Main St and Military Dr 3:30 pm
Chatham's next-to-Finest,Main St 3:30 pm
Rear deck 3:30 pm
Back side yard 3:0 pm
Front side yard 5:30 pm
Back yard 5:30 pm
Back yard 5:30 pm
Main St, 5:30 pm
5:30 pm
Main St and Military Dr, 5:30pm
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Snow Pics 2:20 pm
Ok, now we've got something to see!
Front side yard--It's sticking!!!!
Back deck-It's the real thing!
Back yard (Hargrave Soccer Field in Background) - Snowing
Snow Watch from Chatham, VA Bulletin #2
1: 20 pm ........The Snow Begins
The snow began as a wet snow around 1:20 pm but quickly turned to a thick, sticking snow here in north chatham, VA. As I write, it has lightened up some.
Already the phone calls are coming in from friends and family excited to see this year's first real snow. What's happening where you are? How deep is it there? What are the roads like?
Write and let me know!
11:00 am 03-01-09 Back yard (bkgrnd> Hargave Soccer Field) - Rain only
11:00 am 03-01-09 Rear Deck - about 1/8" accumulation slush
11:00 am 03-01-09 Front Side Yard-Rain Only
Snow Watch from Chatham, VA
Bulletin #1 -03/01/2009
9:42 am Sunday >> The Storm Begins
Sleet mixed with rain began in the Chatham, VA area around 9:42 am Sunday. By 10:15 am, it was all sleet, at least as of this writing and in the North Main St area of Chatham. Various forecasters are calling for as much as 6 to 10 inches of the pretty white stuff in our little town and surrounding areas!
Wow! I can't remember that much since I came to Chatham in 2003. This storm's precipitation is coming from the south and that's the recipe for accumulation, or, at least that's what I've been told.
Two requests: One, as we ride out this storm together, send me stories of previous snow events in Chatham that you have experienced. I'll print them with or without your name at your request.
And, two, tell me what is happening at your house as we go through the storm by clicking on the COMMENTS button at the end of each article or by just emailing me. Tell me what is falling, how deep the accumulation is there, road conditions, etc.
Email me at john_chaney@hotmail.com . Let's have some fun with this!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Chatham Fights Back !
(From Chatham resident Henry Mitchell at http://www.mitchellspublications.com/articles/hhm/0008/ )
Vultures over Chatham (or Chatham over vultures?)
The above photo shows a partial view of the vultures swarming over Chatham yesterday afternoon (February 23) after the USDA team discharged pyrotechnic devices. Within minutes after the photograph was taken, the flock moved southwestward away from Chatham, and out of sight. Photo by Henry Mitchell.
Monday, February 23, 2009
More...How to Kill a Vulture
(From Chatham resident Henry Mitchell)
Vulture Wars.....This Just In....
In response to my vulture article, an elderly local gentleman offers further ancient country wisdom, imparted to him in his youth by another elderly gentleman. My acquaintance reports that a large flock of Black Vultures moved into the trees around his family's home.
Their senior neighbor advised them that they needed to startle the vultures in the middle of a moonless or cloudy night, so they would awaken and fly away on reflex. He told them that the vultures would not re-roost in the utter darkness, and so would fly all night and would be so far away they would never return.
He suggested the use of a shotgun for maximum noise, fired upward so as not to hit any of the birds. They followed the neighbor's suggestion, and the flock of vultures flew away and was never seen again.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Vulture Culture Continues......
(The following is from http://www.mitchellspublications.com/articles/hhm/0008/ and is authored by Chatham resident Patricia Mitchell)
A Really Big Thanksgiving Bird
Not long before Thanksgiving 2002 a huge black bird with a vigorous human-like stride moved into our neighborhood. Since it was always walking, never flying, we assumed it was hurt or ill. A call to the local animal control officer verified our guess: a black vulture, probably injured. The officer advised that he could provide no help for the animal; either it would eventually recuperate, or it wouldn't. The fact that it seemed so perky, even after many days, seemed to bode well for it.
Every day we saw it in a different spot. Some nights it slept leaning against our front door, so that when we opened the door in the morning we had to nudge the bird gently to waken it. It seemed not particularly frightened of us, or of anything.
Every day we saw it in a different spot. Some nights it slept leaning against our front door, so that when we opened the door in the morning we had to nudge the bird gently to waken it. It seemed not particularly frightened of us, or of anything.
The neighborhood cats and dogs hardly knew what to think of it, even apparently tolerating its foraging from their outdoor food bowls. Some would follow it around, but at a respectable distance. Even normally aggressive dogs were quite wary of this big bird!
A humorous moment occurred when my husband Henry approached the bird for a photograph in our neighbor's yard. Just as he snapped the picture he realized that in the nearby shadows the neighbor's red Persian cat T. J. (named for Thomas Jefferson, another red-haired Virginian) had been rapidly stalking the bird (see photograph). Within a fraction of a second after the picture was taken, T. J. started to leap onto the bird, paused almost in mid-air, and ran hard in the opposite direction. Too much Thanksgiving “turkey” for T. J. to handle!
As the weeks went by, the bird ranged farther and farther from our house. Eventually we were seeing it several blocks away. By Christmas, we did not spot it again. Hopefully the bird was able to rejoin its friends and relatives for the holidays!
___________________________________________________________________
Notes
1/19/03 update - We have received a report of a lone black vulture, flying low in the neighborhood around Hargrave Military Academy, very close to where we last saw our holiday acquaintance. We can at least speculate that the bird is now airborne and strengthening.
Photographs are by Henry Mitchell.
More on the Chatham Vultures
(From Chatham resident Henry Mitchell)
Vultures---"Ancient Country Wisdom"
I recall from long ago some supposed principles regarding nuisance Black Vultures (speaking specifically of Black Vultures, sometimes referred to around here as "Carolina Buzzards," not the larger red-headed Turkey Buzzards):
1. Their attraction to an area is for the purpose of roosting; i.e.,
undisturbed sleep.
2. If individual buzzards' sleep is upset, they will not return to that
roost;
3. Therefore one's objective is to shift the collective memory of the
flock by dissuading individuals from roosting in the area in question;
4. And therefore, furthermore, killing the birds does not accomplish that
objective, unless you kill all of them, which is nearly impossible (or so
goes the theory).
An example solution is to startle individual vultures, precisely and one at a time, starting at the periphery of the group and working inward, so they are awakened one at a time, rather than as a flock. This maneuver occurs immediately after they go to sleep, which is during dusk just before absolute darkness. The window of opportunity for this action is only a few minutes. When they are startled they rouse and leave, and find a different roost, and in this manner "reset" their roosting habit. (This is an assignment for an 8- year-old or older in the household.) It is best accomplished with a silent gravel-shooter (slingshot built on a forked stick) with dead aim. It will apply just enough pain to startle the bird awake, but not enough to injure it or prevent it from flying to a new location. If the young vulture-moving specialist is unskilled with a gravel shooter and/or doesn't own one (we used to construct them out of green forked branches, inner-tube strips, and old leather shoe tongues), a secondary alternative might be a low-velocity, non- penetrating BB gun with very accurate sighting. (It makes a little noise, but hopefully not enough to awaken the birds. If the BB gun is noisy, or inaccurate at the distance chosen, or strong enough to actually injure the bird, it won't work. A pump-action high-velocity pellet gun, for example, would be entirely the wrong instrument.)
1. Their attraction to an area is for the purpose of roosting; i.e.,
undisturbed sleep.
2. If individual buzzards' sleep is upset, they will not return to that
roost;
3. Therefore one's objective is to shift the collective memory of the
flock by dissuading individuals from roosting in the area in question;
4. And therefore, furthermore, killing the birds does not accomplish that
objective, unless you kill all of them, which is nearly impossible (or so
goes the theory).
An example solution is to startle individual vultures, precisely and one at a time, starting at the periphery of the group and working inward, so they are awakened one at a time, rather than as a flock. This maneuver occurs immediately after they go to sleep, which is during dusk just before absolute darkness. The window of opportunity for this action is only a few minutes. When they are startled they rouse and leave, and find a different roost, and in this manner "reset" their roosting habit. (This is an assignment for an 8- year-old or older in the household.) It is best accomplished with a silent gravel-shooter (slingshot built on a forked stick) with dead aim. It will apply just enough pain to startle the bird awake, but not enough to injure it or prevent it from flying to a new location. If the young vulture-moving specialist is unskilled with a gravel shooter and/or doesn't own one (we used to construct them out of green forked branches, inner-tube strips, and old leather shoe tongues), a secondary alternative might be a low-velocity, non- penetrating BB gun with very accurate sighting. (It makes a little noise, but hopefully not enough to awaken the birds. If the BB gun is noisy, or inaccurate at the distance chosen, or strong enough to actually injure the bird, it won't work. A pump-action high-velocity pellet gun, for example, would be entirely the wrong instrument.)
A startled bird is likely to awaken one or more of its roosting neighbors, which may then fly off without having been "thumped." Not having associated the roost with discomfort, that bird might return to the same roost, or so goes the theory. So the project may take more than one evening for successful completion -- although the theory is that the birds are so communal that success with several birds may be enough to move the entire flock.
Admittedly, this may only move the birds a short distance. It also doesn't dimininish the flock. And even this much disturbance to the critters may be at least theoretically outside the bounds of present-day restrictions of some kind . . . ? (Someone else will have to answer that question; I don't know.)
But to actually rid the town of the beasts, I suppose the shock, awe, and
firepower planned is necessary. Plus, the above set of principles is
merely passed along from "ancient country wisdom" and probably not considered
valid by modern experts on Black Vulture behavior.
On a related topic, here is a link to an article about one of the probable founding fathers of the Black Vulture flock along Chatham's Tanyard Branch:
http://www.foodhistory.com/foodnotes/window/vulture/01/
Friday, February 20, 2009
Chatham Takes on Vultures
(The following is from Chatham Town Manager Mike Jones)
Vulture Eradification Starts Monday, Feb. 23!
To: All Interested Parties
From: Mr. Michael A. Jones
Town Manager
Town of Chatham, Virginia
Date: Friday Feb. 20, 2009
Re: USDA Vulture Eradication Program Commencement
On Monday Feb. 23, 2009, representatives from the USDA will be in Chatham to begin the Vulture eradication program. This program will consist of killing vultures and placing their carcass in the trees by the roost.
From: Mr. Michael A. Jones
Town Manager
Town of Chatham, Virginia
Date: Friday Feb. 20, 2009
Re: USDA Vulture Eradication Program Commencement
On Monday Feb. 23, 2009, representatives from the USDA will be in Chatham to begin the Vulture eradication program. This program will consist of killing vultures and placing their carcass in the trees by the roost.
After the vultures are killed, a program of shooting pyrotechnics into the trees will commence for the next seven days. The majority of this activity will take place around 4-6 pm daily.
The Chatham Police department will be training with the USDA officials so that they can assist in the eradication.
I would ask anyone who wishes to participate in this program who is Town residents to meet at Town Hall at 4 pm on Monday Feb 23, 2009.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (434) 334-9647.
Thank you for helping make your Town a better place to live!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Chatham "Gets it", Goes for Stimulus Bonus!
(From http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/chatham_hopes_to_snag_some_stimulus/9040/ 021/13/2009)
Chatham Manager Mike Jones says "Show me the Money" on Federal Stimulus Bill
Chatham’s town manager hopes at least a little of the $787.2 billion stimulus package passed Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives comes his way to help repair the town’s crumbling infrastructure.
Mike Jones has drawn up a wish list of more than 30 infrastructure items in Chatham that need upgrading to maintain operations. Chief among the repairs are those for the water system, since the town weathered two major shutdowns of its supply late last year due to insufficient equipment and decaying lines.
Chatham residents were without safe water for three days in December because of a waterline break.
Jones said it is paramount that municipalities like Chatham improve aging water and sewer lines, sidewalks and other infrastructure, “not to gain a competitive advantage, but just to keep our community functioning.” Other items on the list include broadband access, more funding for the town’s police force, home weatherization, public transportation and improved cell-phone coverage.
Jones estimates funding for the 32 improvements, upgrades and other requests would add up to about $500 million. The town manager said he will be happy if he gets enough money for just two or three of the items.
“I’d rather be guilty of the sin of commission than the sin of omission,” Jones said, adding he and other town officials have met with U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, andoutlined the town’s needs.
“Our water and wastewater systems are on the verge of a catastrophic collapse,” Jones said in a letter to the congressman, “a collapse that will unduly affect us due to the poverty and infirmity of many of our older citizens.”
Virginia should expect $890 million from the overall stimulus package for infrastructure such as water, and another $694 million for roads and bridges, Perriello said during a press teleconference Friday.
The freshman congressman said there are no earmarks for specific projects in the bill. Money will go to federal agencies and the state to respectively determine how the money will be dispersed.
Perriello will advocate for funds to be sent to communities within his district, press secretary Jessica Barba said Friday. Perriello said he has talked to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine about Chatham’s water woes and other challenges.
“We’re extremely eager to make that a primary project,” he said.
Improvements Jones would like to see in Chatham include emergency power generators at Chatham’s water treatment and wastewater lift station; a raw waterline directly from Cherrystone and Roaring Fork lakes to the water treatment plant; a modernized post office with parking and handicap access; expanded natural gas service in the town; and modernization of town facilities, including solar power at Town Hall.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Patrick J Buchanan on Obama Stimulus Plan
(From http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30527 02/03/2009)
"Wish I'd Said That" Department:
But does it make sense to include in a plan to prepare America for the
21st century borrowing billions from Beijing to mail out in $500
checks to folks who don't pay income taxes, so they can run down to
Wal-Mart and buy more goods made in China?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Do Not Miss This Meeting
For Immediate Release
What: Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 20th, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Chatham Courthouse
Limit County Board of Supervisors Chairmanship to One-Year Term
What: Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 20th, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Chatham Courthouse
Limit County Board of Supervisors Chairmanship to One-Year Term
Staunton River District Supervisor Marshall Ecker proposes an ordinance that would limit board chairmanship to a one-year term. In the interest of limiting the power of any one supervisor and ensuring more just, democratic board deliberation and decision-making, all Pittsylvania citizens are urged to attend the County Board of Supervisors meeting at the Chatham Courthouse on Tuesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m., and demonstrate support for this ordinance
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Gang-Busting in Pittsylvania County
Citizens Need to Demand the Breakup of the Infamous "Gang of Four"
Gang-busting in any community is a primary concern of the affected citizens of said community. Gangs only serve themselves at the expense of the community at large. No one benefits from the operation of a gang other than the GANG itself.
In most communities, the responsibility for busting up the local gangs falls upon the local law enforcement authorities. However, in Pittsylvania county, this responsibility to "bust up" the GANG OF FOUR" rests upon the voters in our county.
Here, we have a situation not much unlike communist Russia, and also the socialist president of Venezuela, where the incumbent leaders want to extend their rule of the land beyond the legal or customary term of office. It has been customary in Pittsylvania county to rotate the Chairmanship of the Board of supervisors on an annual basis. The rationale behind this is that no one person could dominate the political powers that come with such a high office.
However, with the rise and domination of the GANG OF FOUR of our county's political landscape, this previously-wise practice has been tossed aside by the GANG OF FOUR! Just this month, the GANG re-elected Coy Harville to a SECOND STRAIGHT term as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
County citizens deserve better from their Board of Supervisors!! We don't need a continuation of the policy of financial discrimination against various districts of the county because their elected representative is NOT a member of the GANG OF FOUR!
We, as the voters of the county as a whole, need to BUST this GANG! It only serves the interests of the GANG and not the county as a whole.
Call your Supervisor and let them know that YOU are a GANG-BUSTER and you want a LIMIT on the term of the Board Chairman!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
This Town "Gets It" !
Why Can't Chatham's Leadership Follow this Town's Example?
When the first waterline break occurred, we emailed the leadership of the Town of Chatham and recommended that it should do what this town has apparently already figured out. Not one of those emailed ever responded, with the exception of one elected official who simply said, "Yeah, I got your email!"
Now, it is probably too late to get on the bandwagon as projects to be funded in the stimulus package have to be "ready to go". Apparently, in Chatham, our projects are "ready to go nowhere". Alas, what a loss of opportunity over a failure to take action!
(From http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/stimulus/2009/01/08/why-a-tiny-alabama-town-wants-a-375-million-chunk-of-the-stimulus.html 01/08/2009)
Why a Tiny Alabama Town Wants a $375 Million Chunk of the Stimulus
By Amanda Ruggeri
Posted January 8, 2009
By Amanda Ruggeri
Posted January 8, 2009
At first glance, the town of Edwardsville, Ala., with a population of 194 people, might raise a few eyebrows with its bid to receive $375 million from the economic stimulus package being assembled by Barack Obama and lawmakers in Congress.
The tiny town, located near the Georgia border and 26 miles from the nearest "big city" of Anniston (population: 24,276), added 33 proposals—about two thirds of them related to "green" energy—to the list of "ready- to- go" projects assembled by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Total sum: $375,076,200.
That comes out to nearly $2 million per Edwardsville resident, although E. D. Phillips, the town's representative to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, says the projects would affect a wider region that comprises about 80,000 people. That number includes residents of nearby rural areas that aren't already incorporated into towns, along with the residents of Talladega Springs (population: 124), which partnered with Edwardsville and local municipal utilities on the projects.
There's certainly no denying that Edwardsville has big ambitions. Through the various proposals, which include a renewable energy museum, scenic railroad, and vineyards, these small Alabama communities envision themselves becoming a cutting-edge demonstration project for energy sustainability and a hub for tourism.
"I know we look like some little Podunk town, and by the census, we are," Phillips says. "But we really think we've done some amazingly progressive things in the past two years."
The town's proposals began to develop more than two years ago, when Phillips and another town official became intrigued by the argument that renewable energy could create a rural renaissance. If any community needed economic revival, it was Edwardsville—even before the recession. At 28.7 percent, the town's poverty level was nearly equal to that of Nepal and more than twice the national average, according to the 2000 census.
Along with the more traditional proposals to replace streetlights with solar-powered lights (cost: $3,479,200), to install solar panels on the town hall (cost: $77,000), and to build solar-powered recharging stations for electric golf carts and vehicles (cost: $620,000), Edwardsville and Talladega Springs have assembled a set of even more far-reaching projects.
An outlay of $50.4 million, for example, would go toward installing water pipelines beneath roads to soak up the sun's rays, transferring heat. That technology is currently being used in the Netherlands, which found that while the cost of installation was double that of normal gas heating, the system halved the amount of energy required.
With big dreams, however, come big price tags.
"Do you know how hard it is to fund some of these projects when your tax base is so low?" Phillips says. "So we just breathed this sigh of relief when we found out about the stimulus package . . . especially when it had a focus on renewable energy."
Not everyone shares the sentiment.
"This really exemplifies the problem. Why are we buying light bulbs for a local community?" asks Tom Schatz, president of the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste. "If a municipality wants to save money, [it can] go out and buy the light bulbs. There is no reason the federal government should buy them."
One of Edwardsville's biggest proposed expenditures is for a "renewable energy museum and information dissemination center." Phillips envisions exhibits, audio tours, seminars, a research center, and a satellite lab run by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
To fund the museum, Edwardsville is requesting $32.1 million. That makes the facility the fourth most expensive museum proposed on the U.S. Conference of Mayors list—following facilities planned by Miami, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, Ariz. (Some of those facilities have drawn their own controversy: Las Vegas's proposal for a $55 million "mob museum," for example, was used by Sen. Mitch McConnell this week as a prime example of pork spending.)
That comes out to nearly $2 million per Edwardsville resident, although E. D. Phillips, the town's representative to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, says the projects would affect a wider region that comprises about 80,000 people. That number includes residents of nearby rural areas that aren't already incorporated into towns, along with the residents of Talladega Springs (population: 124), which partnered with Edwardsville and local municipal utilities on the projects.
There's certainly no denying that Edwardsville has big ambitions. Through the various proposals, which include a renewable energy museum, scenic railroad, and vineyards, these small Alabama communities envision themselves becoming a cutting-edge demonstration project for energy sustainability and a hub for tourism.
"I know we look like some little Podunk town, and by the census, we are," Phillips says. "But we really think we've done some amazingly progressive things in the past two years."
The town's proposals began to develop more than two years ago, when Phillips and another town official became intrigued by the argument that renewable energy could create a rural renaissance. If any community needed economic revival, it was Edwardsville—even before the recession. At 28.7 percent, the town's poverty level was nearly equal to that of Nepal and more than twice the national average, according to the 2000 census.
Along with the more traditional proposals to replace streetlights with solar-powered lights (cost: $3,479,200), to install solar panels on the town hall (cost: $77,000), and to build solar-powered recharging stations for electric golf carts and vehicles (cost: $620,000), Edwardsville and Talladega Springs have assembled a set of even more far-reaching projects.
An outlay of $50.4 million, for example, would go toward installing water pipelines beneath roads to soak up the sun's rays, transferring heat. That technology is currently being used in the Netherlands, which found that while the cost of installation was double that of normal gas heating, the system halved the amount of energy required.
With big dreams, however, come big price tags.
"Do you know how hard it is to fund some of these projects when your tax base is so low?" Phillips says. "So we just breathed this sigh of relief when we found out about the stimulus package . . . especially when it had a focus on renewable energy."
Not everyone shares the sentiment.
"This really exemplifies the problem. Why are we buying light bulbs for a local community?" asks Tom Schatz, president of the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste. "If a municipality wants to save money, [it can] go out and buy the light bulbs. There is no reason the federal government should buy them."
One of Edwardsville's biggest proposed expenditures is for a "renewable energy museum and information dissemination center." Phillips envisions exhibits, audio tours, seminars, a research center, and a satellite lab run by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
To fund the museum, Edwardsville is requesting $32.1 million. That makes the facility the fourth most expensive museum proposed on the U.S. Conference of Mayors list—following facilities planned by Miami, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, Ariz. (Some of those facilities have drawn their own controversy: Las Vegas's proposal for a $55 million "mob museum," for example, was used by Sen. Mitch McConnell this week as a prime example of pork spending.)
And the beat goes on..........without us here in Chatham!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Hundreds Show for Uranium Committee
(From http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/blog_public_hearing_on_mining_of_uranium_ore_study/8342/ 01/06/2009)
By Sarah Arkin
People are certainly full of concerns, but it seems like we’ve reached the point in the night where there isn’t much more that can be expressed. People are now reiterating what others have said, impressing upon members of the subcommitte their personal investment in the region and in potential mining.I’ll sign off now, and let John Crane put together the story for tomorrow’s paper.
Samir Hosemi - “I came to this country because I love this country, said the industrial organic chemist. “The United States of America is a beautiful country, and unfortunately we ourselves are getting our country down.““Uranium mining is not a new thing,“ he said. He said many of the questions asked could be answered by other studies, notably those done in France, which is an agricultural country. If we leave this deposit down, we’ll need it for energy. He turned to the rest of the auditorium to talk about the price of oil. When we can’t afford it, he said, industry goes down, there are no jobs. “Don’t you understand?“ God gave us wealth…we have to know how to extract it. Let’s concentrate on how we can do it efficiently. Are we going to rely on Russia and other places to get our uranium?
Coy Harville - Chairman of the board of supervisors of Pittsylvania County - “We’ve heard a lot of concerns…I’m hoping y’all will go to every source possible to look at the impact.“
“After the conclusion of this study, if there is any, any question about the safety and wellbeing of the people of Pittsylvania County, I hope you will continue to study.“
8:27p.m.: Willy Fitzgerald - president of the NAACP of Pittsylvania County. NAACP is not united on whether or not they want a study, but here are some of the concerns we have, he said. These encompass the basic and broad concerns that most people have been illuminating. “What effect on the soil, water, air quality? Who will be held accountable? When will the community be made aware? What impact will mining have on the minority community? What are the possible health issues for the entire state of Virginia and community? What economic impact does this have?
Philip Lovelace - This stuff is going to absorb right into our ground. “This worries me big time.“ Williams Gas Company has lines through here, and he’s heard they’re going to be re-routed. What effects will that have? We have got roughly 1,400 farms in this community, a lot of water. “Please, really consider what this will do.“
Deborah Lovelace - Acid mine drainage can occur for centuries. Consider the wind patterns.
8:12p.m.: Steve Whirly - I don’t know everything about this uranium mining. In fact, I didn’t hear anything about it until two months ago. It’s apparent to me that somebody here this evening that some people know what they’re talking about, and some don’t. Welfare of the County, the wellfare of humanity He questioned whether there wasn’t someone closer to the county who might be able to do the study. People cheered to that.“You fellows should be in the know…if this uranium mine was proposed within a couple miles of your house, how would you feel about that?“People cheered very loudly.
“It’s precisely that question I asked myself when I came on this commission,“ said delegate Ware, to more applause. Delegate Carrico added, “the safety of the people that live here is the main concern…I wouldn’t have driven all the way here (150 miles) if I wasn’t concerned.“
8:06p.m.: Fred Ingram - member of the board of Pittsylvania County supervisors wants a health phsyics department at the site, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission on site “I want them there.“He outlined some demands: Explain how tailings will be contained and covered. Display the difference in uranium and radon. I want to know the difference between radon and uranium, he said, and what is the association betwen radon and lung cancer. I want you to explain in great detail how uranium will be mined. How will the dust be controlled. One of the major questions to be addressed is how the mining will be perceived by the citizens of Pittsylvania County. “Is this good? Bad? We just don’t know.“ Also how does nuclear energy effect our carbon footprint.
Joseph Tours - Like many others, he expressed concern about the LLC status of Virginia Uranium, wholly owned by a Canadian company. Where is the accountability he wants to know.
Barry Carter - from the Occaneechi and Saponi Indian tribe “Uranium mining is a brutal rape and desecration of our mother earth…so a study is the study of raping your own mother.““Is this a spiritual desecration?“ We ask you to study the spiritual aspects of uranium minig, understanding that it’s a different question, he said. He said before “the invasion of 1492”, there were many prophecies that came to light. Light skinned people, he said, were predicted to come with death and destroy the lands and pollute the earth. Many people are cheering and clapping at his remarks.
Cassandra Smith - She’s very concerned about waste, but knows that one company’s waste may be another’s power source. She’s interested into whether there are companies that could use tailings from uranium mining as a power source.
7:56 p.m.: Lewis Sink - I would like for the study to take a detailed look at the total population of existing sites, and look at who has stayed and who has left. He is also concerned about the waste from mining, and whether Pittsylvania County residents would be responsible for clean-up.
Katherine Mull - “We need complete transparency regarding the flow of funds… Neutrality of the study sponsorship is paramount.“ She said Virginia Tech indeed would appear biased in conducting the study, and objectivity in the study is incredibly important. The scope of the study should not be limited by initial sources of funding, she said.
7:50 p.m.:Lee Anthony - PhD physicist—we need to look to whether it’s technologically feasible in Virginia, we need to look whether it’s economically feasible. Can the mining site be safely returned to the current environmental conditions? We need to look at well water, stream water and air quality, he said. What agencies, state, federal and private should conduct these studies. What is a reasonable timeline and a reasonable cost?
Angela Fitzgerald - her two children are tenth generation from Pittsylvania County. Would any uranium mined in the state of Virginia stay in Virginia? Or would it be energy for sale to the highest bidder? Her children have asked where they would move if they started mining uranium in Virginia. She also expresses concerns about public health. There haven’t been enough studies elsewhere to assure us this is a safe venture.
7:41 p.m.: Deborah Dix - She says representatives on the committee who have received contributions and awarded contracts to VUI exemplify “pay to play” politics. Environmental regulations “always come after the fact,“ she said.“What is the safe exposure threshold for pregnant women and fetuses.“ Radon gas poisoning also needs to be examined, as studies from Europe have shown that it can travel up to 400 miles, she said.
Margaret Rusterbelt would like to suggest doing a baseline sediment count of what we have in the water right now. “We know we have yellow cake and uranium in our ground. Study what already is heavy metal in the water.“ Also, she said “I would like to know what kind of remediation funds there are because VU is a Limited Liability Company. She would like to discuss what kind of funding is available.
George Stanhope“My concerns are basically about dust. In the initial blast, there are basically no regulations.“ That dust is water soluble, the Bannister River is not far from there, which runs into the lake where people in Virginia Beach get their water.
Eloise Neenon Here representing Caretakers of God’s Creation and also serves on the board of Southside Concerned Citizens.“I was there when the moratorium was passed by the GA…we’d like to keep it there.“VU talks about the mining, but where is there plan? When this came up before the House rules committee VU’s plan, we need it now, don’t put the cart before the horse. I am concerned about a money trail. We’re concerned about preserving God’s creation.“
Jesse Andrews “I don’t think a study can offer a piece of mind. Either the study determines mining can be done safely or with acceptable risks.““That’s where we become guinea pigs.“ None of you live here, not one person up there.
A number of people keep touching on the potential health issues, especially relating to birth defects. Many want to know how seepage into the groundwater be cleaned up.
Anne Cockrell: Read an article in World Nuclear News—that said Virginia’s Coal and Energy Commission will conduct an impact on the uranium mining, working with institutions such as the National Academy of Sciences and Virginia Tech. Why should Virginia Tech, who’s engineering studies program, closed in the 1980s be allowed to participate in a study that would benefit the institute? “It’s clearly a conflict of interest, she said, “and they should be excluded from the process.“
7:24 p.m.: Evidently, there have been a lot of accusations toward this committee,“ said Charles Carrico . “I’m being accused that I’ve received $6,500…it’s a blatant lie,“ he said.“I take offense to the fact that the accusations are being made. They’re not true.“ No one has taken a vote on this panel that the mining would take place…the accusations you’re making are untrue. We’re here tonight to listen to you, to listen to your concerns.“
Karen Maute—Hopes the study take into consideration all other mining sites as well. Scope of this study should also take into consideration uranium milling, she said. The committee has no representation from Southside, she said, which concerns her. Other people voice agreement.
Ansel Edwards “I came down here with concerns, but now I have more concerns. I’m looking at this piece of paper that says you all have accepted bribes. I’m not for that. I know there are three sides: My side, your side, and the right side. I think you should give this money back.“
Members of the panel insist they haven’t taken money from VUI.
7:15 p.m.: Greg Vicary: Chairman of the Pittsylvania County chapter of Southside Concerned Citizens: “With the contributions each of you have accepted from VUI and/or their lobbyists, how can you convince people you can possibly be an unbiased panel?“Unlike you, we have no interest in putting a private for profit into busoiness, especially one that will put our health and livelihood in danger.
A referendum shows that people are not interested in mining, he said.“This is tyranny…when you sow the seeds of tyranny you will reep the harvest of revolution.““The people will determine this issue, as is our right.
People are standing and cheering in support.
Anette Ayers expressed concern about the health effects, she said these need to be taken into particular consideration. What effects will radiation and radon have, she wants to know.
Tommy Motley President of the Farm Bureau wants to make sure agriculture, which is the largest industry in Pittsylvania County is considered in the study.
“Our land is our 401(k) What will happen to our 401(k)s,“ he said.
Linda Frank said her business is dependent on tourism. “I’m concerned about my water, air, my animals and about my business. Property values are already plummeting at the threat of uranium mining, she said. Already you can’t sell anything.
Shereen ParsonsShe said similar panels “have presided over the most egregious legalized corporate assaults on people and the environment.“She comapared the mining to “legalized regulated mountain top removal coal mining, (where) once majestic mountains are leveled, local economies destroyed and communities vanished.“Legalized plants spew coal into the air, she said. “Legalized and regulated coal slurry flow throughout rivers, she said, siting a recent spill in Tennessee that people are calling the biggest environmental disaster ever.
“Thanks to you and DEQ we have a similar disaster waiting on the banks of the river in Giles County. She again called it a “legalized, corporate assault.“
People are very loudly cheering her on.
“I suggest this particular bogus study include a study of how the other studies managed to be so incorrect.“
“This commission don’t have the authority to decide whether Virginia citizens will be taken over by this corporate occupation,“ she said.
“It is we the people who decide. And we say no.“ People cheered to this.She accused committee members of taking “their 30 pieces of silver.“
6:57p.m.: Jack Donovan: A professional engineer, chairman of Southside concerned citizens, and my family has lived here longer than the Coles family. Can the radioactive pollution from mining be confined to the site? And if so, how? We know the answer. Why is the State of Virginia partnering with an organization partering with a foreign conglomerate. VUI should present its plan, the state should study that plan. “Why are you contracting with Virginia Tech? You can go out an get an engineering report and you can get it to say anything you want it to say. Virginia Tech is a for profit organization, and VUI is putting up the money.““The honorable state of Virginia should not be drawn into a tainted licensing process.“Many people are cheering him on, although Ware has asked him to confine his questions to the study.“These questions come from my people,“ Donovan responded “...we the people… we put you there…we ask you to represent us, to listen to us.“
People are urging Ware and the subcommittee to “let him speak”
“It has also come to our attention that people (on the subcommitee) have received campaign contributions from VUI. “They should recuse themselves from this committee,“ he said. The state of Virginia does not own one inch of Halifax County or Pittsylvania County.“We will not tolerate an industry that would destroy our land, our water and our livelihood.“
“If Richmond tries to shove this uranium mining down our throats, we will fight to the bitter end, till the last man falls.“
Sue Poe expressed concerns about the impact on agriculture in the region. She said members of her family are still active farmers, and she is concerned about what mining and an consequences might have on livestock and feed. Also, she wants to know “how will you study the long term effects of radiation on people and their health.“
Walter Anderson: As a university student studying technology, he said that Lynchburg is the closest place that he and other college graduates like him can go to find jobs. He wants to know what kinds of jobs mining uranium could provide for him and other students like him and allow them to stay close to home.
Walter Coles, Jr. :“My family has lived at Coles Hill for more than 200 years. What are the risks if this project is not allowed to go forward? In the last year, he said, the U.S. consumed 50 million pounds of uranium, getting almost 40 percent of that from Russia and other soviet states. “We produce less than 10 percent of our own uranium fuel requirements,“ he said. For oil, we rely on imports for 60 percent of our needs.“What are the impacts when rely on potentially hostile foreign countries for our energy supplies?“Considering the growth of China and India, the supply and demand situation could get much worse, he said.
6:43 p.m.: Mick Mastelovic with Virginia Uranium “I urge to rely on professional who…get to the heart of the matter…don’t be led down dead ends intended to confuse.“
“Show that we are protected from unintended consequences, not by safety gadgets,“ but by understanding of the natural process.
6:41 p.m.: Mary Catherine Plaster: The main concerns about mining in the 1980s voiced at public hearings Plaster attended have not abated, she said. Legislations and regulations should be enacted to protect people, she said. This is the first time we’ve had local ownership attempting to address the fact that uranium is here. “Please consider that this study tonight is our only chance for the protection of Virginians, not just those in Pittsylvania County.“
Patrick Wales: Geologist and manager for Virginia Uranium, also a lifelong resident of Danville. He said the study should examine how the mining would work with Virginia’s existing nuclear facilities. Other sectors of the Virginia economy are poised and ready for the nuclear renaissance. I urge you to consider how this can enhance Virginia’s already strong position in the world of nuclear technology, he said.
Jenny Cole, geologist for Virginia Uranium, and one with close ties to Coles Hill. She said the study should carefully consider the effects of hydrology.
Buddy Mayhew: Lifelong resident of Pittsylvania County, as a member of the tobacco commission, I’m aware of the economic challenges…high unemployment and budget shortfalls will continue.“ Mayhew said the study should look into the potential positive economic impacts, and how those might roll over into neighboring counties. He said we should consider the potential tax-base increase.
Joel Gregory: certified petroleum geologist, worked on mining sites in Utah and California. Specific recommendations as to what should be studied as a geologist. “We need a comprehensive comparison between geology and hydrology of Southside to other places in the U.S.,“ he said.
Additionally, we need a detailed analysis of dust and dust abatement. “One thing that I would like to have verified, I’d like to have it verified that radon doesn’t have an effect on miners if you’re above surface, because we know it’s dangerous underground”
It’s not hte same hydrologic set-up as it is the SW. “How do our particular water sources relate to water sources. My contention is that we have such limited lateral ground movement, things just don’t travel out of the county.“
“We know what went wrong in SW“I suggest we take a stong look at underground tailings…Does climate actually have anything to do with it?“
Jeremy Simpson talked about transparency:
“Ful disclosure of the evaluation process, and a “central public information repositor.“
6:23 p.m. Gary Fountain has the first floor time. Head of school at Chatham Hall, an all girls high school in Chatham. Has been a significant business and education institute in Chatham. Directly employ 67 local residents, 38 faculty and other administrators. 1 in 5 students is from the region. “These significant environmental and health concerns are important to Chatham Hall. In addition we have major business and financial concerns related to marketing. How will perspective students and parents view attending a school miles away from uranium mining?“ Current, broad, negative connotations of mining…will it cause Chatham Hall to lose market share? Chatham Hall has more than 40 states and 11 international countries…singular factors can influence “Safety is a major factor in Chatham Hall’s appeal to families,“ he said. “I believe unless a study of the impact of uranium mining studies the impact of these public relations concerns,“ the study will have failed to do due diligence, he said.
6:27 p.m.: Andrew Lester, resident of Pittsylvania County: there’s a perception that you are pro-mining. He suggested including citizens who are not pro-mining, who can ask good questions at your meetings and discussions. They don’t have to be voting members, he said, but they should be present.He also suggested bringing North Carolina localities into the discussions, particularly those like Raleigh who may share water supplies down the road.
Ware interjected saying the committee has already been set up, and said that Lester’s suggestions of people to include aren’t appropriate at this time.
Lester, then said, that the impact of mining on North Carolina should be studied. He said the committee should also consider the impact of water supplies for military units in Virginia Beach. This, he said, makes mining a national issue.
“The thing about uranium mining,“ he said, “An operating manual didn’t come with it.“ “Keep in mind, if you make the wrong decision, he said, “ You’ll be damned by history.“
6:20 p.m.“ Ware has taken over the microphone now, and members of the committe. In the fall we had our first general meeting, had the first public hearing in December. “Our purpose is in the course of our subcommitee’s deliberations to have a comprehensive review of the scientific, ecological and economic factors that are involved in mining.“ Ware went on to say he believes people of the highest calibur will be working on the study.
“Our purpose tonight is to hear from you what you think should be included in the study as we get underway,“ he said.
It’s not appropriate to include the pros and cons of uranium mining, he said, this meeting is to focus on what specifically the study should address.
The Fire Marshall says the room is getting close to capacity.
Charles Poindexter from the 9th district also offered his comments, starting by thanking everyone
“I have the utmost confidence in people on this committee….I have faith in the effort as it goes forward.“ These gentlemen are looking for things they haven’t heard before, he said.
6:12 p.m.: “I am not sure of any issue that faces us now of any greater importance,“ said Senator Robert Hurt who lives six miles from the proposed mining site, noting he lives there with three young sons.
“This is our opportunity to be heard,“ he said. He encouraged people to stay engaged with the commission and his office as the study goes on.
6:10 p.m.: Danny Marshall is now speaking, thanking everyone for being here. “We the folks are oging ot have to live with this, no matter what happens,“ he said…“It’s not just about the mining of uranium, it’s utmost about the safety of our citizens. What till the mining look like 3 years from now, 30 years from now, and even 300 hundred years from now?“
“What’s going to happen on a night like this when it rains? What’s going to happen to folks downstream? What’s going to happen in the summer time when it’s dry and the wind blows? What impact to agricultural, dairy and food products (will this have)? What happens to Hargrave? What will happen to economic development?“
6:04 p.m. Lee Ware is getting the meeting started. He’s thanking local legislators. Don Merricks is offering his remarksThe Coal and Energy commission has agreed to undergo a study, early stages of the study, “Please understand that this is not a hearing on the pros and cons of uranium mining,“ said Merricks. “Also, the moratorium against mining uranium is still in place, and this study will not lift the moratorium.“ The meeting, he said, is to hear what people what the study to include.“Unless a study proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt,“ Merricks said, that mining won’t be harmful to humans, the land, humans, the environment and the economy, he is not in favor of it.
6:01 p.m.: At least 350 people have filled up the auditorium which, according to the Pittsylvania County Fire Marshall can hold 442. Panel members are taking their seats. State Senator Robert Hurt is also here.
Tonight’s weather seem appropriate for the forum, as many of peoples’ concerns with the mining have to do with how water will affect the process, and whether ore will get into the run-off and what potential harms that might have.
5:45 p.m.: Ellen Porter, who has been handling most of the administrative tasks for this panel just explained how the evening will proceed. Delegate R. Lee Ware will begin the session, perhaps offer a little bit of background on the proposed study and the role of the subcommittee. After that, we will move to public comment, during which time anyone who signed up to speak with have a couple minutes to voice their comments, questions and concerns. Porter noted that all other forms of public comment including mail and e-mail not explicitly mentioned tonight will also be distributed to committee members.
She expects it to be a long night.
As far as timing goes, she said if the study goes through, the committee would like to get it underway as soon as possible, but certainly wouldn’t start during the January-February legislative session. If and when the study does get underway, she said it would probably take at least a year to complete.
The room is filling up quickly, at least 150 people.
“I think the turnout is great,“ Katherine Mull with the Dan River Basin Association.“I’m so glad so many people came out in the rainy whether. I think it’s terrific the committee came down this way since none of them live in the area. I’m grateful for everyone who came.“
Delegates Danny Marshall R-Danville and Don R. Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County are also here. Cale Jaffe, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center based in Charlottesville is also here.
5:30 p.m. Apologies for the delay in blogging, Between all the camera equipment from the TV stations and a fair number of people on laptops, it was difficult to find an appropriate outlet.
People are filing into Chatham High School Auditorium, about 50 in all, maybe a little bit more including those set to speak. The uranium subcommittee of the Virginia Coal and Energy subcomittee is hosting this meeting, and it looks like most panel members are here. Panel members, as their placards denote are: Ellen Porter, Harry D. Childress, the Honorable Philip P. Puckett, the Honorable Frank W. Wagner, the Honorable John C. Watkins, the Honorable R. Lee Ware, Jr., Bill Owen, the Honorable Watkins Abbitt, Jr., the Honorable Charles W. Carrico, Sr., the Honorable Clarence E. Phillips, the Honorable William R. Janis.
Hundreds Express Concerns to State Study Commission
At a subcommittee hearing of the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission held in Chatham tonight, a full house of 400-plus people expressed their concerns or support for a state sponsored study of the feasability of uranium mining in Virginia. Below please find a blow-by-blow account from a blog by Danville Register and Bee Reporter Sarah Arkin (please note that the earliest coverage of the event starts at the bottom of the blog notes by Arkin):
By Sarah Arkin
Published: January 6, 2009
People are certainly full of concerns, but it seems like we’ve reached the point in the night where there isn’t much more that can be expressed. People are now reiterating what others have said, impressing upon members of the subcommitte their personal investment in the region and in potential mining.I’ll sign off now, and let John Crane put together the story for tomorrow’s paper.
Samir Hosemi - “I came to this country because I love this country, said the industrial organic chemist. “The United States of America is a beautiful country, and unfortunately we ourselves are getting our country down.““Uranium mining is not a new thing,“ he said. He said many of the questions asked could be answered by other studies, notably those done in France, which is an agricultural country. If we leave this deposit down, we’ll need it for energy. He turned to the rest of the auditorium to talk about the price of oil. When we can’t afford it, he said, industry goes down, there are no jobs. “Don’t you understand?“ God gave us wealth…we have to know how to extract it. Let’s concentrate on how we can do it efficiently. Are we going to rely on Russia and other places to get our uranium?
Coy Harville - Chairman of the board of supervisors of Pittsylvania County - “We’ve heard a lot of concerns…I’m hoping y’all will go to every source possible to look at the impact.“
“After the conclusion of this study, if there is any, any question about the safety and wellbeing of the people of Pittsylvania County, I hope you will continue to study.“
8:27p.m.: Willy Fitzgerald - president of the NAACP of Pittsylvania County. NAACP is not united on whether or not they want a study, but here are some of the concerns we have, he said. These encompass the basic and broad concerns that most people have been illuminating. “What effect on the soil, water, air quality? Who will be held accountable? When will the community be made aware? What impact will mining have on the minority community? What are the possible health issues for the entire state of Virginia and community? What economic impact does this have?
Philip Lovelace - This stuff is going to absorb right into our ground. “This worries me big time.“ Williams Gas Company has lines through here, and he’s heard they’re going to be re-routed. What effects will that have? We have got roughly 1,400 farms in this community, a lot of water. “Please, really consider what this will do.“
Deborah Lovelace - Acid mine drainage can occur for centuries. Consider the wind patterns.
8:12p.m.: Steve Whirly - I don’t know everything about this uranium mining. In fact, I didn’t hear anything about it until two months ago. It’s apparent to me that somebody here this evening that some people know what they’re talking about, and some don’t. Welfare of the County, the wellfare of humanity He questioned whether there wasn’t someone closer to the county who might be able to do the study. People cheered to that.“You fellows should be in the know…if this uranium mine was proposed within a couple miles of your house, how would you feel about that?“People cheered very loudly.
“It’s precisely that question I asked myself when I came on this commission,“ said delegate Ware, to more applause. Delegate Carrico added, “the safety of the people that live here is the main concern…I wouldn’t have driven all the way here (150 miles) if I wasn’t concerned.“
8:06p.m.: Fred Ingram - member of the board of Pittsylvania County supervisors wants a health phsyics department at the site, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission on site “I want them there.“He outlined some demands: Explain how tailings will be contained and covered. Display the difference in uranium and radon. I want to know the difference between radon and uranium, he said, and what is the association betwen radon and lung cancer. I want you to explain in great detail how uranium will be mined. How will the dust be controlled. One of the major questions to be addressed is how the mining will be perceived by the citizens of Pittsylvania County. “Is this good? Bad? We just don’t know.“ Also how does nuclear energy effect our carbon footprint.
Joseph Tours - Like many others, he expressed concern about the LLC status of Virginia Uranium, wholly owned by a Canadian company. Where is the accountability he wants to know.
Barry Carter - from the Occaneechi and Saponi Indian tribe “Uranium mining is a brutal rape and desecration of our mother earth…so a study is the study of raping your own mother.““Is this a spiritual desecration?“ We ask you to study the spiritual aspects of uranium minig, understanding that it’s a different question, he said. He said before “the invasion of 1492”, there were many prophecies that came to light. Light skinned people, he said, were predicted to come with death and destroy the lands and pollute the earth. Many people are cheering and clapping at his remarks.
Cassandra Smith - She’s very concerned about waste, but knows that one company’s waste may be another’s power source. She’s interested into whether there are companies that could use tailings from uranium mining as a power source.
7:56 p.m.: Lewis Sink - I would like for the study to take a detailed look at the total population of existing sites, and look at who has stayed and who has left. He is also concerned about the waste from mining, and whether Pittsylvania County residents would be responsible for clean-up.
Katherine Mull - “We need complete transparency regarding the flow of funds… Neutrality of the study sponsorship is paramount.“ She said Virginia Tech indeed would appear biased in conducting the study, and objectivity in the study is incredibly important. The scope of the study should not be limited by initial sources of funding, she said.
7:50 p.m.:Lee Anthony - PhD physicist—we need to look to whether it’s technologically feasible in Virginia, we need to look whether it’s economically feasible. Can the mining site be safely returned to the current environmental conditions? We need to look at well water, stream water and air quality, he said. What agencies, state, federal and private should conduct these studies. What is a reasonable timeline and a reasonable cost?
Angela Fitzgerald - her two children are tenth generation from Pittsylvania County. Would any uranium mined in the state of Virginia stay in Virginia? Or would it be energy for sale to the highest bidder? Her children have asked where they would move if they started mining uranium in Virginia. She also expresses concerns about public health. There haven’t been enough studies elsewhere to assure us this is a safe venture.
7:41 p.m.: Deborah Dix - She says representatives on the committee who have received contributions and awarded contracts to VUI exemplify “pay to play” politics. Environmental regulations “always come after the fact,“ she said.“What is the safe exposure threshold for pregnant women and fetuses.“ Radon gas poisoning also needs to be examined, as studies from Europe have shown that it can travel up to 400 miles, she said.
Margaret Rusterbelt would like to suggest doing a baseline sediment count of what we have in the water right now. “We know we have yellow cake and uranium in our ground. Study what already is heavy metal in the water.“ Also, she said “I would like to know what kind of remediation funds there are because VU is a Limited Liability Company. She would like to discuss what kind of funding is available.
George Stanhope“My concerns are basically about dust. In the initial blast, there are basically no regulations.“ That dust is water soluble, the Bannister River is not far from there, which runs into the lake where people in Virginia Beach get their water.
Eloise Neenon Here representing Caretakers of God’s Creation and also serves on the board of Southside Concerned Citizens.“I was there when the moratorium was passed by the GA…we’d like to keep it there.“VU talks about the mining, but where is there plan? When this came up before the House rules committee VU’s plan, we need it now, don’t put the cart before the horse. I am concerned about a money trail. We’re concerned about preserving God’s creation.“
Jesse Andrews “I don’t think a study can offer a piece of mind. Either the study determines mining can be done safely or with acceptable risks.““That’s where we become guinea pigs.“ None of you live here, not one person up there.
A number of people keep touching on the potential health issues, especially relating to birth defects. Many want to know how seepage into the groundwater be cleaned up.
Anne Cockrell: Read an article in World Nuclear News—that said Virginia’s Coal and Energy Commission will conduct an impact on the uranium mining, working with institutions such as the National Academy of Sciences and Virginia Tech. Why should Virginia Tech, who’s engineering studies program, closed in the 1980s be allowed to participate in a study that would benefit the institute? “It’s clearly a conflict of interest, she said, “and they should be excluded from the process.“
7:24 p.m.: Evidently, there have been a lot of accusations toward this committee,“ said Charles Carrico . “I’m being accused that I’ve received $6,500…it’s a blatant lie,“ he said.“I take offense to the fact that the accusations are being made. They’re not true.“ No one has taken a vote on this panel that the mining would take place…the accusations you’re making are untrue. We’re here tonight to listen to you, to listen to your concerns.“
Karen Maute—Hopes the study take into consideration all other mining sites as well. Scope of this study should also take into consideration uranium milling, she said. The committee has no representation from Southside, she said, which concerns her. Other people voice agreement.
Ansel Edwards “I came down here with concerns, but now I have more concerns. I’m looking at this piece of paper that says you all have accepted bribes. I’m not for that. I know there are three sides: My side, your side, and the right side. I think you should give this money back.“
Members of the panel insist they haven’t taken money from VUI.
7:15 p.m.: Greg Vicary: Chairman of the Pittsylvania County chapter of Southside Concerned Citizens: “With the contributions each of you have accepted from VUI and/or their lobbyists, how can you convince people you can possibly be an unbiased panel?“Unlike you, we have no interest in putting a private for profit into busoiness, especially one that will put our health and livelihood in danger.
A referendum shows that people are not interested in mining, he said.“This is tyranny…when you sow the seeds of tyranny you will reep the harvest of revolution.““The people will determine this issue, as is our right.
People are standing and cheering in support.
Anette Ayers expressed concern about the health effects, she said these need to be taken into particular consideration. What effects will radiation and radon have, she wants to know.
Tommy Motley President of the Farm Bureau wants to make sure agriculture, which is the largest industry in Pittsylvania County is considered in the study.
“Our land is our 401(k) What will happen to our 401(k)s,“ he said.
Linda Frank said her business is dependent on tourism. “I’m concerned about my water, air, my animals and about my business. Property values are already plummeting at the threat of uranium mining, she said. Already you can’t sell anything.
Shereen ParsonsShe said similar panels “have presided over the most egregious legalized corporate assaults on people and the environment.“She comapared the mining to “legalized regulated mountain top removal coal mining, (where) once majestic mountains are leveled, local economies destroyed and communities vanished.“Legalized plants spew coal into the air, she said. “Legalized and regulated coal slurry flow throughout rivers, she said, siting a recent spill in Tennessee that people are calling the biggest environmental disaster ever.
“Thanks to you and DEQ we have a similar disaster waiting on the banks of the river in Giles County. She again called it a “legalized, corporate assault.“
People are very loudly cheering her on.
“I suggest this particular bogus study include a study of how the other studies managed to be so incorrect.“
“This commission don’t have the authority to decide whether Virginia citizens will be taken over by this corporate occupation,“ she said.
“It is we the people who decide. And we say no.“ People cheered to this.She accused committee members of taking “their 30 pieces of silver.“
6:57p.m.: Jack Donovan: A professional engineer, chairman of Southside concerned citizens, and my family has lived here longer than the Coles family. Can the radioactive pollution from mining be confined to the site? And if so, how? We know the answer. Why is the State of Virginia partnering with an organization partering with a foreign conglomerate. VUI should present its plan, the state should study that plan. “Why are you contracting with Virginia Tech? You can go out an get an engineering report and you can get it to say anything you want it to say. Virginia Tech is a for profit organization, and VUI is putting up the money.““The honorable state of Virginia should not be drawn into a tainted licensing process.“Many people are cheering him on, although Ware has asked him to confine his questions to the study.“These questions come from my people,“ Donovan responded “...we the people… we put you there…we ask you to represent us, to listen to us.“
People are urging Ware and the subcommittee to “let him speak”
“It has also come to our attention that people (on the subcommitee) have received campaign contributions from VUI. “They should recuse themselves from this committee,“ he said. The state of Virginia does not own one inch of Halifax County or Pittsylvania County.“We will not tolerate an industry that would destroy our land, our water and our livelihood.“
“If Richmond tries to shove this uranium mining down our throats, we will fight to the bitter end, till the last man falls.“
Sue Poe expressed concerns about the impact on agriculture in the region. She said members of her family are still active farmers, and she is concerned about what mining and an consequences might have on livestock and feed. Also, she wants to know “how will you study the long term effects of radiation on people and their health.“
Walter Anderson: As a university student studying technology, he said that Lynchburg is the closest place that he and other college graduates like him can go to find jobs. He wants to know what kinds of jobs mining uranium could provide for him and other students like him and allow them to stay close to home.
Walter Coles, Jr. :“My family has lived at Coles Hill for more than 200 years. What are the risks if this project is not allowed to go forward? In the last year, he said, the U.S. consumed 50 million pounds of uranium, getting almost 40 percent of that from Russia and other soviet states. “We produce less than 10 percent of our own uranium fuel requirements,“ he said. For oil, we rely on imports for 60 percent of our needs.“What are the impacts when rely on potentially hostile foreign countries for our energy supplies?“Considering the growth of China and India, the supply and demand situation could get much worse, he said.
6:43 p.m.: Mick Mastelovic with Virginia Uranium “I urge to rely on professional who…get to the heart of the matter…don’t be led down dead ends intended to confuse.“
“Show that we are protected from unintended consequences, not by safety gadgets,“ but by understanding of the natural process.
6:41 p.m.: Mary Catherine Plaster: The main concerns about mining in the 1980s voiced at public hearings Plaster attended have not abated, she said. Legislations and regulations should be enacted to protect people, she said. This is the first time we’ve had local ownership attempting to address the fact that uranium is here. “Please consider that this study tonight is our only chance for the protection of Virginians, not just those in Pittsylvania County.“
Patrick Wales: Geologist and manager for Virginia Uranium, also a lifelong resident of Danville. He said the study should examine how the mining would work with Virginia’s existing nuclear facilities. Other sectors of the Virginia economy are poised and ready for the nuclear renaissance. I urge you to consider how this can enhance Virginia’s already strong position in the world of nuclear technology, he said.
Jenny Cole, geologist for Virginia Uranium, and one with close ties to Coles Hill. She said the study should carefully consider the effects of hydrology.
Buddy Mayhew: Lifelong resident of Pittsylvania County, as a member of the tobacco commission, I’m aware of the economic challenges…high unemployment and budget shortfalls will continue.“ Mayhew said the study should look into the potential positive economic impacts, and how those might roll over into neighboring counties. He said we should consider the potential tax-base increase.
Joel Gregory: certified petroleum geologist, worked on mining sites in Utah and California. Specific recommendations as to what should be studied as a geologist. “We need a comprehensive comparison between geology and hydrology of Southside to other places in the U.S.,“ he said.
Additionally, we need a detailed analysis of dust and dust abatement. “One thing that I would like to have verified, I’d like to have it verified that radon doesn’t have an effect on miners if you’re above surface, because we know it’s dangerous underground”
It’s not hte same hydrologic set-up as it is the SW. “How do our particular water sources relate to water sources. My contention is that we have such limited lateral ground movement, things just don’t travel out of the county.“
“We know what went wrong in SW“I suggest we take a stong look at underground tailings…Does climate actually have anything to do with it?“
Jeremy Simpson talked about transparency:
“Ful disclosure of the evaluation process, and a “central public information repositor.“
6:23 p.m. Gary Fountain has the first floor time. Head of school at Chatham Hall, an all girls high school in Chatham. Has been a significant business and education institute in Chatham. Directly employ 67 local residents, 38 faculty and other administrators. 1 in 5 students is from the region. “These significant environmental and health concerns are important to Chatham Hall. In addition we have major business and financial concerns related to marketing. How will perspective students and parents view attending a school miles away from uranium mining?“ Current, broad, negative connotations of mining…will it cause Chatham Hall to lose market share? Chatham Hall has more than 40 states and 11 international countries…singular factors can influence “Safety is a major factor in Chatham Hall’s appeal to families,“ he said. “I believe unless a study of the impact of uranium mining studies the impact of these public relations concerns,“ the study will have failed to do due diligence, he said.
6:27 p.m.: Andrew Lester, resident of Pittsylvania County: there’s a perception that you are pro-mining. He suggested including citizens who are not pro-mining, who can ask good questions at your meetings and discussions. They don’t have to be voting members, he said, but they should be present.He also suggested bringing North Carolina localities into the discussions, particularly those like Raleigh who may share water supplies down the road.
Ware interjected saying the committee has already been set up, and said that Lester’s suggestions of people to include aren’t appropriate at this time.
Lester, then said, that the impact of mining on North Carolina should be studied. He said the committee should also consider the impact of water supplies for military units in Virginia Beach. This, he said, makes mining a national issue.
“The thing about uranium mining,“ he said, “An operating manual didn’t come with it.“ “Keep in mind, if you make the wrong decision, he said, “ You’ll be damned by history.“
6:20 p.m.“ Ware has taken over the microphone now, and members of the committe. In the fall we had our first general meeting, had the first public hearing in December. “Our purpose is in the course of our subcommitee’s deliberations to have a comprehensive review of the scientific, ecological and economic factors that are involved in mining.“ Ware went on to say he believes people of the highest calibur will be working on the study.
“Our purpose tonight is to hear from you what you think should be included in the study as we get underway,“ he said.
It’s not appropriate to include the pros and cons of uranium mining, he said, this meeting is to focus on what specifically the study should address.
The Fire Marshall says the room is getting close to capacity.
Charles Poindexter from the 9th district also offered his comments, starting by thanking everyone
“I have the utmost confidence in people on this committee….I have faith in the effort as it goes forward.“ These gentlemen are looking for things they haven’t heard before, he said.
6:12 p.m.: “I am not sure of any issue that faces us now of any greater importance,“ said Senator Robert Hurt who lives six miles from the proposed mining site, noting he lives there with three young sons.
“This is our opportunity to be heard,“ he said. He encouraged people to stay engaged with the commission and his office as the study goes on.
6:10 p.m.: Danny Marshall is now speaking, thanking everyone for being here. “We the folks are oging ot have to live with this, no matter what happens,“ he said…“It’s not just about the mining of uranium, it’s utmost about the safety of our citizens. What till the mining look like 3 years from now, 30 years from now, and even 300 hundred years from now?“
“What’s going to happen on a night like this when it rains? What’s going to happen to folks downstream? What’s going to happen in the summer time when it’s dry and the wind blows? What impact to agricultural, dairy and food products (will this have)? What happens to Hargrave? What will happen to economic development?“
6:04 p.m. Lee Ware is getting the meeting started. He’s thanking local legislators. Don Merricks is offering his remarksThe Coal and Energy commission has agreed to undergo a study, early stages of the study, “Please understand that this is not a hearing on the pros and cons of uranium mining,“ said Merricks. “Also, the moratorium against mining uranium is still in place, and this study will not lift the moratorium.“ The meeting, he said, is to hear what people what the study to include.“Unless a study proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt,“ Merricks said, that mining won’t be harmful to humans, the land, humans, the environment and the economy, he is not in favor of it.
6:01 p.m.: At least 350 people have filled up the auditorium which, according to the Pittsylvania County Fire Marshall can hold 442. Panel members are taking their seats. State Senator Robert Hurt is also here.
Tonight’s weather seem appropriate for the forum, as many of peoples’ concerns with the mining have to do with how water will affect the process, and whether ore will get into the run-off and what potential harms that might have.
5:45 p.m.: Ellen Porter, who has been handling most of the administrative tasks for this panel just explained how the evening will proceed. Delegate R. Lee Ware will begin the session, perhaps offer a little bit of background on the proposed study and the role of the subcommittee. After that, we will move to public comment, during which time anyone who signed up to speak with have a couple minutes to voice their comments, questions and concerns. Porter noted that all other forms of public comment including mail and e-mail not explicitly mentioned tonight will also be distributed to committee members.
She expects it to be a long night.
As far as timing goes, she said if the study goes through, the committee would like to get it underway as soon as possible, but certainly wouldn’t start during the January-February legislative session. If and when the study does get underway, she said it would probably take at least a year to complete.
The room is filling up quickly, at least 150 people.
“I think the turnout is great,“ Katherine Mull with the Dan River Basin Association.“I’m so glad so many people came out in the rainy whether. I think it’s terrific the committee came down this way since none of them live in the area. I’m grateful for everyone who came.“
Delegates Danny Marshall R-Danville and Don R. Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County are also here. Cale Jaffe, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center based in Charlottesville is also here.
5:30 p.m. Apologies for the delay in blogging, Between all the camera equipment from the TV stations and a fair number of people on laptops, it was difficult to find an appropriate outlet.
People are filing into Chatham High School Auditorium, about 50 in all, maybe a little bit more including those set to speak. The uranium subcommittee of the Virginia Coal and Energy subcomittee is hosting this meeting, and it looks like most panel members are here. Panel members, as their placards denote are: Ellen Porter, Harry D. Childress, the Honorable Philip P. Puckett, the Honorable Frank W. Wagner, the Honorable John C. Watkins, the Honorable R. Lee Ware, Jr., Bill Owen, the Honorable Watkins Abbitt, Jr., the Honorable Charles W. Carrico, Sr., the Honorable Clarence E. Phillips, the Honorable William R. Janis.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
It's Deja vu - All Over again !
(From http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/water_line_breaks_in_chatham/8250/ 12-30-08)
Jones said the break today was the result of a construction accident on a 10-inch line, and that a crew is already working to repair it.
“No one is without water; the tanks are fully charged, so we have enough water for several hours,“ Jones said. “The contractor repairing the line said the repair would take four or five hours.“
Jones said there is also no question of contamination to the water supply, due to safety measures already in place.
“I’m just notifying people of the situation as an over-abundance of caution,“ Jones said.
Water line breaks in Chatham.....Again
Published: December 30, 2008
There has been another water line break in Chatham, but City Manager Mike Jones said it is not as bad as the ones earlier this month that left some residents without safe water for three days.
There has been another water line break in Chatham, but City Manager Mike Jones said it is not as bad as the ones earlier this month that left some residents without safe water for three days.
Jones said the break today was the result of a construction accident on a 10-inch line, and that a crew is already working to repair it.
“No one is without water; the tanks are fully charged, so we have enough water for several hours,“ Jones said. “The contractor repairing the line said the repair would take four or five hours.“
Jones said there is also no question of contamination to the water supply, due to safety measures already in place.
“I’m just notifying people of the situation as an over-abundance of caution,“ Jones said.
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Perhaps Chatham could use some of the Stimulus Money that Barrack Obama and the Democrats will start disbursing on January 20, 2009, to repair its infrastructure.
Where is Tom Perriello when you need him? Speak out on this, please, Tom!
Show Chatham and the 5th District that you're more effective than Virgil Goode!!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Price Dropped to $3,950 !!
2000 Saturn SL-2 Sedan
Perfect CarFax Report -----One Owner Only
Automatic Transmission---Power Moonroof
Air Conditioning------------- Cruise Control
Power Windows/Locks----- Aluminum Wheels
Everything Works----------- Fresh State Inspection
127k miles on body-----------77k miles on engine
Perfect Exterior---------------Perfect Interior
VIN# 1G8ZK5276YZ116118
32 Miles per Gallon (EPA rating highway)
Contact Info: Evenings or Sunday > Call 434-432-4019 John Chaney or email me at john_chaney@hotmail.com
Monday, November 24, 2008
A New Arrival---- Chaco
Chaco arrives at the Chaney household a full 8 weeks old!
Stay tuned for updated photos !
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Minnesota Ripe for Election Fraud
(From http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.html 11-11-08)
Minnesota is becoming to 2008 politics what Florida was in 2000 or Washington State in 2004 -- a real mess.
The outcome will determine whether Democrats get 58 members of the U.S. Senate, giving them an effective filibuster-proof vote on many issues.
When voters woke up on Wednesday morning after the election, Senator Norm Coleman led Al Franken by what seemed like a relatively comfortable 725 votes. By Wednesday night, that lead had shrunk to 477. By Thursday night, it was down to 336. By Friday, it was 239. Late Sunday night, the difference had gone down to just 221 -- a total change over 4 days of 504 votes.
Amazingly, this all has occurred even though there hasn’t even yet been a recount. Just local election officials correcting claimed typos in how the numbers were reported. Counties will certify their results today, and their final results will be sent to the secretary of state by Friday. The actual recount won’t even start until November 19.
When voters woke up on Wednesday morning after the election, Senator Norm Coleman led Al Franken by what seemed like a relatively comfortable 725 votes. By Wednesday night, that lead had shrunk to 477. By Thursday night, it was down to 336. By Friday, it was 239. Late Sunday night, the difference had gone down to just 221 -- a total change over 4 days of 504 votes.
Amazingly, this all has occurred even though there hasn’t even yet been a recount. Just local election officials correcting claimed typos in how the numbers were reported. Counties will certify their results today, and their final results will be sent to the secretary of state by Friday. The actual recount won’t even start until November 19.
Correcting these typos was claimed to add 435 votes to Franken and take 69 votes from Coleman. Corrections were posted in other races, but they were only a fraction of those for the Senate. The Senate gains for Franken were 2.5 times the gain for Obama in the presidential race count, 2.9 times the total gain that Democrats got across all Minnesota congressional races, and 5 times the net loss that Democrats suffered for all state House races.
Virtually all of Franken’s new votes came from just three out of 4130 precincts, and almost half the gain (246 votes) occurred in one precinct -- Two Harbors, a small town north of Duluth along Lake Superior -- a heavily Democratic precinct where Obama received 64 percent of the vote. None of the other races had any changes in their vote totals in that precinct.
To put this change in perspective, that single precinct’s corrections accounted for a significantly larger net swing in votes between the parties than occurred for all the precincts in the entire state for the presidential, congressional, or state house races.
The two other precincts (Mountain Iron in St. Louis county and Partridge Township in Pine county) accounted for another 100 votes each. The change in each precinct was half as large as the pickup for Obama from the corrections for the entire state.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune attributed these types of mistakes to “exhausted county officials,” and that indeed might be true, but the sizes of the errors in these three precincts are surprisingly large.
Indeed, the 504 total new votes for Franken from all the precincts is greater than adding together all the changes for all the precincts in the entire state for the presidential, congressional, and state house races combined (a sum of 482). It was also true that precincts that gave Obama a larger percentage of the vote were statistically more likely to make a correction that helped Franken.
The recent Washington State 2006 gubernatorial recount is probably most famous for the discovery of ballots in heavily Democratic areas that had somehow missed being counted the first and even second time around. Minnesota is already copying that, though thus far on a much smaller scale, with 32 absentee ballots being discovered in Democratic Hennepin County after all the votes had already been counted. When those votes are added in, they seemed destined to cut Coleman's lead further.
Indeed, it is probably through the discovery of new votes that Franken has his best shot of picking up new votes. Despite the press pushing a possible replay of election judges divining voters’ intentions by looking at “hanging chads” to see if voters meant to punch a hole, that shouldn’t be an issue in Minnesota. The reason is simple: optical scan vote counting machines return ballots to voters if no vote is recorded for a contested race.
The Associated Press piece with the title “Most Minn. Senate ‘undervotes’ are from Obama turf” misinformed readers about what undervotes really imply. The Minneapolis Star Tribune headline similarly claimed "An analysis of ballots that had a vote for president but no vote for U.S. senator could have recount implications."
Virtually all of Franken’s new votes came from just three out of 4130 precincts, and almost half the gain (246 votes) occurred in one precinct -- Two Harbors, a small town north of Duluth along Lake Superior -- a heavily Democratic precinct where Obama received 64 percent of the vote. None of the other races had any changes in their vote totals in that precinct.
To put this change in perspective, that single precinct’s corrections accounted for a significantly larger net swing in votes between the parties than occurred for all the precincts in the entire state for the presidential, congressional, or state house races.
The two other precincts (Mountain Iron in St. Louis county and Partridge Township in Pine county) accounted for another 100 votes each. The change in each precinct was half as large as the pickup for Obama from the corrections for the entire state.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune attributed these types of mistakes to “exhausted county officials,” and that indeed might be true, but the sizes of the errors in these three precincts are surprisingly large.
Indeed, the 504 total new votes for Franken from all the precincts is greater than adding together all the changes for all the precincts in the entire state for the presidential, congressional, and state house races combined (a sum of 482). It was also true that precincts that gave Obama a larger percentage of the vote were statistically more likely to make a correction that helped Franken.
The recent Washington State 2006 gubernatorial recount is probably most famous for the discovery of ballots in heavily Democratic areas that had somehow missed being counted the first and even second time around. Minnesota is already copying that, though thus far on a much smaller scale, with 32 absentee ballots being discovered in Democratic Hennepin County after all the votes had already been counted. When those votes are added in, they seemed destined to cut Coleman's lead further.
Indeed, it is probably through the discovery of new votes that Franken has his best shot of picking up new votes. Despite the press pushing a possible replay of election judges divining voters’ intentions by looking at “hanging chads” to see if voters meant to punch a hole, that shouldn’t be an issue in Minnesota. The reason is simple: optical scan vote counting machines return ballots to voters if no vote is recorded for a contested race.
The Associated Press piece with the title “Most Minn. Senate ‘undervotes’ are from Obama turf” misinformed readers about what undervotes really imply. The Minneapolis Star Tribune headline similarly claimed "An analysis of ballots that had a vote for president but no vote for U.S. senator could have recount implications."
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