2/9 u-news a.m.
Comments: Now the numbers are public we could see calls to increase which favor favor of mining. If you have not called the Governor's office please do so. If you have already, you may want to call with a friendly reminder that you oppose uranium mining in Virginia based on the evidence presented in the numerous studies and reports.
Va. governor hearing from public on uranium mining
Anti-uranium lawmakers state case to McDonnell
http://www.roanoke.com/
RICHMOND — Six legislators who represent Southside Virginia are urging Gov. Bob McDonnell to resist pressure for his administration to develop regulations for uranium mining, citing the lack of support in the General Assembly for ending a state moratorium on the industry.
But Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, said he would ask McDonnell to direct state agencies to draft regulations in order to address "unanswered questions" of skeptical legislators who oppose a planned mining and milling operation in Pittsylvania County.
In a Wednesday letter to McDonnell, six legislators who represent the region said "It was clear that the proponents of uranium mining were not able to make the case that the benefits outweigh the long-term risk of mining and milling of uranium in Virginia."
The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Bill Stanley of Franklin County and Frank Ruff of Mecklenburg County and by Republican Dels. Don Merricks of Chatham, Danny Marshall of Danville, James Edmunds of South Boston and Tommy Wright of Lunenburg County. Stanley's and Merricks' districts include the Coles Hill site where mining and milling would occur.
"In the final analysis, the majority of our constituents — the people who are closest to the mine site itself — are deeply concerned about the effects this operation would have on our water, our environment, our agriculture and our long-term economic health," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers requested a meeting with McDonnell, who has not taken a position on whether uranium mining should be allowed in the state.
"To ignore the overwhelming opposition to uranium mining that has been expressed by citizens and organizations across the Commonwealth does not fit with representative government," the legislators concluded. "An issue as divisive as this should be dealt with by the legislative process prior to expending more taxpayer funds."
Gov. McDonnell continues his “review” of uranium regs while Virginians say no
http://www.examiner.com/
By: Daniel Carawan
When Virginia Uranium Inc.’s (VUI) favorite investment in the General Assembly, Virginia Sen. John Watkins, withdrew his own bill that would have lifted Virginia’s 3-decades old moratorium on uranium mining in the state, it was a victory in so many ways for so many Virginians.
On the one hand, it demonstrated what an active group of concerned citizens can achieve when pressed to act; David defeated Goliath in the first round.
The victory on Virginia’s uranium mining moratorium was also a win for protecting human and environmental health in Virginia and conceivably in North Carolina as well.
But as recently as Wednesday, a Bob McDonnell spokesman said that the governor is “reviewing”[1] a request made by VA Sen. John Watkins to use his executive authority to instruct Virginia’s agencies to draw up draft mining regulations. Thus, even though Virginians and their elected representatives spoke in favor of retaining the moratorium,
Sen. John Watkins believes that “emotion and fear” have “overcome the science and engineering.”[2]
Which science and engineering is Sen. Watkins referring to, VUI’s? Otherwise, there are plenty of scientists who have voiced skepticism over mining uranium in Virginia.[3]
Aside from the argument that a legislator from Powhatan shouldn’t have a final or significant say in what processes go on in Southside Virginia that could have a tremendously negative impact, the idea that legislators can simply request action on the part of the chief executive if they don’t get their way in the General Assembly is preposterous and disturbing at the very least.
Try as you might, however, Sen. Watkins, the people of Virginia won’t lay down their opposition to uranium mining in Virginia until it is unequivocally safe to do so. Real people stand to lose their entire ways of life, whether it be through an ‘unforeseen’ accident or the mere stigma of uranium mining in the surrounding area.
The level of opposition to uranium mining in Virginia should have dissuaded any fair-minded politician from supporting this potentially catastrophic process in our state.
If the will of the people still means anything to Gov. McDonnell then his royal excellency will not move to inform Virginia’s relevant agencies to draft up uranium mining regulations.
The majority of Virginians HAVE spoken and it’s time to finally listen.
[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/uranium-mining-efforts-persist-below-sur...
[2] http://www.wpcva.com/news/article_f7179bba-6bf5-11e2-a018-0019bb2963f4.html
[3] http://mobi.timesdispatch.com/richmond/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid...
Call the Governor's office :
Phone Numbers:
Office: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
TTY/TDD (For the deaf or hard-of-hearing): 1-800-828-1120, or 711
Fax: (804) 371-6351
TTY/TDD (For the deaf or hard-of-hearing): 1-800-828-1120, or 711
Va. governor hearing from public on uranium mining
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Bob McDonnell is hearing from hundreds of people who want him to keep in place a ban on uranium mining in Virginia.
The governor's office says as of Friday, 894 calls, letters, emails and faxes were received in support of the ban, with 171 support mining.
The call on the ban is not McDonnell's to make but he could keep the issue alive this year. He's been asked to use his executive powers to direct the drafting of regulations for mining. The General Assembly would still have to act to end a decades-old prohibition on uranium mining.
The debate is being fueled by a company's quest to tap a deposit of the ore in Pittsylvania County.
McDonnell has said he has not arrived at a position on the issue.
Comments: "To ignore the overwhelming opposition to uranium mining that has been expressed by citizens and organizations across the Commonwealth does not fit with representative government," the legislators concluded. "An issue as divisive as this should be dealt with by the legislative process prior to expending more taxpayer funds."
RICHMOND — Six legislators who represent Southside Virginia are urging Gov. Bob McDonnell to resist pressure for his administration to develop regulations for uranium mining, citing the lack of support in the General Assembly for ending a state moratorium on the industry.
But Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, said he would ask McDonnell to direct state agencies to draft regulations in order to address "unanswered questions" of skeptical legislators who oppose a planned mining and milling operation in Pittsylvania County.
In a Wednesday letter to McDonnell, six legislators who represent the region said "It was clear that the proponents of uranium mining were not able to make the case that the benefits outweigh the long-term risk of mining and milling of uranium in Virginia."
The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Bill Stanley of Franklin County and Frank Ruff of Mecklenburg County and by Republican Dels. Don Merricks of Chatham, Danny Marshall of Danville, James Edmunds of South Boston and Tommy Wright of Lunenburg County. Stanley's and Merricks' districts include the Coles Hill site where mining and milling would occur.
"In the final analysis, the majority of our constituents — the people who are closest to the mine site itself — are deeply concerned about the effects this operation would have on our water, our environment, our agriculture and our long-term economic health," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers requested a meeting with McDonnell, who has not taken a position on whether uranium mining should be allowed in the state.
"To ignore the overwhelming opposition to uranium mining that has been expressed by citizens and organizations across the Commonwealth does not fit with representative government," the legislators concluded. "An issue as divisive as this should be dealt with by the legislative process prior to expending more taxpayer funds."
Gov. McDonnell continues his “review” of uranium regs while Virginians say no
http://www.examiner.com/
By: Daniel Carawan
When Virginia Uranium Inc.’s (VUI) favorite investment in the General Assembly, Virginia Sen. John Watkins, withdrew his own bill that would have lifted Virginia’s 3-decades old moratorium on uranium mining in the state, it was a victory in so many ways for so many Virginians.
On the one hand, it demonstrated what an active group of concerned citizens can achieve when pressed to act; David defeated Goliath in the first round.
The victory on Virginia’s uranium mining moratorium was also a win for protecting human and environmental health in Virginia and conceivably in North Carolina as well.
But as recently as Wednesday, a Bob McDonnell spokesman said that the governor is “reviewing”[1] a request made by VA Sen. John Watkins to use his executive authority to instruct Virginia’s agencies to draw up draft mining regulations. Thus, even though Virginians and their elected representatives spoke in favor of retaining the moratorium,
Sen. John Watkins believes that “emotion and fear” have “overcome the science and engineering.”[2]
Which science and engineering is Sen. Watkins referring to, VUI’s? Otherwise, there are plenty of scientists who have voiced skepticism over mining uranium in Virginia.[3]
Aside from the argument that a legislator from Powhatan shouldn’t have a final or significant say in what processes go on in Southside Virginia that could have a tremendously negative impact, the idea that legislators can simply request action on the part of the chief executive if they don’t get their way in the General Assembly is preposterous and disturbing at the very least.
Try as you might, however, Sen. Watkins, the people of Virginia won’t lay down their opposition to uranium mining in Virginia until it is unequivocally safe to do so. Real people stand to lose their entire ways of life, whether it be through an ‘unforeseen’ accident or the mere stigma of uranium mining in the surrounding area.
The level of opposition to uranium mining in Virginia should have dissuaded any fair-minded politician from supporting this potentially catastrophic process in our state.
If the will of the people still means anything to Gov. McDonnell then his royal excellency will not move to inform Virginia’s relevant agencies to draft up uranium mining regulations.
The majority of Virginians HAVE spoken and it’s time to finally listen.
[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/uranium-mining-efforts-persist-below-sur...
[2] http://www.wpcva.com/news/article_f7179bba-6bf5-11e2-a018-0019bb2963f4.html
[3] http://mobi.timesdispatch.com/richmond/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid...
Anti-uranium mining lawmakers appeal to governor
Associated Press |
RICHMOND -- Lawmakers from Southside Virginia want to meet with Gov. Bob McDonnell to outline their objections to a suggestion that he order the development of regulations for uranium mining even after the proposal to establish the industry was abandoned in the face of near certain defeat in the General Assembly.
"Please do not ignore the will of the General Assembly," the two senators and four delegates wrote in a letter delivered to the governor's office this week. "To ignore the overwhelming opposition to uranium mining that has been expressed by citizens and organizations across the Commonwealth does not fit with representative government."
McDonnell has not stated his position on uranium mining or whether he would push ahead on an issue the Legislature cast aside. His office confirmed receipt of the letter Friday and said McDonnell will review it.
The letter was signed by Sens. Frank M. Ruff Jr. and William M. Stanley and Delegates James E. Edmunds, Donald Merricks, Danny Marshall III and Thomas C. Wright Jr., whose districts encompass counties, cities and towns near a uranium deposit that has sparked a years-long debate over a proposal to mine the radioactive ore.
They cited a broad coalition that has taken a stand against uranium mining, in addition to the Legislature's tacit rejection of bills that would have cleared the way for mining. They also said locally elected officials have overwhelmingly opposed mining.
The letter said Southside's economy is rebounding, despite chronically high rates of employment, and uranium mining would only stall further economic growth.
"Our region will be economically damaged by this stigma hanging over our heads," the letter states.
Virginia Uranium Inc. courted legislators for years in hopes of winning legislation in the 2013 session that would allow it to tap a 119-million-pound uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County. It values the ore at $7 billion and says it would create more than 300 well-paying jobs through the life of the mine.
Opponents have argued that full-scale uranium mining and milling has never occurred on the East Coast and the new industry would create unacceptable risks to the environment and public safety. Virginia Uranium has said the concerns are overstated, and that mining and milling can be done safely using the latest industry practices.
Ruff said Friday he had not discussed the issue directly with McDonnell, but had talked to the Republican's policy staff. He said his message was simple.
"We have a representative form of government and legislation should be the way to go," Ruff said.
Sen. John Watkins, a Richmond area Republican .He then asked McDonnell to use his executive powers to direct his departments to create the regulations. The General Assembly would still have to act to lift a 31-year state prohibition on uranium mining.
With regulations before the General Assembly, lawmakers would have their questions about mining answered, a spokesman for Virginia Uranium said.
"This doesn't undermine the legislative process at all; rather it will better inform legislators' decision," Patrick Wales said in an email.
"Please do not ignore the will of the General Assembly," the two senators and four delegates wrote in a letter delivered to the governor's office this week. "To ignore the overwhelming opposition to uranium mining that has been expressed by citizens and organizations across the Commonwealth does not fit with representative government."
McDonnell has not stated his position on uranium mining or whether he would push ahead on an issue the Legislature cast aside. His office confirmed receipt of the letter Friday and said McDonnell will review it.
The letter was signed by Sens. Frank M. Ruff Jr. and William M. Stanley and Delegates James E. Edmunds, Donald Merricks, Danny Marshall III and Thomas C. Wright Jr., whose districts encompass counties, cities and towns near a uranium deposit that has sparked a years-long debate over a proposal to mine the radioactive ore.
They cited a broad coalition that has taken a stand against uranium mining, in addition to the Legislature's tacit rejection of bills that would have cleared the way for mining. They also said locally elected officials have overwhelmingly opposed mining.
The letter said Southside's economy is rebounding, despite chronically high rates of employment, and uranium mining would only stall further economic growth.
"Our region will be economically damaged by this stigma hanging over our heads," the letter states.
Virginia Uranium Inc. courted legislators for years in hopes of winning legislation in the 2013 session that would allow it to tap a 119-million-pound uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County. It values the ore at $7 billion and says it would create more than 300 well-paying jobs through the life of the mine.
Opponents have argued that full-scale uranium mining and milling has never occurred on the East Coast and the new industry would create unacceptable risks to the environment and public safety. Virginia Uranium has said the concerns are overstated, and that mining and milling can be done safely using the latest industry practices.
Ruff said Friday he had not discussed the issue directly with McDonnell, but had talked to the Republican's policy staff. He said his message was simple.
"We have a representative form of government and legislation should be the way to go," Ruff said.
Sen. John Watkins, a Richmond area Republican .He then asked McDonnell to use his executive powers to direct his departments to create the regulations. The General Assembly would still have to act to lift a 31-year state prohibition on uranium mining.
With regulations before the General Assembly, lawmakers would have their questions about mining answered, a spokesman for Virginia Uranium said.
"This doesn't undermine the legislative process at all; rather it will better inform legislators' decision," Patrick Wales said in an email.
