Uranium Mining in Virginia Scientific, Technical, Environmental, Human Health and Safety, and Regulatory Aspects of Uranium Mining and Processing in Virginia (2012) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 29-34
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From page 29... ...
Rather, the committee was charged to provide an independent scientific perspective to inform the discussion, as input to those who will make and implement public policy on behalf of the community. STUDY BACKGROUND The Coles Hill uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County, south central Virginia, was discovered in 1978 and explored in the 1980s by the Marline Uranium Cor 1 The committee uses "processing" throughout the report to encompass all aspects of the process steps that are undertaken to transform raw material extracted from the ground into a granular uranium concentrate product -- dominantly U3O8 "yellowcake." These steps are sometimes referred to as uranium "milling," although strictly speaking, milling is just one component of several processing steps.
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From page 30... ...
In November 2008, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, established within the legislative branch of the state government, created a Ura nium Mining Subcommission to examine the issues related to uranium mining in the Commonwealth and specifically at Coles Hill. The Subcommission expressed interest in a broader study that would encompass the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, and developed a draft statement of task with this broader mandate with input from the NRC.
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From page 31... ...
COMMITTEE PROCESS The National Research Council appointed a committee with broad expertise (Appendix B) , encompassing the diverse uranium mining and processing, worker and public health, environmental protection, and regulatory aspects included in the statement of task.
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From page 32... ...
BOX 1.1 Statement of Task Uranium mining in the Commonwealth of Virginia has been prohibited since 1982 by a state moratorium, although approval for restricted uranium exploration in the state was granted in 2007. A National Research Council study will examine the scientific, technical, environmental, human health and safety, and regulatory aspects of uranium mining, milling, and processing as they relate to the Common wealth of Virginia for the purpose of assisting the Commonwealth to determine whether uranium mining, milling, and processing can be undertaken in a manner that safeguards the environment, natural and historic resources, agricultural lands, and the health and well-being of its citizens.
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From page 33... ...
The report structure is as follows: • Chapter 2 briefly describes the physical and social context in which uranium mining and processing might occur -- the geological and geographic setting, the environmental and climatic characteristics, and the overarching social setting. This chapter does not, however, address the socioeconomic effects that uranium mining and processing might have on affected communities, because such con siderations are beyond the committee's purview.
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From page 34... ...
Note that surface and underground mining techniques are primarily dealt with in this chapter -- and in the report in general -- with ISL/ISR mining of uranium only briefly described for completeness, because it is unlikely to be applicable in Virginia as a consequence of the particular geological characteristics of the Commonwealth. • Chapter 5 outlines adverse human health effects that can potentially arise from uranium mining and processing -- encompassing both occupational health and safety and broader public health perspectives -- as well as brief descriptions of potential human health effects that are not specific to uranium mining.
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