The Danville Register Bee published another editorial today that presented Virginia Uranium Inc. in a negative light. Their editorial board commended Virginia Beach for “opposing the mining of uranium in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the absence of an unbiased, conclusive study of the potential effects thereof”
First of all, why is the City Council being so impatient and reactionary? The Virginia Legislature just approved the study of uranium mining. It’s going to take a couple of years to complete. Also, why not wait and condemn uranium mining until after the report is released?
Second, the ordinance assumes the study will be biased and inconclusive. Why is the City Council being so pessimistic? The National Academy of Sciences and Virginia Tech are world-class institutions that thrive on their impartiality. All Virginians will get a fair study.
The Virginia Beach City Council decided to condemn uranium mining, but they also said they support the study. This just shows they have failed to keep an open mind about the study process. The ordinance was a poorly worded knee-jerk reaction to Virginia Uranium gaining permission for an independent academic study that won’t cost taxpayers a dime.
First of all, why is the City Council being so impatient and reactionary? The Virginia Legislature just approved the study of uranium mining. It’s going to take a couple of years to complete. Also, why not wait and condemn uranium mining until after the report is released?
Second, the ordinance assumes the study will be biased and inconclusive. Why is the City Council being so pessimistic? The National Academy of Sciences and Virginia Tech are world-class institutions that thrive on their impartiality. All Virginians will get a fair study.
The Virginia Beach City Council decided to condemn uranium mining, but they also said they support the study. This just shows they have failed to keep an open mind about the study process. The ordinance was a poorly worded knee-jerk reaction to Virginia Uranium gaining permission for an independent academic study that won’t cost taxpayers a dime.
6 comments:
I read the resolution unanimously adopted by the Virginia Beach City Council. I am genuinely puzzled.
How could a group of leaders in a sophisticated Virginia city endorse a statement so burdened with nearly hysterical rhetoric? Even if some of the concerns are valid (and certainly it is valid to want to have clean drinking water), I am confused over what seems to be emotion and anger throughout.
I read the statement on a website but cannot find it in the newspaper from Virginia Beach. That made me wonder whether the press there viewed the resolution as something so wacky that it was not worth repeating.
My real question, in case someone knows an answer, is why this group endorsed such a screed when, it seems to me, they might have simply said: "We urge the uranium study being conducted by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission to consider every possible ramification of uranium mining 200 miles away on the quality of our drinking water in Virginia Beach."
Can any one explain what got this group so riled up? They appear so very easily led by someone that I think we should be glad they weren't at Jonestown.
Thanks for any observations.
Gabe - it would be good to get some insight into why the VB City Council felt it necessary to vote on this resolution before the study has even been released. Their move seems very irrational.
You're right - the City Council does have a right to protect their water, but they shouldn't pass judgement until they have all of the information concerning uranium mining.
Wish I could answer your question. I think mining opponents would need to explain the motivation behind the resolution.
Instead of calling these officials - who have been studying the facts surrounding this issue - reactionary, I would venture to say they are being PRECAUTIONARY. They are saying that based on the FACTS that they know for sure (which were reported in their policy report), their precious water source that they worked SO hard to obtain years ago WILL be threatened by uranium mining and milling at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County. The FACT remains that there is no such containment device that has ever been proven to hold up "forever".
Give VB management a break. They are trying to protect their people.
"They are saying that based on the FACTS that they know for sure"
Layne - the study will give us the facts.
It will give us the truth about uranium mining. If you're confident the facts will show us that uranium mining is dangerous, then why not support the study?
Did I ever say that I DON'T support a study? I absolutely support a study that addresses EVERY aspect of u-mining and milling. A dear friend of mine is currently terminal because of the FACTS surrounding our government's RECENT mishandling of uranium out west. This is a YOUNG man - and his body is filled with cancer - not because of things that went wrong a LONG time ago. SO - if this study that you are promoting also takes a LONG HARD LOOK at the health effects surrounding Uranium mines and mills - I certainly believe that this study will show that the health of the people in the Coles Hill area - as well as those downstream (VB water consumers)- will be threatened.
Layne - I'm glad to hear you support the study; Guess I shouldn't have been so presumptuous.
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