To All:
Attached is a letter addressing why Governor McDonnell should not use
his executive power to proceed with getting uranium mining regulations
written this year. Also, the letter addresses why VA Senate Bill
1138 and House Bill 1790 to create the Virginia Nuclear Energy
Consortium and Authority should not be passed by VA legislators.
Sincerely,
Deborah Ferruccio
North Carolina Citizen Against Virginia Uranium Mining and the
Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium and Authority
copy of attachment:
Dear Virginia and North Carolina Officials, Citizens, and the Press:
Last week Virginia legislators and Virginia Uranium Mining proponents reinforced what Virginia and North Carolina citizens battling uranium mining have been experiencing first-hand, namely, that the cost of freedom, in this case freedom from radioactive aggression, is eternal vigilance.
In fact, on Thursday, even as the bill to lift the ban did not even make it to the floor of the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Health Committee but was withdrawn by its sponsor, Virginia Senator John Watkins, citizens knew there would be an alternate plan. They knew that uranium mining proponents are heavily financially and politically invested in the attempt to get the regulations written and would not walk away from the uranium gold project just because a majority of legislators might have determined that keeping the ban would be the prudent political choice.
So, immediately after he withdrew his bill to lift the ban on uranium mining, Senator Watkins revealed Plan B. He requested that Governor McDonnell use his executive power under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) to proceed with writing the regulations that would govern uranium mining in Virginia. He claimed that writing the regulations would clarify issues that mining opponents may have but did not mention that Virginia Uranium Mining, Inc.’s next step in the process of becoming approved for uranium mining was to get the regulations written anyway.
So far, Governor McDonnell has not revealed his latest position on the uranium mining issue. If the Governor were to decide to use his executive power to move the process ahead, the plans to mine uranium would be right on schedule for Virginia Uranium Mining, Inc.Regulations would be written this year that would justify and legalize the mining, milling, and waste disposal operation as it is proposed based on the “as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)” standard.The regulations would be especially tailor-made to legalize the Coles Hill mining site.
Yet Governor McDonnell could decide that Plan B -- using his executive power to direct that regulations for uranium mining be written while blatantly disregarding public sentiment -- could be political suicide.So, there is Plan C.Plan C is to create a Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority (VNECA) the purpose of which is to promote and expand nuclear and nuclear-related industries while making the Commonwealth of Virginia the nuclear center for the nation.
House Bill 1790 and Senate Bill 1138 are based on a premise, an assumption, that nuclear energy and all its repercussions is as an industry that the people of Virginia want to dominate the landscape of their economics. Where is a balanced bill calling for a Renewable Energy Consortium Authority?
The nuclear energy bill gives the Authority the power to implement its powers and statutes, but neither is described in the bill.Therefore, the bill would give the Authority arbitrary and capricious powers and statutes about which the public knows nothing.One power given to the Authority would be to buy or lease property if necessary or convenient. So, what would prevent the Authority from purchasing property for a radioactive waste landfill, for instance, or to invest in uranium mining?
The bill would give the Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority and the Governor who would choose the Authority’s membership, the legal and financial power to promote and expand the nuclear industry.The Authority’s business would be conducted without transparency, without recourse or public discussion, through powers legalized to act with impunity.
Virginia Legislators who pass the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority bills may circumvent making a direct decision on uranium mining, but if they approve VNECA, they must take responsibility for giving their support to a nuclear industry that necessarily includes the cradle to grave process, including uranium mining and final radioactive waste disposal. Virginia could become the nuclear energy center for the nation alright! But it could become best known as the nation’s radioactive waste disposal capitol!
Deborah Ferruccio
Warren County, North Carolina Citizen Against Virginia Uranium Authority
