Senator Takes First Step To Lift Uranium Ban

A senior state senator plans to introduce legislation that would lift Virginia’s three-decade moratorium on uranium mining. Republican John Watkins of Powhatan said he plans to initiate the legislative debate soon. If approved, the legislation could be an initial step in a lengthy process toward permitting Virginia Uranium Inc. to mine a large deposit at the 35-hundred- acre Coles Hill site near Chatham. The company estimates the deposit to be worth seven-billion dollars.