Maute wants to know if megapark is protected

By: John Crane | GoDanRiver.com
Published: November 18, 2009

By JOHN R. CRANE

jcrane@registerbee.com

(434) 791-7987

CHATHAM — An opponent of uranium mining and milling has asked the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to prohibit uranium mining within a 25-mile radius of the proposed Berry Hill Road industrial megapark site.

Karen Maute, who lives in Pittsylvania County, proposed a resolution to the board and wants Danville City Council and the Danville Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facilities Authority to sign the resolution along with the county.

“I worry we’re not protecting that area,” Maute said to the board during its adjourned meeting Tuesday night.

Maute proposed the resolution because the 3,700-acre megapark site includes historic Marline mineral leases. Marline Corp. had plans to mine and mill uranium in Pittsylvania County in the early 1980s.

Maute’s resolution points to at least one former Marline parcel covering 504 acres. RIFA owns the leases.

Coy Harville, Westover supervisor and chairman of the board of supervisors, said he would discuss the proposed resolution with the board and RIFA before commenting on it.

“We’re taking it under consideration,” Harville said after the meeting.

Harville said RIFA purchased the property with the condition that the previous owner could not have the mineral rights to the leases. RIFA has no intention of mining uranium at the Berry Hill megapark site, Harville said.

City and county officials hope to attract a major manufacturer to the park site.

Maute also expressed concerns in her resolution about the economic impact of the perception of possible uranium mining at Berry Hill megapark.

“Whereas, it is imperative for industrial prospects to have confidence that their investment in our region will not be compromised by uranium mining if Virginia lifts the current moratorium…” Maute wrote.

Also, the resolution would enable Danville, Pittsylvania County and RIFA to “avoid the appearance of acting as a broker to purchase land for eventual sale to a uranium mining company…”

Crane is a staff writer with the Danville Register & Bee.