VA uranium mining opposition groups partner for continuing confrontation with proponents in 2014

Moving to consolidate its strength for the continuing political confrontation with proponents of harming the earth, I mean proponents of uranium mining, the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA) announced that CommonHealthVA is now part of the RRBA family.

Both groups came out in opposition to uranium mining in Virginia during the last session of the General Assembly, each playing an important role in the eventual shelving of Sen. John Watkins’ legislation to lift Virginia’s moratorium on uranium mining.

But with the downfall of Sen. Watkins’ uranium mining legislation in the Virginia Senate came a continued effort by Virginia Uranium Inc. and legislative proponents to convince King Bob McDonnell to set the executive wheels in motion towards developing uranium mining regulations.

To date, Gov. McDonnell has not responded to calls for state agencies to establish uranium mining regulations for the 2014 session of the General Assembly to ceremoniously approve.

At the heart of the issue over lifting Virginia’s moratorium on uranium mining is whether it can be done safety, both in the short term and in the long term.

While Virginia Uranium Inc. and many proponents of uranium mining contend that it can be done safely in Virginia, there is no evidence to prove that uranium mining can be conducted safety in Virginia’s wet climate.

The recent news regarding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is only the latest bit of evidence suggesting
Virginians should take a more cautious approach to anything nuclear or nuclear waste related. It was thought that double-shell tanks would be enough to safeguard the surrounding environment until a better solution could be found in the future. it was discovered that "All the double-shell tanks contain waste that continuously generates some flammable gas." 

And then there is the issue of who pays if there is an ‘accident’ surrounding uranium mining or milling? Will Virginians be left with the clean-up bill after a spill of uranium tailings makes its way into a local water supply? Who will benefit the most from uranium mining in Virginia?

Bottom line, the uncertainties of uranium mining in Virginia far outweigh the certainties and the benefits. I won’t go so far as to say uranium mining should never be allowed in Virginia, but given the lack of adequate safeguard technology, it shouldn’t be anytime soon.