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Nontechnical Summary
Pages 11-28

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From page 11...
... However, in 1982 the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted a moratorium on uranium mining, and interest in further exploring the Coles Hill deposit waned. In 2007, two families living in the vicinity of Coles Hill formed a company called Virginia Uranium, Inc.
From page 12...
... The report does not focus on the Coles Hill deposit, but instead considers uranium mining, processing, and reclamation in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole. The committee was not asked to consider the benefits of uranium mining either to the nation or to the local economy, nor was it asked to assess the relative risks of uranium mining compared with the mining and processing of other energy sources, for example coal.
From page 13...
... As with power stations fueled by fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas, nuclear power stations heat water to produce steam that in turn drives turbines to generate electricity. In a nuclear power station, the nuclear fission of uranium atoms replaces the burning of coal or gas as the energy source.
From page 14...
... In 2009, world uranium mining fulfilled 74 percent of world reactor requirements, and the remaining 26 percent came from secondary sources such as stockpiles and decommissioned warheads. Uranium was produced in 20 countries in 2010, but eight countries accounted for more than 92 percent of the world's uranium production (see Figure NS.3)
From page 15...
... LIFE CYCLE OF A URANIUM MINE AND PROCESSING FACILITY The process of taking uranium ore out of the ground and transforming it into yellowcake (Box NS.2) , as well as the cleanup and reclamation of the site during mining and processing operations and after operations have ceased, includes several components: • Mining: There are three types of mining that could be used to extract ura nium ore from the ground.
From page 16...
... The solid waste remaining after recovery of uranium from uranium ore in a processing plant are the "tailings." Tailings consist of everything that was in the ore except the extracted uranium. Tailings from uranium mining and processing operations contain radioactive materials remaining from the radioactive decay of uranium, such as thorium and radium.
From page 17...
... URANIUM MINING AND PROCESSING IN VIRGINIA Extensive site-specific analysis is required to determine the appropriate mining and processing methods for each ore deposit, and therefore it is not possible to predict which uranium mining or processing methods might be used in Virginia without more information on the specific uranium deposits to be mined. The geological exploration carried out so far indicates that potential uranium deposits in Virginia are likely to be found in hard rock (as opposed to "soft" rock such as coal)
From page 18...
... These health risks mostly affect workers in the uranium mining and processing facilities, but some risks can also apply to the general population. Health Risks of Radiation Exposure People are exposed to background levels of ionizing radiation every day.
From page 19...
... . form of uranium found in rock, the radionuclides produced in the uranium-238 decay chain are of the most concern in terms of health risks for the people who work in or live near uranium mines and processing facilities.
From page 20...
... Generally, the highest potential radiation-related health risk for uranium workers is lung cancer associated with inhaling the radioactive decay products of radon gas, which are generated during the natural radioactive decay of uranium. In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
From page 21...
... Modern tailings management sites are designed so that the tailings remain segregated from the water cycle, to control mobility of metals and radioactive contaminants, for at least 200 years and possibly up to 1,000 years. However, because monitoring of tailings management sites has only been carried out for a short period, monitoring data are insufficient to assess the long-term effectiveness of tailings management facilities designed and constructed accord ing to modern best practices.
From page 22...
... Failure of an aboveground tailings dam, for example, due to flooding, would allow a significant sudden release of ponded water and solid tailings into rivers and lakes. The precise impacts of any uranium mining and processing operation would depend on a range of specific factors for the particular site.
From page 23...
... Mining activities on non-federally owned land are not regulated by federal agencies or programs -- state laws and regulations have exclusive jurisdiction over these mining activities. Depending on the particular characteristics of a specific facility, a mix of federal and state worker protection laws, as well as federal and state environmental laws, apply to potential air, water, and land pollution resulting from uranium mining activities.
From page 24...
... However, under the current regulatory structure, opportunities for meaningful public involvement are fragmented and limited. Key points in the regulatory process for public participation include the promulgation of regulations of general applicability, the licensing of particular facilities, and the development of postclosure plans for facility reclamation and long-term stewardship.
From page 25...
... For example, guidelines produced by the World Nuclear Association, International Atomic Energy Agency, and International Radiation Protection Association could provide a basis from which specific requirements for any ura nium mining and processing projects in Virginia could be developed. Laws and regulations from other states (e.g., Colorado)
From page 26...
... Health Impacts Best practices for safeguarding worker health include the use of personal meters to monitor workers' exposure to radiation, including radon decay products, and a national radiation dose registry to record workers' occupational exposures to ionizing radiation. This would make it easier for workers to track their expo sure to radiation as they move from site to site.
From page 27...
... As a result, the standards con tained in regulatory programs represent a starting point for establishing a protec tive and proactive program for protecting worker and public health, environmental resources, and ecosystems. The concept of ALARA, an acronym for "as low as is reasonably achievable," is one way of enhancing regulatory standards.


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