A proposed uranium mine in Pittsylvania County cleared a key legislative hurdle Monday when the Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy voted 11-2 to recommend that the General Assembly enact a statutory framework for uranium mining.
The recommendation would allow state agencies to draft regulations for permitting uranium mining, essentially lifting the state’s 30-year moratorium.
Virginia Uranium Inc. wants to mine a huge uranium deposit about six miles northeast of Chatham. Discovered in the late 1970s, the Coles Hill uranium deposit is worth an estimated $7 billion.
“We have all studied this carefully, and it is appropriate to move this issue on to the next step. This is a major opportunity for Virginia, but it has to be done right,” said Del. Terry Kilgore of Gate City, chairman of the Coal and Energy Commission.
The Coal and Energy Commission and its Uranium Mining Subcommittee spent four years studying uranium mining. Both groups held more than 35 meetings, including several in Chatham.
Gov. Bob McDonnell appointed a Uranium Working Group last year to develop a proposed regulatory framework for uranium mining and milling.
The group included representatives from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, Department of Environmental Quality, and Department of Health.
All three state agencies would have key roles in drafting and enforcing regulations on uranium mining and milling.
The Uranium Working Group delivered its 125-page report to the governor in November and presented its recommendations to the Coal and Energy Commission in December in Chatham.
Following the report, Sen. John Watkins of Midlothian, vice chairman of the Coal and Energy Commission, announced plans to introduce legislation to end the state’s ban on uranium mining, which was put in place in1982.
“Uranium mining presents a unique opportunity to create jobs and economic development while contributing to our nation's energy independence,” Watkins said. “Today uranium mining is done safely around the world and Virginia is capable of mining it safely, too.”
Watkins has not presented his bill, but indicated it would only affect regions with exploratory drilling permits for uranium mining.
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy approved an exploratory permit for Coles Hill in 2007.
Although there are other uranium deposits in Pittsylvania County and Virginia, the state has not issued any other exploration permits.
Del. Don Merricks of Pittsylvania County said Watkins’ bill is a “political move” designed to take pressure off other legislators.
“By taking other areas off the plate, legislators can say it doesn’t affect me, only Pittsylvania County,” said Merricks, who serves on the Coal and Energy Commission and voted against the recommendation.
“If it’s good enough for Pittsylvania County, it ought be good enough for the whole state,” he said. “That’s politics. It’s the Coal and Energy Commission. I wasn’t expecting anything different. It’s significant, but it doesn’t mean anything except we’re moving forward.”
Del. Danny Marshall of Danville said he was surprised the commission endorsed a bill members haven’t even seen.
“This is the most important issue the General Assembly will take up in a generation,” said Marshall, who opposes uranium mining and spoke at an anti-uranium news conference at the state capitol before the commission meeting.
Although numerous studies have been done over the past five years, Marshall believes opponents still need to educate legislators about the dangers of uranium mining and milling.
“Mining is only part of this. Milling is really where the problem is,” he said. “People don’t understand the tailings issue. The tailings are the real problem and have serious, long-term consequences.”
Tailings — waste rock after uranium has been extracted — remain radioactive for thousands of years.
According to Marshall, Del. Jackson Miller plans to introduce legislation in the House of Delegates that mirrors Watkins’ Senate bill.
The bill would likely go to the Commerce and Labor Committee or Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Marshall and Merricks both serve on commerce. Marshall also is a member of the agriculture committee.
“It’s certainly going to be a tough fight,” Marshall said.
Virginia Uranium welcomed Monday’s news.
“This is a big step forward for our project,” project manager Patrick Wales said. “We are extremely grateful for the time and effort that the Coal and Energy Commission has put into this. We eagerly await Senator Watkins’ bill and look forward to the next step in the legislative process.”
According to reports, the proposed uranium mine and mill would create more than 1,000 jobs and have an annual economic impact of $135 million a year.
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