 million to the National Academy of Sciences, the last I heard in installment, for only part of the study that will study regulations among other things.

Mr. Coles of Virginia Uranium stated that he would not mine uranium, "if" it was going to harm the people or the environment, but he refuses to pay for the second part of the study that will address these very issues.

What happened? Did he have a change of heart?

There are a lot of questions not answered yet.

Why did Patrick Wales say that water does not run uphill to the Gross home when in fact the Gross home is lower than the drill test wells proven on topographical maps?

The state health director, Charles Devine, stated that the lead came from interior plumbing, when all five tests were done from an outside faucet, which bypassed the interior plumbing.

Are they trying to make you feel safe? Do you feel safe?

If you have doubts, call or write your representatives and let them know you want to be protected not only now but for future generations.

Phillip Lovelace

Gretna

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/01/20/chatham/opinion/opinion01.txt

Probe into uranium mine leak continues

Comments: Listed below are several accidents and problems with modern uranium mining in Australia!

Thanks AC: The Ranger Uranium Mine is one of the most strictly regulated uranium mines in Australia and the Office of the Supervising Scientist is controlling, is supervising, very strictly the mine," he said. Do the words "strictly regulated" ease one's mind. regarding uranium mining and milling. when perusing the articles below?  Should Virginia and surrounding states that share water be worried?  Will/has the U.S. done a better job with "regulating" uranium mining activities than Australia?

Probe into uranium mine leak continues

Posted Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:26pm AEDT

The Commonwealth supervising scientist of the Ranger uranium mine at Kakadu National Park says investigations are continuing into water contamination at the site.

Energy Resources of Australia has conducted geophysical surveys to determine the impact and extent of leaking from a tailings dam at the mine.

Mr Hughes says the company has only preliminary results from the surveys and is not sure if ERA will make the findings public.

"I understand that they are having significant discussions with the traditional owners and the Northern Land Council about tailings and seepage issues on an ongoing basis," he said.

"So I imagine all the immediate stakeholders will be very well informed on the issue."

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is demanding the report be made public as soon as possible.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/20/2719474.htm

Waste leak site clean: BHP Billiton

Posted Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:26pm AEDT
Updated Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:14pm AEDT

Olympic Dam uranium leak site ... BHP Billiton says it has now been cleaned. (ABC News: Friends of the Earth)

BHP Billiton says it has cleaned up the site of a radioactive waste leak at its Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia.

Green groups released photos they say were taken by a mine worker in December 2008, showing a clean-up operation outside a tailings dam.

The mining company says it notified the State Government and the Environment Protection Authority.

BHP Billiton says it has pumped the tailings back into the dam and that the wall is now secure.

Uranium mine water leak concerning, govt says

Posted Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:28pm AEDT
Updated Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:35pm AEDT

About 100,000 litres of contaminated water is seeping from a tailings dam at the mine every day. (AFP: Energy Resouces of Australia/SkyScans: file photo)

The Northern Territory Government says it will speak to mining company ERA and the office of the Commonwealth Supervising Scientist about contaminated water leaking from the Ranger Uranium Mine.

Environmentalists are calling for the mine's planned expansion to be put on hold.

The Office of the Supervising Scientist and ERA say the water is not seeping into Kakadu and there is no reason for concern.

"The Ranger Uranium Mine is one of the most strictly regulated uranium mines in Australia and the Office of the Supervising Scientist is controlling, is supervising, very strictly the mine," he said.

"I'm prepared to talk with the Office of the Supervising Scientist to find out exactly what's happening, " he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/15/2516584.htm

Uranium mine water leaking into Kakadu

Posted Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:19pm AEDT
Updated Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:46pm AEDT

Tens of thousands of litres of contaminated water is leaking into Kakadu National Park every day from the Ranger Uranium Mine (AAP: Tara Ravens)

A Senate Committee has been told tens of thousands of litres of contaminated water is leaking into Kakadu National Park every day from a tailings dam at the Ranger Uranium Mine.

Mr Hughes also told the Committee he did not see any significant reason for concern.

The Ranger uranium mine is on a lease within the boundaries of the world-heritage listed Kakadu National Park .

The Greens are calling on the mining company ERA to explain how it intends to clean up the water.

"It's a vast quantity of water, contaminated water, with processed chemicals, heavy metals, and radinuclides seeping out from underneath the tailings dam," he said.

"And we are just very concerned to know how the company plans on remediating the vast quantity of contaminated water that's seeping out from under their tailings facility.

"I think the supervising scientist and the government is being incredibly casual, telling us not to be too worried, although they couldn't say how the company would remediate it, when they would be doing that.

"They couldn't even tell us the total volume of contaminated water that had leaked away."

The mining company ERA says it has a detailed plan to clean up the water.

"It's well monitored, it's well understood by us and the regulators.

And we have a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, to remedy any effects on the surrounding area."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/13/2515907.htm

Cloncurry creek 'caustic' after mine leak

By Chrissy Arthur
Posted Thu May 21, 2009 7:35am AEST
Updated Thu May 21, 2009 10:51am AEST

Residents of the north-west Queensland community of Cloncurry are being warned to stay clear of a creek running through the town which has been contaminated by mine water.

The Cloncurry Shire Council says water from Coppermine Creek has been contaminated by a leak from a pipe at the Great Australia Mine near the town.

That has created a corrosive discharge into the waterway.

The Council says under no circumstances should anyone enter, touch or go near the creek.

The water is caustic and will irritate skin and eyes and could affect breathing.

He says there are also reports of fish kills at the Coppermine Creek Bridge near the town.

Mr Turnour says it is a serious incident.

"It's high in acid so if you touch it it'll be very bad for your skin, your eyes and so on," he said.

"This is going to hang around for a fair period of time.

"We're taking the matter quite seriously - even though this is not a Council matter, we're taking the responsibility to warn people."

The mining company has begun a clean-up.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/21/2576607.htm

Green group says Govt knew of radioactive leak

Posted Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:00pm AEDT

Friends of the Earth says it has known about a radioactive leak at Olympic Dam for three months, but only released the information to the media yesterday.

The group found out about the leak after a worker passed on photos showing the radioactive liquid collecting in unlined trenches.

Dr Jim Green, from Friends of the Earth, says the State Government has known about the problem since last April, but did not make the information public.

"We only became aware of the problem in December and we hear that BHP reported the problem to the State Government last April, as to why that was not made public earlier, you'd really have to put that to the State Government representative," he said.

The Environment Protection Authority says the information was not released because it did not present any risk to the public or to the environment.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/24/2524910.htm

Rio Tinto investigates chemical leak

Posted Wed Apr 1, 2009 10:36am AEDT
Updated Wed Apr 1, 2009 11:37am AEDT

Rio Tinto is investigating reports of a leak from one of the wastewater dams at its Alcan Gove bauxite mine and aluminium refinery in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

The company says it is looking into an incident in which a man complained of a burning sensation on his skin after coming into contact with groundwater.

The company says it happened somewhere on the mine site in the middle of March.

But it did not start investigating until contacted by the ABC yesterday about reports of a leak from a waste water dam and a red plume streaming into Melville Bay.

The company says an inspection of the area was carried out yesterday and water samples were taken.

The Australian Conservation Foundation says the Territory Government is not doing enough monitoring of the environmental impacts of mines.

The foundation's Dave Sweeney says it is unacceptable that the Government relies on environmental impact information provided by mining companies.

"Self-regulation doesn't work," he said.

Click below to find links to stories:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/20/2719474.htm