PRESS RELEASE: DOZENS OF POTENTIAL URANIUM EXPLORATION AND MINING SITES IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:   

     September 26, 2012
Contact:                

Andrew Lester,

434-250-1185

WATER GROUP:  PUBLIC RECORDS REVEAL DOZENS OF POTENTIAL URANIUM EXPLORATION AND MINING SITES IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY

Chatham, VA – Today, Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA) released a list of potential uranium exploration and mining sites in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In the 1980s, Marline Corporation secured mineral rights in over 40,000 acres of land for uranium exploration. After thoroughly examining available public records, RRBA volunteers cataloged these leases and identified the names of the roads where uranium exploration and, possibly, uranium mining may take place if Virginia’s 30-year ban on uranium mining is lifted.

“I applaud RRBA’s volunteer efforts in cataloging the historic ‘uranium leases.’ It sure was no easy task due to the sheer number of them. I was an attorney for the now defunct Marline Corporation and in those days Marline identified dozens of sites for uranium exploration and possibly future mining. County residents should be concerned about the health, environmental and economic impacts of not just the Coles Hill site but at least three feasible mining locations spread throughout the county,” said Hank Davis, a former county supervisor for Chatham-Blairs Election District.

"In February 2011, in a presentation to investors in London, Walt Coles, Jr., CEO of VUI’s parent company in Canada, said that 'Coles Hill is the first of more major discoveries in Virginia.'  It tells me that we should expect lots of exploratory activity in Southside if the uranium ban is lifted. This partial list we released today will help county residents determine whether their property values, well water and health may be threatened by a nearby uranium development," said Andrew Lester, RRBA executive director.

Partial list of roads which contained historic "uranium leases” in Pittsylvania County* Adams View Lane
Allen Creek Road
B Jones Road
Berry Hill Mega Park
Blacksmith Road
Boxwood Road
Camp Branch Road
Cascade Road
Cedar Forest Road
Chalk Level Road
Climax Road
Cody Road
Coles Road
Cross Creek Road
Davis Farm Road
Deer View Road
Discovery Road
Dry Fork Road
E Gretna Road
Edmunds Road/ Route 606
Emerson Road
Farmers Road
Gemstone Lane
George Road
Glade Road
Glenland Road
Harmony Road
Harper Road
Hickey Road
Hodnett Road
Honey Bee Road
Horseshoe Road
Hubbard Road
Huntingon Trail
Jay Bird Lane
Johnson Mill Road
Level Run Road
Long Branch Drive
Markham Road
Meadow Oak Farm Road
Mockingbird Road
Moon Road
Moorefield Bridge Road
Moschler Drive
Motley Road
Mountain Road
N Meadows Road
Owens Road
Riceville Road
Robertson Lane
Payne Road
Pinelake Road
Players Road
Pleasant Gap Road
Primerose Place
Rainbow Lane
Realty Road
Rolling Mill Circle
Route 29, Blairs
Route 640
Route 927
S Meadow Road
School Road
Shadow Box Road
Sheva Road
Spring Street (Rd)
Stoney Mill Road
Stoney Mill School Road
Strader Road
Straightstone Road
Taylors Mill Road
Transco Road
Tunstall High Road
Upper Mountain Road
Whitehorn Road

Whitmell School Road
Zion Road

*With the addition/set-up of 911 Communication within the county, some road names may have been added/changed. Historic mineral lease information was used to determine these road names