(UPDATE: For all of my posts pertaining to the Pittsylvania Uranium debate, please click here)
Interesting article in my local paper, the Chatham Star Tribune, about the possibility of opening up a uranium mine nearby (I'm talking within a 5 mile radius!). I think, from what I read in the article, that it would be a good idea. Lord knows that Pittsylvania County desperately needs the jobs and revenue this could generate...
Virginia Uranium hopes to convince the General Assembly to adopt a study resolution on uranium mining and milling early next year.
If, after studying the issue, the state determines uranium can be mined safely, Coles hopes Virginia will lift its moratorium on uranium mining, possibly as early as 2009.
It would still take about two years to develop the legal and regulatory framework for uranium mining, he said.
I particularly like the way the owners of the company are very local-minded, and are going to keep this as a very Virginia company:
"It's a Virginia company - Virginia owned and Virginia managed," said Coles.
The challenge then became to find Virginians who had the expertise the company needed, he said.
Coles approached Norm Reynolds, who left Marline in 1986 but remained in Chatham, where he started North American Locating, an underground utilities company. Reynolds sold the company in 2004.
Reynolds was impressed with Coles' Virginia-owned and Virginia-managed philosophy.
"It's a fabulous idea because here is a local company with local individuals who have passion and stewardship of the land and environment," said Reynolds.
Walter Coles, who is Virginia Uranium's chairman, is from a family which has been a part of this community since 1785. He has served his country in the military as well as in the State Department. Most recently, he served as a security consultant and was in Afghanistan for his last trip before retiring in 2004.
Coles' statements to the Star-Tribune make it very clear that he is committed to making this a profitable venture, but also display his determination to make is safe as well:
Coles has already placed his family's historic home and the land surrounding it in a protected area.
"The land and house are protected from any sort of development by outsiders for 100 years," he said. "I expect to live here through my lifetime, and my heirs to live here as well."
In addition, Virginia Uranium plans to establish legal agreements to protect the environment and reclaim the land.
"We're going to have financial resources set aside so that if anything happens, the land and people will be protected first," said Coles.
"I personally insisted on that because I want my heirs to live here and love the land as I do. So this operation has to meet my very high standards."
However, the Southern Environmental Law Center, "Champions for Conservation," is opposing the development:
Coles has been meeting with local and state officials as well as environmental groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville and Piedmont Environmental Council in Warrenton. Both were bitterly opposed to uranium mining 25 years ago.
"We brought it to them and told them what we were going to do," said Coles. "We made it as transparent as possible. The reception has been cordial. They are willing to debate and talk about the issues."
In a statement posted on its website last month, however, the Southern Environmental Law Center promised to be an advocate for ensuring that Virginia keeps the ban on uranium mining.
"Uranium mining in the U.S. and around the world has resulted in a host of serious, long-term problems, including toxic and radioactive contamination of groundwater and surface water, and risk of cancer and other health problems for workers and the public," the law center said.
"Virginia should keep the ban on uranium mining. Too many questions remain about whether the natural resources and public health of the commonwealth can be fully and forever protected."
Well, the SELC is also trying to shut down coal development in Wise County, which isn't a good move at least at first glance: Wise County depends on the revenue from coal - just ask my blog-brother, Kilo! Therefore, for this reason and others, I'm wondering if the SELC is trying to protect the environment at the expense of the residents' welfare.
I am not certain what deficiencies there were in safety precautions 25 years ago, but I'm sure that medical and technological advancements since then are impressive enough that this project should be carefully evaluated. As I said at the beginning, Pittsylvania County is in desperate need of the jobs and the revenue. Mr. Coles is putting his family property on the line, and - sure! - he and Virginia Uranium owners have a lot to gain... But they seem to want to go forward in a manner which will benefit the community and maintain proper safety precautions.
While the SELC certainly ought to raise appropriate cautions, they should also not stand in the way if the risk factor can be managed properly. Remember, the risk cannot be lowered to zero, and that's an unrealistic goal as well as a recipe for stagnation. From the company's statements in this article, I think we should all approach this opportunity with cautious optimism, in hope of bringing more prosperity to Pittsylvania County.
For more reading - and I've only glanced at the Google results - here's the Google search for "virginia uranium pittsylvania" and the Google News results for the same search words. Please let me know in the comments if you find any more specific information!
I do notice that our Delegate, Robert Hurt (who is running for State Senate this year), has not yet made a decision, pro or con.
Is French nuclear giant AREVA chasing Virginia uranium for its $2B enrichment plant?
http://djysrv.blogspot.com/2007/10/is-areva-chasing-virginia-uranium.html
Posted by: Ohadi Langis | October 13, 2007 at 05:10 PM