Sierra Club Disappointed by Gov’s Uranium Directive

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For Immediate Release
January 19, 2012

For More Information
Lisa Guthrie (804) 240-1976
Mary Rafferty (401) 862-8749
Chris Miller (540) 347-2334

Conservation Groups Disappointed by 
Governor’s Administrative Directive on Uranium Mining

In response to Governor McDonnell’s recent directive, conservation organizations expressed concern about the rush to write regulations for the uranium industry behind closed doors.

“On behalf of Virginians across the Commonwealth, we are disappointed by the approach which bypasses the citizens’ elected representatives in the House and Senate. It is unprecedented to undercut the legislature and move forward with uranium regulations without the General Assembly having acted.  This is a decision that should be made by the people of Virginia and their elected legislators that represent them,” said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

“For the last four years the uranium industry has been trying to buy the votes of our legislators,” said Mary Rafferty, Grassroots Organizer with Sierra Club – Virginia Chapter.  “Since this approach hasn’t proven successful, the industry is hoping to once again side-step the public process with administrative action.”

Four years ago, in the 2008 General Assembly Session, concerned citizens defeated a budget amendment to move forward with uranium activities.  Following that defeat, the uranium industry has paid for a study to research the potential impacts of uranium mining in the Commonwealth, taken legislators on first class trips to France, launched a massive PR campaign and hired more than a dozen lobbyist from the top firms in Richmond.

Despite the industry’s attempt to move forward with uranium mining, many say the study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, raised more questions than it answered.  The study, released in Dec 2011, highlighted major public health and environmental concerns related to the potential mining and long-term storage of radioactive waste in Virginia.

“It is a waste of time and money to start drafting regulations at this time. The National Academy of Sciences report affirmed just how risky uranium mining in Virginia could be, and called on the Commonwealth not to move forward without substantial public input and without extensive scientific and technical briefings.  Drafting regulations now would be putting the cart before the horse,” said Chris Miller, President Piedmont Environmental Council.

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