The Virginian-Pilot
©
Virginians remain sharply divided over whether to allow uranium mining in the state, according to a new poll released today.
When asked during telephone interviews if they favored mining the radioactive substance because of the economic benefits or opposed mining because of environmental concerns, 43 percent were in favor and 41 percent opposed, according to the poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
One in six of those surveyed said they didn't know or declined to give an opinion.
The survey, conducted Dec. 13-19, was completed the same day that a uranium study prepared by the National Academy of Sciences was made public. The study noted that while lifting a 30-year ban on uranium mining could be lucrative, doing so safely would require overcoming or substantially reducing major health and environmental risks.
The poll indicates that Virginians' views on the subject have changed little in recent months as proponents prepare to make a push in the next General Assembly session to lift the moratorium. A similar Quinnipiac poll in June found 41 percent of voters were in favor of uranium mining and 41 percent were opposed.
Virginia Uranium Inc. is seeking permission to begin harvesting and processing uranium at Coles Hill farm in Pittsylvania County. Supporters argue it can be done safely and will help revive the area's weak economy. But critics say the mining operation would pose an unacceptable risk of radioactive contamination to people and the environment, including the nearby river system that feeds Lake Gaston - a major source of water for Hampton Roads.
The latest poll indicated that Republicans are more inclined to favor mining than Democrats, men more than women and whites more than blacks.
Younger voters, those 18 to 34 years old, tended to be more worried about the environmental impact than older residents.
The poll also found that most Virginia voters aren't interested in passing proposed anti-abortion legislation stating that life begins at conception. About a third of those polled favor the bill, but 58 percent oppose it and 10 percent didn't answer.
State residents remain split - as they were in June - on the issue of abortion in general. Fifty-four percent say the procedure should be legal in most or all cases, while 39 percent think it should be illegal in most or all cases.
When asked about gun-control laws, about half of Virginians said someone in their home owns a gun, but a large majority of all those polled don't want to allow guns on the campuses of Virginia's colleges and universities. Nor do they want to repeal a state law that limits handgun purchases to one a month for individuals.
The telephone survey of 1,135 registered voters in the state has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Mining and Guns
The Governor of Virginia is always CRYING that the Commonwealth is BROKE. Then there is no excuse not to allow mining in Virginia. As for guns on school campuses. If the person has a Concealed carry permit then he or she SHOULD have the RIGHT to CARRY on college campuses. If the Crooks in Richmond don't like it TOO BAD. Virginia's next Governor has pretty much said it was ok to carry a gun on it...
A glowing opportunity
In his 2002 book, "Yellowcake Towns", historian Michael Amundson links high cancer rates among Native Americans to the legacy of uranium mining. In Moab, Utah, the U.S. Department of Energy expects to spend $1 billion to clean up 16 million tons of tailings from a closed chemical process uranium mine, local news reports say. Groundwater there remains poisoned by heavy metals.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality continues to monitor groundwater contaminated with arsenic, radium, radon and uranium at the White King and Lucky Lass uranium mines 17 miles from Lakeview in Southern Oregon. Those mines closed in the 1960s.
Economy
Mining for Uranium- Bad
Mining for Coal- Bad
Mining in General- Bad
Guns on Campus- Bad
Guns in General- Kinda Bad
I think that summarizes the story.
What about the jobs that could be created and the economic growth and employment? The comments on this story amaze me. We are in a dire stights economically, yet, we don't want to do anything that MAY be harmful to the environment. We won't have to worry about the environment if our economy collapses.
The gun comments are always impressive too. Oh yeah, ban the guns on campus that works. Another shooting at Tech, then a week later the kick arrested for having a weapon and breaking/entering.
People that are criminals will break the laws regardless!
Unemployment in Virginia is 6%
Unemployment in Virginia is at 6% and dropping. We are not in "dire straits economically." And even if we were, aren't there better ways to improve our economy than poisoning our air and water?
NO to Uranium Mining & Milling
It's not just radioactive material people are concerned about - It's the heavy metal contaminants that also are usually found with uranium mining that pose a hazard. This simply isn't a SUSTAINABLE industry for this state, and once uranium mining and milling occur there is no going back. There are no true time-tested tailings containments, and someone will have to pay to monitor this material for hundreds and thousands of years. Who pays for repairs to the containments? Who pays to replace them? There are too few studies about how uranium and its byproducts affect human health, and too little attention paid to how Virginia's sometimes severe weather could pose extreme threats to those communities. It's not the legacy I want for my children.
Finally some one with actual concerns
instead of doomsday predictions. There are many studies on the affects of uranium/radioactive materials on people. I'm certain a wealth of information will emerge from the accident in Japan. You're correct, little attention has been given the containment and the affect weather can have on them. That is for a very simple reason - it has yet to be decided if there is going to be any mining. There is very little sense in designing your containment facility until you know you are going to mine. Also, you cannot determine the affects of the weather until you know the type/location of the facility. The latest study was to answer several question about whether the state wants to end the ban - not about any specific mining site.
no and no
No to guns in colleges and universities, and no do not repeal
a state law that limits handgun purchases to one a month for individuals. Even that is to many guns purchased by an individual in a given month.
Who annoited you master decision maker
What is too many guns? What is the right number based on you enlightened view? Do we also need to limit the number of knives purchased? Bats? Crowbars? Cars? Cars are very dangerous.
Look if you don't like guns, fine, but don't attempt to limit mine. The ego shown by the anti-gun crowd is beyond reason.
"who annoited you master decision maker"
No one has annoited me for anything. I stated my opinion which I have a right to and neither you nor anyone else will take that right away, although it sounds like you would like to take my 'right' away.
The ego shown by the pro-gun crowd is beyond reason.
read the report on uranium
Read the report funded by Virginia Uranium, or at least read pp. 3, 4 & 5. Uranium mining is a death sentence for Virginia. Look at how it is done out west, and look at the life span of the miners and the reclamation failures.
The report admits that it was done more quickly than its advisory board would like. One signee has already revealed that he was pushed to sign off on it having only 24 hours to read it.
Notice also that Virginia Uranium took legislators to visit sites in Canada and France. Wonder why they didn't visit US sites or interview US miners?
Mining has a legacy of corruption and despair. Look at the economies of mining communities. Where's the golden egg?
The best practice is not to mine uranium at all.