Upcoming interview with Walter Coles Jr., of Virginia Uranium, Inc.!

(UPDATE: For all of my posts pertaining to the Pittsylvania Uranium debate, please click here)

Well, what a rush!

Just moments ago I got a note in my inbox from Walter Coles, Jr., inviting me over for a tour and an interview! So, on Tuesday morning, I'll pack up my little camera and my digital voice recorder, and head off to meet him and learn more about the process.

Mr. Coles, Jr., is the executive vice president of Virginia Uranium, Inc., and his family - along with the Bowen family - owns the majority of VA Uranium. I am honored that he contacted me via my little blog, and I will be delighted to pose any questions from my readers about safety, environmental issues, permitting, traffic, security, and so on. Mr. Coles is very gracious to extend this invitation to me, and I would request that any questions you offer would be phrased in the same manner of courtesy and in the interest of finding the best plan for our entire community.

I do not have an agenda either way - if uranium mining can be done safely, securely, and kindly to the environment, as well as providing jobs and revenue to our community, then I'm all for it. If it cannot, then I couldn't possibly support it, of course. This is an information-gathering tour, and if a local group opposing this development wishes a similar meeting, I'd be happy to post that interview as well.

In the interest of fairness and honesty, I will be posting the FULL sound files from ANY conversations and interviews I have on this topic (assuming I have enough batteries!), as well as pictures and commentary.

Comments

[Mark Brooks]

1.

Cat,

First, hello. I haven't spoken with you in about two years.

Second, are you worried about the degraded condition of the federal mine safety program? Remember all the mining accidents in the last few years?

The state has something to say about the development of the mine, and then it will be run under federal regulations.

Just curious if you thought that the recent mine safety issues would have an effect on this debate. Also, do you know anything more about the Bowen family? And is Sen. Robert Hurt's father also in this company?

Thanks so much.

[Kat]

2.

Hey, Mark, how are you? Good to hear from you again.

Yes, Sen. Hurt's father is associated with the company, I believe he is part of the 12% of investors who are not the Coles-Bowens families, nor the corporate owners. Check out the VAUranium link above, and click on "about us" it has all the information.

Yes, I am concerned about safety - it's going to be the primary thrust of my questions - however, I did not consider the federal mine safety program. Well, I'm just getting all my research and thoughts together and written up in preparation for the interview... So I'm sure I can figure out how to work it in, or how it applies once I get my questions sorted.

I do not know any of the families involved; we're recent arrivals to the area, which is one reason I need to do this research and interview. I do want to make sure I have all the facts needed to make an informed decision.

Hope you and yours are well - don't be a stranger! ;-)

[Mark]

3.

Maybe you could ask him a question that ties into Christian faith. Namely, if the world is 6,000 years old, which we know because the bible is the literal word of God, how do we know Uranium has a 1/2 life of 4 billion years?

Did God put Uranium here to test our faith?

[raised eyebrow] Well, although this would certainly be an interesting question to ask Mr. Coles, I don't believe that it is pertinent to the issue at hand, which is whether Pittsylvania would be wise to allow this mine in our county.

Oh, and Billy Joe? Not smart to try to change names.

-- Kat