Two groups submit uranium mining study proposals

Two groups have submitted proposals to the Danville Regional Foundation to conduct a foundation-paid regional socioeconomic study of uranium mining and milling.

The public has until July 18 to comment online about the proposals, which can be viewed at www.danvilleregionalfoundation.org.

Washington-headquartered Resources for the Future and RTI International, located in Research Triangle Park, N.C., submitted proposals while a third entity, Battelle International, withdrew due a conflict of interest, said Christina Motley, the foundation’s director of marketing and public relations.

Resources for the Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research on environmental, energy and natural resource issues, according to its proposal. RTI is a research institute whose staff provides research and technical expertise to governments and businesses in more than 40 countries, according to its website.

The foundation received statements of interest from a total of eight organizations earlier this year and invited three to submit proposals. The average cost of the two submitted proposals is about $600,000, Motley said.

“We do not have a position on uranium mining, milling and waste management in Pittsylvania County,” Karl Stauber, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer, said in a prepared statement. “The foundation is sponsoring an independent study so the citizens of the Dan River Region can better understand the implications of uranium mining, milling and waste storage.”

The foundation will gather experts to form a committee — made up of those for, against and neutral on uranium mining and milling — to evaluate and critique the two proposals, Motley said. The selection of the entity to perform the study will be announced in August and the study is scheduled to be finished in late 2011, Motley said.

Virginia Uranium Inc. seeks to mine and mill a 119-million pound uranium ore deposit at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham. Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining and milling since 1982.

The Danville Regional Foundation’s study will focus on a 50-mile radius around Coles Hill. It will analyze the possible impacts of uranium mining, milling and waste management on employment, wages, property taxes, property values, churches, schools, retail businesses and other institutions. The survey will also analyze jobs and secondary industries that may result from uranium mining and milling.

Stauber said the study will be available to the public and the foundation, along with the group conducting the study, will present the study’s results to any legislative body that wishes to hear them.

The foundation’s study is one of four studies of uranium mining and milling either planned or already happening across Virginia.