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Virginia Beach uranium mining could contaminate drinking water

The city is concerned about uranium mining and milling because Lake Gaston, a major source of its drinking water, is located downstream from Coles Hill, site of the proposed uranium mine and mill.

Lawmaker: Spending more for uranium socioeconomic study ‘not wise’ GoDanRiver,  By John Crane April 27, 2010 If a Virginia Beach study finds uranium mining and milling detrimental to Lake Gaston, then a socioeconomic study of the industry would be pointless, said a member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission’s executive committee.

State Sen. Frank Ruff, R-15th District, who is the commission’s vice chairman, said he voted against funding up to $200,000 for a socioeconomic study of uranium mining and milling during a meeting on April 15 because it “wouldn’t be wise” to spend money on the study if uranium mining and milling could contaminate water downstream………

Virginia Uranium Inc. seeks to mine and mill a 119-million pound uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill near Chatham. Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining since 1982. VUI is indirectly paying for a separate, statewide study emphasizing the technical and scientific aspects of mining and milling. The National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council are performing that study, which is expected to be finished in the fall of 2011.

Virginia Beach is studying what a proposed Pittsylvania County uranium mine and mill could do to its water supply — Lake Gaston — in the event of a weather-related disaster. The city is concerned about uranium mining and milling because Lake Gaston, a major source of its drinking water, is located downstream from Coles Hill, site of the proposed uranium mine and mill. Lawmaker: Spending more for uranium socioeconomic study ‘not wise’ | GoDanRiver

April 28, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, water | antinuclear, nuclear secrecy, radiation, reactors, uranium