Uranium Mining Subcommittee members Delegates Lee Ware Jr., Terry Kilgore and Don Merricks listen to answers to their questions during a Joint Meeting of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy and the Uranium Mining Subcommittee on Dec. 11 in Chatham. (Steven Mantilla/ Danville Register & Bee)
Uranium
Keep The Ban supporters could be seen throughout the audience with their yellow shirts at a Joint Meeting of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy and the Uranium Mining Subcommittee on Dec. 11 in Chatham. (Steven Mantilla/ Danville Register & Bee)
Uranium
Deputy Director for Energy Policy, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Cathie France gives a presentation on the uranium working group’s report during a Joint Meeting of the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy and the Uranium Mining Subcommittee on Dec. 11 in Chatham. (Steven Mantilla/ Danville Register & Bee)
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Uranium Working Group presents findingsBY MARY BETH JACKSONmjackson@registerbee.
CHATHAM — A few audience members groaned hearing the layers of bureaucracy that will be needed to regulate uranium mining and milling in Virginia at the final meeting of the Uranium Working Group.
The Uranium Working Group presented its findings to members of the Uranium Mining Subcommittee of the Coal and Energy Commission on Tuesday in Chatham.
During the meeting, the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce issued its position, supporting Virginia’s 1982 moratorium on uranium mining.
“The board of directors of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce believes there are still too many questions and uncertainties that could have negative irreversible consequences on our region …” the chamber said in its position statement.
In January, Gov. Bob McDonnell formed the Uranium Working Group to create a draft regulatory framework for uranium mining and milling. The working group did not make a recommendation on whether to lift the moratorium on uranium mining and milling.
To lift the moratorium, the state needs to be directed to create a uranium mining statute and regulations. Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, says he will offer that legislation when the session convenes in January.
Cathie France, chair of the Uranium Work Group and the deputy director for energy policy at the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy summarized the working groups’ findings.
France explained the layers of bureaucracy that will be needed if the moratorium is lifted, including new authorities granted to the Virginia Department of Health to investigate human exposures and health outcomes, and establish water quality standards for private wells in the area of the mine or mill. They also need the authority to condemn wells that exceed regulatory standards.
France also says financial assurance is imperative, should a cleanup ever be necessary.
“It’s a critical part of the statutory framework and should be funded by the operator ... to make sure the taxpayer would never be liable,” France said.
A number of new staff would need to be put in place immediately to evaluate applications and approve licenses. The state would have to initially bear the cost, which would cost approximately $800,000 a year in personnel, administrative and equipment costs.
“Eventually, those costs could be covered through the mine permit and licensing fees we would require,” France said.
She updated the subcommittee on the progress of the socioeconomic study, which will not be submitted to the working group until Jan. 15, after the General Assembly convenes.
“Quite frankly, it was really tough to find somebody who hadn’t been paid by one side or another to already do something,” France said.
The study will look at potential business impacts created by uranium mining and milling, and will gauge perception regarding the influence of mining and milling on economic development.
Telephone surveys are being done with Virginia's business leaders, 20 percent in Southside and the remaining 80 percent from other areas across the state.
The Uranium Working Group presented its findings to members of the Uranium Mining Subcommittee of the Coal and Energy Commission on Tuesday in Chatham.
During the meeting, the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce issued its position, supporting Virginia’s 1982 moratorium on uranium mining.
“The board of directors of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce believes there are still too many questions and uncertainties that could have negative irreversible consequences on our region …” the chamber said in its position statement.
In January, Gov. Bob McDonnell formed the Uranium Working Group to create a draft regulatory framework for uranium mining and milling. The working group did not make a recommendation on whether to lift the moratorium on uranium mining and milling.
To lift the moratorium, the state needs to be directed to create a uranium mining statute and regulations. Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, says he will offer that legislation when the session convenes in January.
Cathie France, chair of the Uranium Work Group and the deputy director for energy policy at the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy summarized the working groups’ findings.
France explained the layers of bureaucracy that will be needed if the moratorium is lifted, including new authorities granted to the Virginia Department of Health to investigate human exposures and health outcomes, and establish water quality standards for private wells in the area of the mine or mill. They also need the authority to condemn wells that exceed regulatory standards.
France also says financial assurance is imperative, should a cleanup ever be necessary.
“It’s a critical part of the statutory framework and should be funded by the operator ... to make sure the taxpayer would never be liable,” France said.
A number of new staff would need to be put in place immediately to evaluate applications and approve licenses. The state would have to initially bear the cost, which would cost approximately $800,000 a year in personnel, administrative and equipment costs.
“Eventually, those costs could be covered through the mine permit and licensing fees we would require,” France said.
She updated the subcommittee on the progress of the socioeconomic study, which will not be submitted to the working group until Jan. 15, after the General Assembly convenes.
“Quite frankly, it was really tough to find somebody who hadn’t been paid by one side or another to already do something,” France said.
The study will look at potential business impacts created by uranium mining and milling, and will gauge perception regarding the influence of mining and milling on economic development.
Telephone surveys are being done with Virginia's business leaders, 20 percent in Southside and the remaining 80 percent from other areas across the state.
Jackson reports for the Danville Register & Bee.
http://www.newsadvance.com/go_dan_river/news/pittsylvania_county/article_277e2a60-43f8-11e2-a8ef-0019bb30f31a.html
http://www.newsadvance.com/go_dan_river/news/pittsylvania_county/article_277e2a60-43f8-11e2-a8ef-0019bb30f31a.html
