Comment: Pittsylvania County passed a Resolution to Keep the Ban: 62,844 population (2011)
Uranium mining and milling in Virginia: Questionable benefits, unacceptable risks: Oppose: SB 1353/HB2330 & SB919/1804
Unacceptable Risks to Drinking Water and Public Health
A spill or leak at the proposed Coles Hill uranium mine could contaminate drinking water as far east as Virginia Beach.Uranium ingestion is strongly associated with kidney disease and daughter products of uranium include known carcinogens like radon and radium.1
Approximately 85% of the radioactivity present in the ore would remain in the waste, known as "tailings," and morethan 100 tons of this waste would be stored on site in perpetuity. During the process of mining, much of this waste would be exposed to the elements.2
Southern Virginia is susceptible to hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes, all of which elevate risk of a leak or spill.
In a survey of Virginia business owners commissioned by the governor's Uranium Working Group and released today Jan. 15, 2013, a majority of respondents supported keeping the ban and felt mining would have a negative effect on their business's revenues.
As recently as October, 2012, two uranium mines in southeast Utah were shut down and placed on standby, resulting in 40 layoffs. A spokesman for the owner, Energy Fuels, cited low uranium prices3
Chmura Economics and Analytics found that in the worst-case scenario uranium mining would cost Virginia an $11 billion loss (versus a $6 billion benefit in the best-case scenario). Furthermore, the best-case scenario assumed a price of $60 per pound for yellowcake. As of January 8, 2013, the spot price for uranium was $43.50.4
The six legislators who represent Pittsylvania County and neighboring jurisdictions sent a letter to their colleagues voicing opposition to mining and seeking support for keeping the ban.5
Following an independent study on the risk a mining accident would pose to Hampton Roads’ drinking water, the city councils of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake each voted to support keeping the ban 6
It is insufficient to rely on local land-use oversight. The impact of a mine and mill will be felt in neighboring jurisdictions and downstream. The General Assembly is the proper forum to debate the wisdom of uranium mining in Virginia, because all affected communities are represented.
The resulting yellowcake would be sold to the highest bidder via long-term contracts or the spot market. There is no guarantee the buyer will be a U.S. company, nor is there any guarantee that current owners will maintain a majority stake in Virginia Uranium, Inc., which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The yellowcake is not needed to keep Virginia's nuclear power stations running, nor will mining affect electricity prices (hence the power station operators have not requested or endorsed mining).
Footnotes:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=440&tid=77 ,
www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13266, http://www.moabtimes.com/view/full_story/20540038/article-Layoffs-planned-at-local-mines?instance=home_news_1st_left ,http://dls.virginia.gov/commissions/cec.htm?x=std. , http://www.sovanow.com/index.php?/news/article/letter_presses_no_vote_on_mine/ ,
http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/public-utilities/Documents/20120210-PUT-Uranium-Mining-Project_PhaseII_FinalReport.pdf
Resolutions:
Cities and Counties with Resolutions of Support for Virginia’s Uranium Mining Moratorium as of Jan. 15, 2012
Total 2,407,147
Footnotes:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=440&tid=77 ,
www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13266, http://www.moabtimes.com/view/full_story/20540038/article-Layoffs-planned-at-local-mines?instance=home_news_1st_left ,http://dls.virginia.gov/commissions/cec.htm?x=std. , http://www.sovanow.com/index.php?/news/article/letter_presses_no_vote_on_mine/ ,
http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/public-utilities/Documents/20120210-PUT-Uranium-Mining-Project_PhaseII_FinalReport.pdf
Resolutions:
Cities and Counties with Resolutions of Support for Virginia’s Uranium Mining Moratorium as of Jan. 15, 2012
Brunswick County, VA 17204
City of Charlottesville, VA 43,511
City of Chesapeake, VA 225,050*
City of Danville, VA 42,852
City of Martinsville, VA 13,559
City of Norfolk, VA 242,628*
City of Portsmouth, VA 95,684*
City of Roanoke, VA 96,714
City of Suffolk, VA 84,930*
City of Virginia Beach, VA 442,707
Fauquier County, VA 66,071
Floyd County, VA 15,378
Halifax County, VA 36,056
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, VA 1,663,070
Madison County, VA 13,169
Mecklenburg County, VA 32,622
Orange County, VA 33,938
Patrick County, VA 18,390
Rappahannock County, VA 7,444
Roanoke County, VA 92,740
Southampton County, VA 18,408*
Town of Clarksville, VA 1,139
Town of Halifax, VA 1,389
Town of Middleburg, VA 701
Town of Orange, VA 4721
Town of South Boston, VA 8142
Virginia 2,166,533
*HRPDC localities were
City of Creedmoor, NC 4124 not double-counted
City of Henderson, NC 15,330
City of Oxford, NC 8,469
Granville County, NC 59,976
Halifax County, NC 54,173
Town of Butner, NC 7,598
Town of Franklinton, NC 2023
Town of Louisburg, NC 3359
Town of Macon, NC 119
Town of Warrenton, NC 862
Town of Williamston, NC 5,440
Vance County, NC 45,307
Warren County, NC 20,861
Washington County, NC 12,973
Total 2,407,147
Other Resolutions:
Danville PIttsylvania, VA Chamber of Commerce
Garden Club of Virginia
Halifax County, VA Chamber of Commerce
NAACP Virginia State Conference
National Wildlife Federation
Roanoke River Bi-State Commission
United Methodist Conference of Virginia
Virginia Association of Counties
Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Virginia Bass Federation
Virginia Council Troup Unlimited
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Virginia Municipal League
http://www.vcnva.org/images/KTBTalking_PointsJan2013.pdf
Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining
Call your legislators in their Capitol Offices today and ask them to OPPOSE Senator Watkins Bill SB919 and OPPOSE Delegate Millers Bill HB1804. and OPPOSE Delegate Miller’s Bill HB2330 and OPPOSE Senator Watkins Bill SB1353. [Talking Points]
- Find out the name and contact information for your legislator
- HB1804 establishes a three percent state severance tax on the gross receipts of any uranium severed from the earth in the Commonwealth.
- SB919 establishes a three percent state severance tax on the gross receipts of any uranium severed from the earth in the Commonwealth.
- HB2330 establishes a process for the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to issue permits for the mining of uranium ore.
- SB1353 establishes a process for the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to issue permits for the mining of uranium ore.
- Talking Points: http://keeptheban.org/
