nuclear-news

North Carolina’s water faces danger from Virginia uranium mining

Virginia uranium mining ‘would be a huge mistake’ for NC HENDERSON, N.C.WRAL News : Beau Minnick, 27 June 12, — As Virginia considers lifting a 30-year-old ban on uranium mining, some North Carolina residents have been crossing the border to share their concerns about the possible environmental effects on this state.

Lifting the ban, which has been in place since 1982, would allow a Chatham, Va., company to tap into the nation’s largest undeveloped resource of uranium. The question is how that could impact Kerr Lake and surrounding bodies of water, which straddle both states.

Some Warren County homeowners say they worry uranium waste could
settle in the water, which is also used as a drinking water source.
Last week, they went to a public hearing in Virginia to voice their
concerns.

“It would be like opening Pandora’s box, not just for this region, but
for the nation as a whole,” said Warren County resident Deborah
Ferruccio. “(This is about) the powers-that-be wanting to get energy
the quickest, easiest way they can get (it) without having to deal
with the repercussions.”

Warren County resident Tommy Harris says allowing the mining “would be
a huge mistake.”

“If there was just one bad accident or one mishap where the dust gets
away, the stuff gets in our water,” Harris said. “There’s no telling
how many people it would displace.”…. The decision on whether to
allow mining is up to Virginia lawmakers and will probably be decided
next year. If the ban is lifted, at least five years must pass before
any work is done to allow time to get all the appropriate permits.

Some of those opposed to the project say they are committed to
conducting nonviolent civil disobedience to show their opposition.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/11256451/

June 28, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uranium, USA, water