In piece published in
the Richmond Times Dispatch on Monday, Virginia Senator John C. Watkins made a
number of arguments in favor of lifting the moratorium on uranium mining in
Virginia while countering some of the arguments made by Virginians opposed to
mining uranium in the state.
Essentially, Sen. Watkins attempts to make the stately,
seasoned politician, argument that goes something like this: I’ve been in the Virginia
General Assembly for 30 years now. During that time I’ve been a devoted public
servant looking out for interests of Virginians. And now I wish to legislate in
the public interest again by lifting the ban on uranium mining, or at least
taking the first step towards mining for uranium in Virginia.
I don’t doubt that Sen. Watkins has the public interest
mostly at heart. If you ever get the opportunity to speak with Sen. Watkins,
you’ll realize that he is a down-to-earth heck of a nice guy. But he’s deluding
himself insofar as he thinks uranium mining can be done safely in Virginia.
We simply DO NOT KNOW whether or not uranium mining can be
conducted safely in Virginia’s wet climate. There are no other comparable test
cases anywhere in the world that Virginians can use as an example of how dangerous
uranium mining may or may not be.
To suggest otherwise is either a bold-faced lie or a form of self-deception.
But Sen. Watkins also points to the “unprecedented step of
requiring the mining company to pay for 100 percent of the regulatory and
permitting costs associated with uranium mining activity.”
Yes, how groundbreaking a step it is to make a mining company(s) completely pay
for a business venture that could reap windfall profits. What’s next, actually
making the mining company pay for the inevitable environmental damage they
leave behind?
Speaking of which, if an environmental disaster does occur,
who exactly is responsible/billable for
the cleanup?!
Sen. Watkins, your “bold legislative move” is simply a tacit
acknowledge of how controversial this issue is, especially considering that politicians
from outside of Southside Virginia, where this current mining project will take
place, have their special interest tainted hands in the cookie jar of what is
ultimately a local political issue. Should Southside Virginians be able to decide
if Northern Virginia builds a high-speed rail line? No, because it’s an issue
pertaining exclusively to Northern Virginians.
But with so much money and political power on the line, it
was almost inevitable that non-Southsiders would stick their political hat into
the ring.
And as is so often the case when so much money and power is
on the line, a simple issue gets obscured and transformed into a complex web of
half-truths, quasi-facts, outright lies, and misinformed legislators.
Make all the provisions, make all of the caveats that you
will, but until the residents of Southside Virginia give uranium mining a green
light, all other arguments and considerations should be left to the side. It is
their future, their community, their choice.
