Uranium Mining in Virginia
Bill in General Assembly would pave the way for mining
A bill has been introduced in the General Assembly to initiate a study of mining uranium in Virginia. The bill as written, however, fails in multiple ways to assure the citizens of Virginia that a thorough analysis, open to the public, would result.
- SB 525 does not require any independent scientific analysis. The bill merely creates a political commission that “may contract with the National Academy of Sciences.” Moreover, even if the Commission contracted for a study, the Commission would retain the discretion on whether to forward the results of that study on to the General Assembly.
- SB 525 does not guarantee citizen input on the Commission. The bill would create a fifteen-member politically appointed commission, with 6 members from the General Assembly and 9 from the Governor. There is no requirement that members of the public health, environmental, and locally impacted communities be represented.
- SB 525 does not guarantee public hearings before the Commission. Given the longstanding ban on uranium mining in Virginia, it is essential that the Commission be required to receive and consider public comment from concerned citizens.
- SB 525 does not guarantee adequate funding, or any funding. Proponents of uranium mining in Virginia have suggested that a study would need $1 million to be adequately funded. And yet, there is nothing in the bill to guarantee any funding for the necessary scientific research. Any bill must establish a minimum threshold level of funding that must be secured before the Commission can be convened.
- SB 525 creates a process that pre-judges the outcome of any study, making it impossible to conduct the scientific analysis impartially. The bill asks the commission to consider both public health and safety issues as well as “the statutory and regulatory mechanisms necessary” to mine uranium in Virginia. That's putting the cart before the horse. The threshold question is whether uranium mining and the production of yellowcake can be done safely in Virginia. SB 525 presupposes the outcome of the study by trying to develop regulations without first answering the fundamental, threshold question – can it be done safely?
An impartial study bill would be narrowly tailored to require a properly funded, National Academy of Sciences or similarly unbiased scientific study, free from political pressures and undue influence. SB 525 fails to meet this test.
