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Uranium mining executives on “independent” uranium study panel

The Southern Environmental Law Center, for instance, objects to Henry A. Schnell, who is with the mining business unit of Areva, the French-owned nuclear services company. The company is the world’s largest producer of uranium

Questions raised about Va. uranium study members, BusinessWeek, By STEVE SZKOTAK , RICHMOND, Va. As an independent scientific panel is assembled to study the risks of uranium mining in Virginia, environmental groups are questioning whether some of its provisional members can be impartial because of their ties to the nuclear power industry or mining interests.

The Southern Environmental Law Center, for instance, objects to Henry A. Schnell, who is with the mining business unit of Areva, the French-owned nuclear services company. The company is the world’s largest producer of uranium, primarily in Canada, Africa and Eastern Europe.

“Mr. Schnell, as an employee with the industry, clearly has a financial interest in the matter and as such presents a conflict of interest that could impair his objectivity,” the SELC wrote in a letter to a division of the National Academy of Sciences…..

Clean Water Action, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Southside water protection agencies also raised questions about members who have ties to the mining industry. Some also sought to broaden the expertise of the study panel to include an expert in hydrology.

The membership of the National Research Council committee has been approved by the National Academy of Sciences but members are still subject to review before their appointments are finalized, said Jennifer A. Walsh, a spokeswoman for the National Academy of Sciences.

The review, she said, would look into possible conflicts of committee members. The committee has not scheduled its first meeting. The study will examine the scientific, technical, environmental and human health risks of uranium mining, milling and processing at a rich deposit in Pittsylvania County. Its findings are due in 2011. Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining since 1982. Before uranium can be mined in Virginia, the General Assembly would have to lift the ban……

Environmental groups have cautioned that uranium milling will contaminate crops and drinking water supplies. Milling involves using a chemical agent to extract uranium from mined ore.

The city of Virginia Beach has launched its own study of the possible impact on its drinking water supplies if a storm or heavy rain washed away waste millings from the mine.

Questions raised about Va. uranium study members – BusinessWeek

August 28, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, uranium