[Approx. Read/Watch Time: 5 minutes]
You may have read on Clean Energy Insight before about the Coles Hill, Virginia uranium deposit. Pittsylvania County, Virginia is known for its tobacco farms, but it’s also home to the largest untapped uranium deposit in the United States. Currently, the National Academy of Sciences is conducting an 18 month study to determine the effects that uranium mining will have on the area.
Despite an objective study currently being done to determine if uranium mining can be done safely at Coles Hill, there has been some opposition from a small group of people in Southwest Virginia. Some anti-uranium mining groups from other states have even come in and attempted to organize opposition based on fear tactics and baseless myths.
The Virginia Energy Independence Alliance has put together a great video dispelling some of the myths being put out there by radical opposition groups.
Myth 1: There is no established need for uranium in the United States. The US exports most of its uranium.
Myth 2: Uranium test drilling at Coles Hill is leading to lead contamination in local wells.
Myth 3: Uranium has never been safely mined. Especially, in a temperate environment like that of Southwest Virginia.
Myth 4: Problems from uranium mining in Navajo communities in the 1950’s will happen again if uranium mining were started in Southwest Virginia.
Thanks to VEIA for the great video, and I hope there are more to come. Enjoy.
Learn The Facts About Uranium from Jason Phillips on Vimeo.
Very well done video. It’s amusing to see the opposition use fear mongering and misinformation to try to defeat a project that would create jobs and increase our domestic energy resources. Outreach will always be an important facet to the nuclear industry to make sure the public knows that their safety is paramount and VEIA is doing an excellent job combating the luddite propaganda.
Actually, the video is a PR piece designed purely to promote one industry’s interests. It does not address legitimate, peer-reviewed scientific studies from this decade (in the US) that indicate uranium can damage DNA as a heavy metal, has estrogenic properties, and is showing an higher incidence of kidney disease in communities within close proximity of mining features.
Secondly, no one ever wants to address what happens after the mining to surrounding communities — including who would be responsible for the expense of ongiong monitoring of the enormous amount of mine waste and tailings (they DO want to build a mill there), and the millions and millions of dollars that go into any reclamation project or the decommissioning of a mill.
Thirdly, France can’t accurately be compared to Pittsylvania County’s climate because they haven’t received the flash flooding and other severe weather created by tropical systems moving up from the Gulf of Mexico (or in from the Atlantic). These can literally dump inches of rain when a system stalls, which is well documented in records.
Lastly, shame on the creators of this video for targeting various private citizens by using mere snippets of footage obtained during public meetings - they could’ve simply addressed the “myths” and provided answers in a video without using that tactic. Some were simply voicing concern about the water their families depend upon - and yet, their quest for answers was used to humiliate them.
Myth 1: is a myth for the Nukes, US federal gov’t controls uranium and no one else! Niger uranium is done by the France with little regards to the health of the local people, pure evil!
Myth 2: is a myth for the Nukes, it took to so call Va Health Dept. 6 months to go to the site! He did not test the water correctly, as VUI, Inc tested the wells. Oh, by the way, Mr. Coles does not live at Coles Hills (not Myth), has a house in Danville!
Myth 3: is a myth for Nukes, France and Canada are socialist gov’t, they dictate to their people, have dug uranium mining’s and they have problems! According to NOAA, France does not have hurricanes but they have floods sometimes, all of Virginia has flash flooding with just a 1 1/2 inch rain, I have pictures of Coles Hills with just that amount of water. Canada does have some lows from hurricanes, which has flooded but not often. The south has lots of humidity and inversion (you may have to look up the meaning)! Virginia weather is extremes and cannot be comparing with France or Canada!
Myth 4:is a myth for nukes, the Navajo communities, people in Utah were subjects for the Federal gov’t testing with radiation, sort of like the Federal gov’t made our Veterans watch nuke test or they were have been punish. Nothing modern about blowing up a hillside for open pit uranium mining within a mile of people’s home or schools! Nothing modern about nasty uranium mills except a few more computers but still no plans for uranium mine tailings or you could do like the French, just dump in back into the pit and call it reclaiming the land!
I will expose the myths you made up from the good people of Southside whose hidden agenda is to protect our homes from greedy Canadian gov’t!
I expose the myths with proof that you are full of nuke on the brain!
We do not care about the so call uranium study paid for by the Nukes!