Today, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission voted to urge the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences or other comparable scientific or academic institution, independent of the Center, to conduct a wide-ranging study on the impact of uranium mining in the Commonwealth. Any proposal is subject to review and approval by the Commission and no public funding has been appropriated by the Commission.

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) remains concerned that the Commonwealth of Virginia is prematurely poised to expend considerable resources in promoting a study of uranium mining in Virginia. Prior to expending any effort on this matter the Commonwealth of Virginia should determine if uranium mining has been undertaken safely in any other state or country with similar atmospheric and environmental conditions that we experience in our State. Any action otherwise by the Commonwealth to engage in the study recommended by the Commission is premature.

Robert Lazaro
Director of Communications
571.225.0198