VUI SCOPING STUDY IS A SHAM!

VUI commenced its so-called scoping study back in March 201o right around the same time when the National Academies of Science announced its decision to agree to conduct the technical study of feasibility of uranium mining in Virginia (despite the obvious conflict of interests, as the study will be paid by VUI). A lot of you hoped that the scoping study would shed some light on the technical details of the proposed mining and milling project. It also sounded very promising at the time when the Coal and Energy Commission's Uranium Mining Subcommittee announced its intention to incorporate the scoping study information into its study of socioeconomic impacts of uranium mining.

We all hoped to finally learn what type of mining and milling VUI will employ, how large the mining operation will be, what will be the scale of the milling operations, how much water the mine and mill will use, where this water will come from, how much electric power the operations will need and who will be supplying that electricity, what heavy machinery will be used, what happens to the water used in the mining and milling operations, how the extracted uranium will be transported and which routes will be used and what types of precautions will be in place. We needed all this information for the study to answer many environmental, health and economic questions, such as: how much water will be consumed; how it will affect the Roanoke River Basin; what happens to the contaminated water discharged from the mine and mill, where will it go, how will it be treated before it is discharged into the environment; how much noise and air pollution will be created by mining and milling operation; how much electric power will be consumed and whether it will affect electric supply to the neighboring communities; how safe our roads will be with all these trucks carrying radioactive yellowcake. It also appears that we will probably never learn how (and if at all) the site will be reclaimed and rehabilitated once all uranium is extracted, and what will happen to the communities when the mining and milling operations get temporarily suspended when uranium prices on global markets hit low and who will be watching over radioactive uranium tailings during those periods.

Instead, we got a 4 page summary with the numbers we all have already seen. The list of occupations to be used at the mine and mill is nothing more than a list that anyone can compile by looking up on Internet general information on personnel employed at any mine and mill. The summary of the so-called scoping study does not explain how the revenue and "investment in the community" estimates were derived and what they are based on. These are not reliable estimates or even predictions; those numbers are just empty promises. A socioeconomic study that relies on empty promises will be an empty promise in itself.

To prevent this situation from happening, attend the June 22 public hearing and voice your recommendations on the scope of the socioeconomic study. Tell the Uranium Mining Subcommittee that you want the study to be based on real facts and that VUI has to provide real information on its planned operations. If you are unable to attend, you have until June 30 to send written comments to the Uranium Subcommittee.

Reference Materials:

Meeting Agenda

Coles Hill Conceptual Study Results Summary

"Virginia Reports study Underway for Coles Hill Uranium Project," Marketwire

'Uranium study gets green light" by Tim Davis, Chatham Star-Tribune

REQUEST THAT URANIUM MINING SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR EXTEND DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS

On June 22, 2010, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission's Uranium Mining Subcommittee will conduct a public hearing to receive the public's recommendations on the scope of the socioeconomic study of impacts of uranium mining on our communities. The Uranium Mining Subcommittee will be accepting written comments until June 30, 2010, only eight days after the date of the meeting. Such a short comment period is insufficient to ensure Virginia citizens' due process rights.

In May 2010, in regard to the procedures to be employed to determine the scope of the socioeconomic study of uranium mining, the Uranium Mining Subcommittee Chairman Ware publicly stated that “the format and procedures will be precisely as were the format and procedures in crafting the scope of study for the technical study” of uranium mining in Virginia.

Just to remind the readers, The first public hearing on the scope of the technical study of uranium mining was held on December 12, 2008, and the deadline for written comments was set on December 29, 2008. The second public hearing was held on January 6, 2009 and written comments were due on January 19, 2009. After the first public hearing on the scope of the technical study interested parties had 17 days to prepare and deliver their written comments; after the second meeting, the interested parties had 13 days. None of the comment deadlines was as unreasonably short as eight days.

The June 30 deadline for submitting written comments is unacceptably short because it provides only eight days to prepare and deliver written comments to the location in Richmond. Given the limited amount of time, comments from those who reside outside of Richmond might never arrive on time unless sent by express mail. Concerned citizens and businesses should not be compelled to prepare and deliver their written comments before they have an opportunity to attend the June 22 public meeting and hear the discussion of issues recommended for inclusion in the scope of the study..

400-500 people are expected to attend the June 22 meeting; naturally, not everyone who is willing and prepared to speak will be able to get included in the agenda. Those people will have only eight days to prepare and deliver their written comments to Richmond. In order to meet the June 30 deadline, interested parties will have to rely on express mail delivery. Not everyone can afford t to pay the express mail costs. The June 30 deadline will essentially deprive those people of an opportunity to provide their comments on a very important matter.

Interested parties should not be deprived of an opportunity to finalize their written comments based on the public discussion of issues at the June 22, 2010 meeting and to submit those comments on time without incurring high costs of express mail delivery.

Please email to Del. Ware at DelLWare@house.virginia.gov to request that the comment deadline be extended to provide more time to prepare comments based on the live discussion of issues at the June 22 meeting.

Reference materials: “Uranium Mining Subcommittee to Meet in Chatham June 22” by Tim Davis, Star-Tribune

December 12, 2008 Meeting Agenda

January 6, 2009 Meeting Agenda

Agenda for the June 22 Public Hearing on the Scope of the Socioeconomic Study of Uranium Mining

Virginia Commission on Coal and Energy
Uranium Mining Sub-Committee

Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Chatham High School Auditorium
Chatham, Virginia

AGENDA

I. Welcome & Call to Order by Delegate Lee Ware, Chairman

II. Public Comment on Scope of Study
The Sub-Committee on Uranium Mining invites members of the public to
recommend points of concern that should be included in the scope of the
socioeconomic study on uranium mining in the Commonwealth. Speakers will be
provided with three minutes to address the sub-committee and may not cede their
time to other speakers. A sign-up list will be available at least one hour prior to
the start of the hearing. Comments should be specific to the scope of the
socioeconomic study on uranium mining and not on whether uranium mining
should be permitted generally.

The Sub-Committee on Uranium Mining also welcomes written comment on the
scope of the study through June 30, 2010. Please send correspondence to the Coal
& Energy Commission, c/o Ellen Porter, Division of Legislative Services, 910
Capitol Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 or eporter@dls.virginia.gov.
The preliminary draft is available in hard copy at the meeting and on the website
for the Coal and Energy Commission at:
http://dls.state.va.us/groups/cec/032409/impacts.pdf

III. Discussion

IV. Adjourn

http://dls.state.va.us/groups/cec/062210/ag062210.pdf