People's Alliance For Clean Energy

Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 5:30pm
Senior Center

Would the job opportunities and tax revenue in the state of Virginia
be worth the risks associated with uranium mining and milling in
Virginia? Take a closer look at a forum later this month.

In the late 1970’s Marline Corporation, a Canadian mining firm leased
12, 000 acres of land in Northern Virginia and 18,000+ acres in the
neighborhood of Pittsylvania County for the possible extraction of
uranium ore and it’s processing in mills. Many groups opposed the
proposition after researching the negative effects uranium mining and
milling had in the west, and the Virginia State legislature invoked a
moratorium on the mining and milling of uranium in Virginia. Shortly
after that the price of uranium “yellow cake” dropped to an
uneconomical level and interest waned.

With the recent increase in the price of uranium, interest has renewed
and Virginia Uranium, Inc. has been actively trying to lift the
moratorium and engage in the extraction of uranium from Coles Hill in
Pittsylvania County Virginia. With the state lifting the moratorium
for the mine in Pittsylvania, the industry could be extended to
northern Virginia and have an impact on northern Virginia watersheds,
real estate values, tourism and agriculture.

One of the farms in Orange County, on the Rapidan River, (land was
leased in Orange, Madison, Culpeper and Fauquier counties) turned out
to be the most radioactive site in Northern Virginia and belonged to
Bill Speiden. Before signing a lease with the Canadian uranium
company, Bill and his family traveled to Colorado and Utah to visit
uranium mines and mills, hoping to find a safe business that would
reap riches to him and his family. However, the problems that research
unearthed in a semi-arid climate convinced the Speidens not to sign a
lease on their farm for fear of not only damaging their land, but also
the water, soil, and air of neighbors downstream and down wind, and
the agriculture of central Virginia.

Mr. Speiden has developed a Powerpoint presentation on what he has
learned about this industry and, in the interest of educating the
public, is willing to share the information with others. His talk
includes recent developments in the trade.

A public relations firm for Virginia Uranium, Inc. has been contacted
and has indicated it will have a speaker at the forum so that both
sides can be represented.
Mr. Speiden points out that this is not a pro and con talk about the
use of nuclear power—the subject is restricted just to the front end
of the nuclear cycle, the mining and milling of uranium in Virginia.

Please come with questions.

Open to all.

Location:
Senior Center
Fee: free