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Uranium bill introducded
A bill was introduced in the Virginia Senate late last week (SB 525)
that would establish a legislative commission charged with studying the
issue of mining uranium in Virginia – with an eye specifically on the
“Coles Hill” deposit in Pittsylvania County, which is one of the
largest uranium deposits in the U.S. – and with the discretion to
recommend regulations for allowing mining.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-of Virginia Beach
and co-sponsored by Senate Majority leader Dick Saslaw, D- Springfield
and the Democratic caucus chairwoman, Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple of
Arlington. Plans fr the study commssion to include six state
legislators, officoals of three state agencies and six citizens with
technical expertise to be appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. The
commission would work for three years and file annual reprots to the
legislature and it could hire outside experts from state universities
or the National Academy of Sciences. The bill mentions a state energy
plan that the governor had proposed last year, which included
provisions to explore energy sources, icnlduign uranium.
The Southern Environmental Law Center opposes SB 525, which
inappropriately creates a political process for deciding whether to
lift the long-standing ban on uranium mining. "There is no requirement
in the bill that any such decision must be based on an impartial
scientific analysis conducted by a qualified, independent institution,
such as the National Academy of Sciences, to determine whether uranium
mining can be done safely. An independent study and objective analysis
is essential before consideration can be given to lifting the ban," the
Center states in a press release made public over the week-end.
“We must guard against a process that pre-judges the outcome by trying
to develop regulations without any guarantee of an answer to the
fundamental question – can it be done safely,” said SELC Staff Attorney
Cale Jaffe.
Jack Dunavant, chairman of Southside Concerned Citizens, said yesterday
that he feels it is evident that the peple who live in the area which
will be most affected, do not get to make the decision. "It's people
who are politcally connected who will be doing the study and calling
the shots," he said, noting the study commission will be composed of
six politicians and nine people appointed by the governor, who has
supported the mining.
"This stuff is forever and we better be ready and willing to fight and
I thik we are, Dunavant said.