The Roanoke River Basin Association commented Monday on the recently released report on uranium mining in Virginia prepared by the National Academy of Sciences panel.
Virginia has banned uranium mining since 1982. A foreign-backed company, Virginia Uranium, Inc. hopes to use the findings of this report to convince the Virginia General Assembly to lift this ban during the 2012 legislative session so that VUI can commence uranium mining at a site 14 miles southeast of the Smith Mountain Lake.
The RRBA, a non-profit representing over 70 localities in Virginia and North Carolina, hoped that the NAS report would provide a definitive answer to the only question that is truly important – is it safe to mine and mill uranium in the Roanoke River basin watershed considering Virginia’s wet climate?
"For many months the public and our public servants throughout the Commonwealth, have expressed justified concern regarding the unknown risks and dangers of uranium mining. When asked about the potential to mine uranium in Virginia, most public officials, including Governor McDonnell, have stated that the venture should only be allowed if it could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be no threat to the public's health, safety, and welfare,” said Andrew Lester, the association executive director.
“Now comes the much anticipated, National Academy of Sciences study. The NAS study does not demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that uranium mining in Virginia's wet climate will pose absolutely no threat to public health and safety, we expect our Governor and public servants to sustain their commitment and keep the uranium mining ban in place," said Lester.
"In fact, the study lists potentially insurmountable challenges in addressing the technological and regulatory problems with uranium mining in Virginia. History informs us that strictly regulated and technologically advanced industries such as coal mining in Virginia are still prone to major disasters. The difference being, in a coal mine disaster the death and destruction is limited to that particular mine. In the case of a uranium mine the implications are possibly multi-state and eternal. Unfortunately, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. And in this matter, it's an unreasonable risk."
