By Tara Bozick
Published: December 07, 2010
MARTINSVILLE — Local environmental groups and anti-uranium activists said they want residents to get involved and let state leaders know they don’t support lifting the moratorium on uranium mining and milling in Virginia.
Because the scientific study on uranium mining in Virginia and socioeconomic studies about the impacts of uranium activities in the region surrounding Coles Hill are all due at the end of next year, the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club anticipates that state legislators will come to a vote on whether or not to lift the moratorium in 2012, said Mary Rafferty, grassroots organizing manager.
On Tuesday, the Martinsville-Henry County Voters League and the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club co-hosted a meeting for about 35 attendees at the Henry County Administration Building to explain concerns regarding proposed uranium mining at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County and to garner support for a campaign against uranium mining in the state.
“We’ve got to stand together,” Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the local voters league and Chatmoss resident. “This is not a joke. This is not a game.”
It’s important for residents to get involved before the end of next year — and before legislators make up their minds — by attending meetings and calling or writing local elected officials, Rafferty said.
Residents should go to the General Assembly, wear a badge and let legislators know how you feel, added Chatham resident Eloise Nenon, founding member of Southside Concerned Citizens — a group against uranium mining.
“I never dreamed this issue was going to come back,” said Nenon, who lobbied for the moratorium in the 1980s.
Hodge-Muse told attendees she did not support uranium mining in Virginia because she wants to protect water and residents’ health. She’s also concerned companies in the food industry would leave because they wouldn’t want to be near a uranium mining or milling site.
She reminded residents the issue affects not just Pittsylvania County, but everyone in Virginia, and that pro-uranium mining interests already have lobbyists talking to state legislators.
“Please fight with me,” Hodge-Muse said.
Terri Dobson, a minister at Galilean House of Worship, attended the meeting because she once had job where she surveyed residents exposed to radioactivity to see what diseases they had. She wouldn’t want the region to endure those health risks.
“A lot of people don’t know about this and I will be one of the voices spreading the word,” Dobson of Henry County said.
Howard Niblett of Martinsville came to learn about the dangers of uranium mining and milling. Martinsville already has the highest unemployment in Virginia and he worries other industry wouldn’t want to come near a uranium site.
Meeting next week:
Next week, the National Academy of Sciences’ committee conducting the scientific study on uranium mining in Virginia plans to meet in Danville at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
On Monday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., stakeholders will give presentations. From 6 to 9 p.m. that day, the public can participate in a town hall meeting. Sign-up for public comment will begin at 5 p.m. on a first come, first serve and in-person basis. Comments are limited to three minutes.
Those planning to attend should register with Courtney Gibbs at (202) 334-2744 or e-mail cgibbs@nas.edu
For more information, visit http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/ and search project title “Uranium Mining in Virginia.”
Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/dec/07/anti-uranium-activists-get-involved-ar-701394/
