Pittsylvania County to Look at Uranium Mining Ban

By John Crane

Published: February 18, 2009

The issue of uranium mining has been gathering steam and moving closer to the forefront of localities’ meeting agendas lately.

Two Pittsylvania County towns — Gretna and Hurt — have passed resolutions on uranium mining, and Chatham is considering updating its own.

Tuesday night, it was a case of dueling resolutions during the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting. Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis wrote a strongly worded resolution, while County Administrator Dan Sleeper’s version was watered-down and more magnanimous toward the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission. Supervisors approved Davis’ resolution by a 7-0 vote after rejecting a proposal for a combination of the two by a 4-3 margin.

In addition, Karen Maute, an outspoken opponent of Virginia Uranium Inc.’s plans to mine and mill a 119-million-pound uranium deposit at Coles Hill, asked the board to consider banning the practice in Pittsylvania County during the meeting. She also proposed that the county look at updating and enforcing its mineral tax.

Board Chairman Coy Harville, who represents the Westover District, said Wednesday that the board’s legislative committee would consider the ideas in March or April. If committee members approve, they would take the matter to the board.

Harville declined to comment on the likelihood of a countywide ban.

“We haven’t even discussed it yet,” Harville said, adding that the board’s focus is its upcoming proposed $225.6 million budget.

Patrick Wales, VUI spokesman and geologist, blasted the prospect of a uranium mining ban in the county and said he couldn’t believe someone would propose banning an industry that would deliver jobs and money to the area during an economic downturn.

As for the minerals tax, Harville said during the meeting that Maute’s idea “is something that’s open-minded that we should be looking at.”

Harville said Davis’ authorship of a resolution without telling the board ahead of time was “sneaky.” However, Harville said he voted for it because the resolution, when given to the Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Subcommittee, won’t make much difference anyway.

“It’s just a piece of paper,” he said.

Harville, who had initially voted for the combined resolution before supporting Davis’, declined to reveal his opinion of uranium mining, saying instead there’s a state moratorium on the practice.

Davis said a countywide ban on uranium mining and milling probably won’t happen.

“I don’t think it’s real likely,” Davis said. “I’m not altogether sure we have that authority.”

Virginia is a “Dillon rule” state, meaning state law supersedes that of localities. The town of Chatham mulled implementing a chemical-trespass ordinance in case uranium mining takes place at Coles Hill six miles northeast of Chatham, but the attorney general told town officials it could not stand.

As for the mining resolutions proposed Tuesday night, Davis’ version calls for a study to determine that no harm will come to the county, its businesses, institutions, environment or residents before the moratorium is lifted and VUI’s plans are approved. Davis also said a study shouldn’t base its findings on a mere cost-versus-benefit approach.

Sleeper’s resolution mostly expresses thanks to the Coal and Energy Commission for undertaking a study and holding a public hearing on the issue and asks that the board’s “highest concern that the safety and welfare of the people and property in Pittsylvania County remain unharmed and undamaged by uranium mining … ”

During Tuesday’s meeting, Dan River Supervisor James Snead said he liked both and proposed the combination resolution.

“I don’t see much difference,” Snead said. “Is there some way we can combine them?”

Callands-Gretna Supervisor Fred Ingram said he couldn’t see much difference between the two either.

Tunstall Supervisor Tim Barber said he thought Sleeper’s version was stronger.

The board ended up defeating Snead’s idea and unanimously backing Davis’ proposal.

Walt Coles Jr., executive vice president of VUI, said the company would have supported either resolution and said Maute’s mineral tax idea is a good one.

“We want to spread the wealth potential of this resource,” Coles said.

Coles also said tax revenue to the county from mining would offset drops in sales tax revenue and other revenue from the faltering economy.

Wales said he respects the localities’ resolutions and said they play a valuable role in determining whether uranium can be safely mined and milled in the state.

“We’re supportive of an open, honest discussion,” Wales said. “To make sound decisions, we need an honest, independent scientific study.”

Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or 434-791-7987.

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