Chatham mayor seeks uranium mining law
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By Bernard Baker
Danville Register & Bee
Published: August 14, 2008
Chatham’s mayor wants Town Council to pass a chemical trespass ordinance against uranium mining to protect residents.
Mayor George Haley said it is the role of Chatham officials, elected and not elected, to protect people from the potential hazards associated with uranium mining.
He said he is concerned there isn’t enough being done to protect residents and hold people accountable if the state government eventually lifts the moratorium on uranium mining.
If approved, the mining would be done on Coles Hill near Chatham.
Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Henry A. “Hank” Davis Jr. said there are people on all sides of the fence when it comes to uranium mining – people who support it, those who don’t and people who want to know more.
Davis, an attorney, is concerned that Chatham doesn’t have the authority to make chemical trespassing a crime. There are state and federal laws that local governments can’t get around, he said.
Haley said all planning documents are written with regard to the safety, protection and welfare of the people. He said most of the people he’s talked to in Chatham are against mining.
Haley said if mining was safe, there wouldn’t be a moratorium.
“I don’t like what I see,” he said. “I want to be proven wrong.”
• Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986.
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