Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following was published in The Floyd Press on February 2, 2011

About 40 people attended an informational meeting Thursday night at the Floyd Country Store to learn more about an organized campaign to mine uranium in Virginia.

Up until now uranium mining in the U.S. has been limited to dry and lightly populated places out west, but, with the price of uranium on the rise, a Canadian backed company, a landowner and other investors are intent on bringing it to the east, and specifically to Pittsylvania County, Virginia.  Before that can happen a uranium mining moratorium that dates back to 1982 must be lifted.

A group of organizers in support of the mining moratorium traveled from Pittsylvania County (about 75 miles east of Floyd) to facilitate the meeting.  Deborah Lovelace, founder of the nonprofit League of Individuals for the Environment (LIFE), gave a power point presentation, outlining the uses and hazards of uranium and the logistics of mining operations.

Uranium is a radioactive metal found in the ground that’s primarily used to make nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.  It’s toxic to humans and the environment, explained Lovelace, whose mother’s family is from Floyd and whose husband’s family has been farming in Pittsylvania County for 10 generations.

“It takes 1,000 pounds of ore to produce one pound of uranium, which leaves 999 pounds of mill tailings. The mill tailings retain 85% of their toxic radioactivity for 300,000 years,” Lovlelace said.  Exposure to uranium adversely affects the kidney, brain, liver and heart.  Neurological, genetic, and reproductive systems are also damaged by exposure.  Long term storage of uranium’s toxic waste is an ongoing issue.

Pittsylvania County resident Hunter Austin reported that uranium toxicity can enter a person’s dna and be passed down to future generations. “It has been studied.  Everywhere they mine uranium they have had health problems within about a 50 mile radius,” he said.  A Floyd resident commented that cancer and birth defects are up by 81% in Fallujah, Iraq, because of U.S. weapons made with depleted uranium.

Those in attendance learned that a uranium mining operation involves an open pit or underground mining, a pulverizing mill, and a chemical plant.   Mining photos were shown and a United States Geological Survey map was displayed, highlighting potential uranium mining sites throughout rural Virginia and North Carolina and up and down the Blue Ridge.

Do we need uranium for energy?  According to Lovelace’s research, the Department of Energy has begun selling excess uranium to friendly countries.  “It’s stockpiled. We buy it from Russia to keep it out of the hands of unfriendly countries.”   Of the 1,100 nuclear reactors in the world only 430 are used to generate electricity.  Uranium provides about 4% of the world’s non-renewable energy, Lovelace stated.

The contamination of natural resources associated with mining was discussed.  One Floyd resident with West Virginia ties referred to the mining companies as terrorists, saying “What do you call poisoning our water if it’s not terrorism? Mining has already ruined half the state of West Virginia and the mining companies have taken no responsibility.”

Other frustrations raised by the group included the lack of home insurance coverage for radiation contamination or damage due to mine blasting, and the cost to taxpayers for radioactive clean up and storage.

Several studies are underway that need to be completed and reviewed before the decision about the mining moratorium will be ruled on by the General Assembly.  One study is being funded by Virginia Beach due to the possibility that the city’s water supply will be adversely impacted by mining.  Another study is being funded by Virginia Uranium Inc., the company seeking to mine.  Organizers reported that Virginia Uranium Inc. is well funded and politically connected, which increases the possibility that the moratorium will be lifted.  An estimated 110 million pounds of uranium worth almost $10 billion dollars (as reported by the Washington Post) is at stake for the mining backers.

Several people expressed concern that if the moratorium is lifted it will open the door to uranium mining all over Virginia.  “If it’s lifted and they go after Pittsyvania County, it’s going to ruin everything around,” Austin said.   Exploratory drilling in Pittsylvania County is already underway.

“There were 62,000 acres of Virginia land leased in 1980’s and 42,000 of those were in Pittsylvania County,” said Danville resident Karen Maute.  Maute reported that uranium leases were sought in Floyd County back in the 70’s. She suggested the county pass a resolution banning uranium mining and mentioned that zoning laws can also be a tool to keep mining out of the county.

Lovelace suggested that concerned citizens educate themselves and write, call or email their local, state and federal representatives.   “I’m not anti anything.  I’m pro keeping the moratorium in place,” she concluded.    ~ Colleen Redman

Note:  The public is invited to a follow-up meeting to strategize ways of improving public awareness about uranium mining and keeping the Virginal mining moratorium in place.  The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday February 8th from 7 to 9 pm at the Floyd library.