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By Rex Springston, Richmond Times-Dispatch | MCT Regional News
Mining uranium can create health and economic problems, experts said yesterday.
A company called Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine uranium in Pittsylvania County in south-central Virginia. The radioactive material fuels nuclear power plants.
Uranium and related substances such as radon have been linked to problems such as cancer, birth defects and kidney disease, said Doug Brugge, a professor of public health at the Tufts University School of Medicine.
''There is a pretty solid scientific basis to be concerned about the health impacts," Brugge said.
People could be exposed by working in a mine, drinking contaminated water or inhaling tainted air, he said.
A uranium mine in Pittsylvania would create a lot of waste and hurt local economic development, said Paul Robinson, research director for the Southwest Research and Information Center, a nonprofit educational group in New Mexico.
The men spoke at a daylong symposium on uranium mining at Richmond CenterStage in downtown Richmond. About 175 attended.
Virginia Beach city officials have said they oppose the mining proposal because it could threaten the city's water supply which includes Lake Gaston.
Patrick Wales, project manager for Virginia Uranium, called the symposium "little more than an anti-uranium pep rally."
Sponsors of the symposium included the environmental groups Friends of the Earth, the Sierra Club, the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Wales acknowledged that uranium mining has caused health problems in the past, but he said modern regulations and mining methods would protect the public.
Brugge and Robinson said current regulations are not very strict. Robinson also said prices and demand for uranium have dropped in recent years.
As for slumping demand, Wales said much of today's uranium comes from Russia and Kazakhstan.
''I'm not willing to mortgage our children's energy future" by relying on a supply from what he called politically unstable regions.
Formed by landowners in Pittsylvania, Virginia Uranium says more than 100 million pounds of uranium ore, worth more than $7 billion, lies underground there. Robinson said the amount was probably smaller and worth less.
Robinson and Brugge said they were not opponents of the Pittsylvania mine. They said they wanted to provide information so residents and lawmakers could make informed decisions.
State officials have asked the National Research Council, a respected scientific organization, to study the safety of uranium mining in Virginia. Virginia Uranium is putting up $1.4 million for the study, which could be completed by late 2011, Wales said.
Virginia has banned uranium mining since the early 1980s. Virginia Uranium wants the ban lifted.
Virginian-Pilot writer Cindy Clayton contributed to this report.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch story was redistributed by the Associated Press.
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Go for it
You seem to have little investing knowledge. With the agreement regarding arms reduction going forward it makes no sense at all to unearth this load of low grade uranium. There is sufficient amount of uranium ore on the market at the present time and will continue to have ample supply.The cost to mill the new ore will greatly take away from the profit margin. Another aspect to look at is the fact that this is a foreign entity that want to make the profit and sell it abroad which will generate no capital gains for the State of Virginia. Dont be fooled by the shiny object put before you because in the long run the state of VA will be responsible for the maintenance of the site for many many years long after the mining company has made of with their loot. As we are being told by our leaders that this is our greatest time for patriotism how can we let a foreign entity rape out lands for profit and leave us with the clean up bill as an investment adviser I think it would be suicidal for the state to lift the current moratorium at this time.
Money or/and Enviornment?
I would say that anything you bring out of the ground has some enviornmental impact, like coal, copper, bauxite, iron...But if there is money to be made, and precautions are taken to prevent damage to the water supply, then go for it! America changed with the gold rush, with the discovery of any precious metals for that matter. We need to do a better job with the after effects, otherwise go for it! Uranium is more precious than gold, platinum, etc, so "there's money in those darn hills boys"!
Destroy Vriginia beach's wateshed and you destroy the city
"Wales acknowledged that uranium mining has caused health problems in the past, but he said modern regulations and mining methods would protect the public."
Uranium mining is still deadly. Ever heard of "clean coal"?
"Virginia Beach city officials have said they oppose the mining proposal because it could threaten the city's water supply which includes Lake Gaston."
Right move Beach. Leaders are going to have to spend money to DEFEND your water supply against corporate destruction.
This battle is just heating up. At least it is on the radar screen of those who have to have clean water.