Environmentalists urge more notice about uranium meetings

Jul 27 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Rex Springston Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.

Some environmentalists are upset over a new series of meetings scheduled to discuss uranium mining in Virginia. They say the public was not adequately notified.

The McDonnell administration disagreed, saying information was posted on the Web as soon as it became available.

At issue are six meetings the Virginia Department of Health will hold to hear the public's concerns on how uranium mining could affect streams and wells.

The meetings -- three lasting all day and three lasting two hours -- will be held in Chatham, Warrenton and Virginia Beach. The first will bein Chatham from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Some of the meetings require people to sign up by the end of Tuesday to participate. But there has been little advance notice of the meetings, environmentalists said.

"I don't think the public has any clue as of today that these are going on," said Dan Holmes, state policy director for the Warrenton-based Piedmont Environmental Council.

Maureen Matsen, Gov. Bob McDonnell's energy adviser, said information about some of the meetings was posted on state websites Tuesday and information on others was posted Wednesday.

The website of McDonnell's uranium-mining study group -- supposedly the main source of information on the issue -- appeared to contain nothing about the new meetings well into this afternoon. Matsen said the information was supposed to be on the site and would go there later today.

"Notice was given as soon as the logistics and plans for these meetings were finalized and secured," Matsen said.

Speaking of the critics, she said, "They are opposed to uranium mining, and it just doesn't surprise me that they are going to criticize our work and try to undermine our work at every opportunity."

As for signing up for meetings by the end of the day Tuesday, Matsen said a quick email will suffice. "How much time does it take?"

The meetings are part of a state study ordered by Gov. Bob McDonnell to look into the safety of mining uranium in Virginia, particularly at a proposed site in Pittsylvania County.