Southside Concerned Citizens (SCC) and others interested in the recent
announcement of the possibility of uranium mining in neighboring
Pittsylvania County are meeting tonight in the undercroft of St. John's
Episcopal Church in Halifax at 7 p.m.
According to Jack Dunavant, who has headed the Southside Concerned
Citizens group, they will be meeting with Walter Coles, who is chairman
of the Board of Directors of Virginia Uranium, Inc. and who also is the
owner of a large part of the property on which the uranium deposit
lies.
SCC members, as well as many local residents, well remember the fight
back in the 1980's to prohibit Marline Uranium from carrying out their
plans to mine the ore in the neighboring county. That fight  resulted
in a statewide moratorium being placed on the practice. Another factor
that stopped the process was the drop in the price of the ore to $15
per pound.
But times have changed and the value of uranium has risen to about $85
per pound, and the General Assembly will be looking at the possibility
of lifting the 25 year old moratorium.
Coles reportedly has told people that he is interested in learning more
about recently developed methods for mining which would ensure safety
in the mining process. He noted that he lives on the property where the
ore deposit is located and which has been in his family for several
generations and wants to hear from others about their concerns and
questions.
He explains that his company, Virginia Uranium, projects some 400 to
700 jobs would be created by the mining operation which would probably
not be started for another ten years as it takes time to work on the
legal regulations and then begin construction.
However, it is his hope that the moratorium on uranium mining might be
lifted by the General Assembly as early as 2009.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) of Charlottesville, which
helped to lead the fight against the mining back in 1982, has warned
that the state's energy plan may call for ending the moratorium.  But
they note, "There is no precedent for large-scale uranium mining in
eastern states such as Virginia where the population density puts more
people at risk and where a wetter climate increases the chance of
radiation contaminating streams and ground. Virginia has no experience
with regulating uranium mining, " the Law Center said in a statement
posted on its website.
"As a renewed effort to develop the Pittsylvania County deposit moves
forward, SELC will be a lead advocate for ensuring that Virginia keeps
the ban on uranium mining and does not lift it unless the appropriate
state and federal agencies can ensure citizens that the natural
resources and public health of the Commonwealth will be fully and
forever protected," the statement said.
But Dunavant points to the dangers of polluting the waters of the
Staunton and the Dan, sources of water for much of this area. "This is
an issue that simply has to be addressed." Most uranium mining takes
place in arid regions where runoff into streams and rivers is less of a
concern, and opponents contend it is especially unsuited for the moist
climate on the East Coast.