VUI: Drilling not affecting water

Responding to media reports and public criticism, Virginia Uranium Inc. issued a news release Tuesday stating categorically that its exploratory drilling at Coles Hill near Chatham had nothing to do with elevated lead levels found in at least one resident’s water supply.

A Pittsylvania County resident who lives about a mile from Coles Hill says the amount of lead in his drinking water skyrocketed to unsafe levels after Virginia Uranium Inc. began exploratory drilling began about a year ago.

Allen Gross, who lives in Sheva, said Virginia Uranium contracted for test and analysis of five water samples on his property from December 2007 to September 2008. Before drilling began, the first test showed a lead measurement of 2.83 parts per billion. But the last sample taken in September showed a level of 17.9 parts per billion, Gross said last week.

The maximum acceptable level of lead in drinking water is 15 parts per billion, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One part per billion is analogous to one penny per $10 million or one second in 32 years, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Patrick Wales, geologist and spokesman for VUI, said the company was required to take water samples of eight locations including wells and ponds around Coles Hill, as well as monitor flow in 15 surrounding creeks and tributaries. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy required the testing and monitoring so VUI could obtain an exploration permit, Wales said.

VUI went beyond its requirement and tested water at about 80 residences around Coles Hill, Wales said. None of the wells are located in a watershed that could be affected by VUI’s exploratory activities, Wales said.

“Wells with reported lead levels in the water are all in geologically and hydrologically isolated areas that are unaffected by activities conducted by our company,” Wales said.

Also, ridges of land and several creeks form boundaries separating the area of VUI’s activities from the sites, Wales said.

“Water doesn’t flow uphill,” Wales said.

Dan Richardson, environmental health manager for the Pittsylvania/Danville Health District, said last week he was not sure what caused the elevated lead content. Elevated lead levels can come from the aquifer, pumps, piping or spigots, Richardson said.

The engineering firm Dewberry conducted the water sampling at Gross’ residence and ProChem Analytical Inc. analyzed the samples.

Virginia Uranium seeks to mine and mill a 119-million-pound uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham. Virginia has banned the practice since the early 1980s.

Gross said he and his wife, Deborah, no longer use their tap water. They drink, cook and brush their teeth using bottled water, he said.

Wales said three creeks separate Coles Hill from the Grosses’ home, which is about a mile southwest from the uranium ore deposit.