By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Published: March 14, 2011
To the editor:
The credentials of the Robert J. Bodnar, in the commentary entitled, “Experts: Virginia Beach used old data,” (Feb. 27, page A11) on the Virginia Beach study relative to uranium mining, are certainly distinguished beyond question: “Virginia’s Outstanding Scientist for 2010”! And a Virginia Tech professor in environmental engineering!
Professor Bodnar stated: “The Virginia Beach study assumes that all of the tailings will be stored in above-ground tailings ponds behind dams ranging from 5 to 50 meters (16 to 165 feet) high. … Current mine plans for the Coles Hill deposit call for a portion of the tailings to be stored underground in mined-out portions of the deposit.”
First, in a recent presentation, Walter Coles was quoted as referring to storing the tailings “in the pit.”
In the same presentation, VUI Project Manager Patrick Wales was quoted as stating the Coles Hill mine will be underground through large tunnels.
In two technical reports on the Coles Hill uranium deposit, it is referred to as being a vein that certainly implies tunnels, as stated by Wales.
How will a substance that has been described as having the consistency of cement in the pouring stage be deposited in a tunnel? I am referring to what would appear to be a backflow problem.
A pit with liners, styled after pit garbage landfills, is apparently viable and in use in the uranium mining industry — but a tunnel is not a pit.
What happens to the tailings until the ore is totally mined from a deposit site, opening up its use for the projected tailings storage site? Is Virginia Uranium then going to move underground the tailings already in above-ground storage?
Also, what happens when the other deposit sites in Pittsylvania County are mined (legal records indicate there will be a large number of other locations)? The ore comes to Coles Hill to be milled and the tailings will be deposited where? At Coles Hill? In above-ground storage?
Another thing, this uranium mill at Coles Hill will be the only one on the East Coast. When uranium is mined in other Virginia counties and in any other state in the eastern half of the United States, the ore will likely come to Coles Hill to be milled. Where will the tailings be stored then? Aboveground at Coles Hill?
Professor Bodnar did say only a portion of the tailings would be above ground. I think he meant the major portion of the tailings would be above ground. Seems to me the Virginia Beach study used accurate data after all.
HILDRED C. SHELTON
Danville, VA
Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/mar/14/professors-data-not-va-beachs-ar-905451/
