Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram

The Heartland Institute of Chicago, a think-tank and national authority on groundwater hydrology and nuclear energy, has issued a new report concluding that the Commonwealth of Virginia's vast and undeveloped uranium deposits can be mined safely and with minimal environmental impact.  This study provides support to plans currently in place to lift an over 25 year old moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia.

Virginia's Cole Hill uranium deposit is one of the largest undeveloped sources of uranium left in the world and has been projected to produce over 120 million pounds of "yellow cake" over its lifetime - enough to meet Virginia's current nuclear needs for the next 75 years.

The following are some of the report's key findings and conclusions regarding the safety of uranium mining.

• Since the 1970s modern best practices and stringent regulation have successfully protected surface and groundwater systems near uranium operations.

• International standards, robust national and state regulations, and substantial national and state regulatory experience will guide uranium mining and safety practices in Virginia.

• The risk to the public of radiation exposure from uranium mining and milling activities is negligible and significantly lower than the radiation exposure from natural background sources. This means the risk of cancer or other adverse health impacts is negligible, or effectively zero.

• Virginia’s regulatory agencies currently regulate 247 active coal mines and 455 nonfuel mineral mines throughout the state, where they manage many of the same public health, worker safety, and environmental risks posed by uranium mining including radon.

For more information or to read the full report, please click here.