The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH
A briefing on uranium mining Thursday night was deeply scientific at times, full of words like "slurry," "tailings" and "acid mine drainage." But the more than 200 who attended seemed to hang on every one.
The crowd that filled a ballroom at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel was bolstered by organizations fighting efforts to lift Virginia's 30-year moratorium on uranium mining. It was the first time folks in Hampton Roads have had a chance to ask questions about a National Academy of Sciences report on the subject, and those who spoke up seemed overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the ban.
"Virginia is not a state to crack down on regulations," said Angela Barnes of Occupy Norfolk, commenting on the scientists' finding that there are best practices that could mitigate risk. She earned applause and laughter from the crowd.
"Best practices," she said, "are not going to happen here."
The furor over lifting Virginia's ban stems from an effort by Virginia Uranium Inc. to mine a rich deposit at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County.
Opponents worry it could contaminate a supply of Hampton Roads drinking water that flows from Lake Gaston, located downstream from the deposit. Both parties eagerly awaited a report by the National Academy of Sciences that was released in December.
It doesn't take sides, but rather gives a detailed technical analysis. The writers were charged with giving four briefings around the state this spring; Thursday's was the last, and the only one in Hampton Roads.
The writers gave an overview of their findings, repeating that Virginia has essentially no experience in regulating uranium mining, and that its wet climate and vulnerability to earthquakes present challenges to mining safely.
Attendees asked what levels of radiation are dangerous and whether mining in other states could be a good model for Virginia. The scientists stressed that their report wasn't meant to be specific to the Cole Hill site, and that there are best practices used in several countries. A perfect model for mining safely doesn't exist, they said.
But at this gathering, at least, he seemed to be in the minority. The Keep the Ban Coalition - it includes the Sierra Club, the Southern Environmental Law Center and other groups - held its own briefing beforehand that was attended by more than 100 people.
Together they walked to the Hilton carrying signs that read "Lake Gaston will be poisoned" and "Use your cranium, no uranium."
"The ban doesn't need to be lifted. The impact on our community would be devastating," said Yvonne Lewis of Virginia Beach, a member of Virginia Organizing.
She said she wonders whether the jobs created by mining would even go to local people.
"I just don't think they've thought this through," she said.
Elisabeth Hulette, 757-222-5097, elisabeth.hulette@pilotonline.com
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/science-meets-passion-uranium-briefing-0
