Comprising 88 bureaus across Virginia representing over 146,000 farm families, the Bureau has opposed Virginia Uranium’s plan to develop a uranium mine on the region’s large 119 million pound deposit.
The deposit is located in Pittsylvania County and is believed to threaten the state’s significant agricultural industry if the radioactive ore is exposed to the environment.
Governmental relations senior assistant director Andrew Smith told The Associated Press that the Bureau will oppose lifting the moratorium in the General Assembly.
"They came to this conclusion because they’ve seen no evidence so far that technology exits to do it safely right now," Smith said.
Virginia Uranium meanwhilw reiterated that the company would construct below-grade units for minimal threat from radioactive waste, which could contaminate water supplies and farm fields, reported The Washington Post.
The Uranium Working Group, including state mining, environmental and public health officials, will release a report exploring the region’s uranium prospects soon.
