Uranium Committee Should Carefully Weigh Benefits, Risks

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Editor's note: The following letter was submitted to the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission's Uranium Mining Subcommittee.

Thanks again for appearing in Chatham as a committee to let us discuss our concerns regarding uranium mining in Pittsylvania County.

There is very little doubt that the U.S. needs additional sources of energy. Our town, county and state would be greatly served with the influx of wages and additional purchasing power that this proposed project would bring.

It would be beyond belief that you would recommend, or our government would authorize and empower the mining of something so potentially lethal without adequate safeguards.

Hopefully, you would do your very best to build in sufficient clean-up regulations that would alleviate that danger.

It has been my experience, once money is taken, there is never an enforceable penalty strong enough, or with sufficient enforceable penalties, to keep residents out of harm's way.

It simply would not be cleaned up. I'm certain all of you know of similar cases from your own experiences.

There have been several articles on lead mines with similar results in the U.S. Mining and waste left made the areas uninhabitable and whole towns were lost. Many explained and unexplained deaths and illnesses occurred. Much damage was caused by the mining, but a great deal came from improper clean-up and disposal.

Another item of concern: There have been numerous articles in recent years about lead paint used in children's toys. Approximately 6 parts per million has proven harmful.

An article I read said it would be satisfactory if it was reduced to 3 parts per million. If so little amount of lead in paint on toys can prove harmful to the health and life of our children, it would be extremely difficult for your committee to prove to us that mining of uranium, run-off, dust and other hazards would or could prove less harmful.

There is another area that should be explored. That is asbestos. Asbestos has been used for generations to insulate houses, for roof shingles, and many other products.

Are uranium tailings, run-off, and dust less hazardous than the amount of asbestos used in these areas?

Or do we (and/or our survivors) have to look at ads from lawyers similar to the ones we see so often for mesothelioma?

The committee should also address the economic downside of loss of all the jobs promised and will be lost when this is completed.

What happens to the town, county, surrounding counties and Commonwealth of Virginia when we only have several "billionaires" left?

We are forced to trust your judgment, and implore you to make sure there is something left for all the families here in future generations.

They now are facing an enormous financial debt burden we forced on them. Please do not also force them to face annihilation, loss of life and/or their property.

We have such a great community, surrounding area and state. Let us be very careful and not destroy it all.

Please take your challenge for our future very carefully, and if it's proven the thing to do, let's do it. But don't make an irreversible error of judgment.

James A. Davidson

Chatham

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2009/02/02/chatham/opinion/opinion01.txt