Nuclear power is going through a bit of a renaissance as developed countries look for sources of cheap, plentiful energy to replace fossil fuels. Industry analysts say that by 2030, the demand for uranium will be 28% higher than it was just in 2023. The United States doesn’t have to look overseas for new sources, though, because the largest untapped uranium deposit in the country is just 225 miles southwest of Washington D.C. in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Will it ever be mined? Maybe not. Here’s why.

All About Uranium

Uranium, a silvery gray radioactive metal in its pure form, is one of the heaviest elements that occurs in nature. In its natural form, it’s radioactive but not concentrated enough to create a nuclear fission chain reaction unless helped along. But refined and concentrated, it can be used for medical applications or as a fuel source for nuclear power plants. And when reprocessed and enriched even further, it becomes powerful enough to build a nuclear bomb.

How Long Does It Last in Nature?

Like all radioactive elements, uranium loses atomic particles over time, causing it to transform into other elements lower on the periodic table until it reaches stability as lead. But the rate of atomic decay is so slow in this element that the half-life of its various isotopes ranges from 700 million – 4.5 billion years. Which means, when you find uranium in the ground, it’s going to stay there a long, long time unless people do something with it. 

Where is Uranium Mined?

Most uranium mining takes place overseas, not in the United States. These are the leading uranium producers in the world, with the percentage they contribute to total world uranium output:

1. Kazakhstan: 43%
2. Canada (Saskatchewan): 15%
3. Australia (Northern Territory and Western Australia): 11%
4. Naimbia: 7%
5. Niger: 4%

The United States produces less than 0.02% of the world’s uranium. 80% of it comes from mines in Wyoming, but Texas, Utah, and Nebraska also have limited production capacity. There are uranium deposits in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and South Dakota that are currently not producing due to environmental concerns and market conditions. 

Why is Demand for Uranium Increasing?

According to the World Nuclear Association, 32 countries currently operate a total of 440 nuclear power plants, generating about 9% of the world’s energy needs. 65 new reactors are under construction around the world. While most new reactor orders are occurring in Asia, European countries are considering increasing their nuclear energy capabilities. There are two main reasons for this interest:

• Europe previously purchased much of its energy in the form of petroleum products piped in from Russia. Since the Russians launched a full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, sanctions have cut off the supply of Russian oil and gas. Nuclear power would make Europe more self-sufficient in energy. 
• Nuclear power plants do not release greenhouse gasses in to the atmosphere. Those big billowing white clouds coming from their cooling towers? That’s just harmless steam. So some countries are looking to nuclear power as a potential way to lower their carbon footprints.

Pittsylvania County Profile

Pittsylvania County is the largest county in the state of Virginia by land area, located about 229 miles from Washington DC. It is located in the Piedmont region, the rolling foothills and farmland between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountain ranges to the west and the sandy coastal plain of the Tidewater region to the east. It is predominantly rural, with the exception of the city of Danville on the southern border with North Carolina. Smith Mountain Lake on the west is the largest lake in the state, has a great deal of expensive development around it, and generates significant revenue for the region. Many people continue to work in farming, though, with tobacco remaining the major cash crop. 

A Radioactive Fortune

In the 1970s, geologists realized  the rock formations in the county were similar to the Ambrosia Lake uranium deposit in Canada. In 1978, the Marline Uranium Corporation completed geologic surveys and discovered the largest untapped uranium deposit in the United States just east of the towns of Gretna and Chatham. It’s estimated to hold anywhere from 110-163 million pounds of uranium potentially valued at $12 billion at current market prices.

Why Hasn’t Mining Started?

There are 3 reasons this fortune continues to sit in the ground, to the frustration of the Walter Coles family (the primary landowners), and the companies wanting to develop a mine there. 

1. The Virginia General Assembly enacted a moratorium on uranium mining in 1982 until the issue could be thoroughly studied and implemented safely. That moratorium has still not been lifted.
2. When the price of uranium dropped, Union Carbide and the Marline Corporation gave up their leasing rights, judging that starting a new mine would no longer be cost effective.
3. Feasibility studies noted that, unlike the arid and thinly populated western states where the country has previously minded uranium, Pittsylvania county has generous rainfall and a high water table. There would be greater danger of radioactive materials leaking into the water supply.

Dangers of Uranium Mining

Any kind of mining operation raises environmental concerns. Heavy equipment traffic damages roads and backs up traffic. Dust particles pollute the air and can cause respiratory problems for workers and people downwind. Mining tailings and wastewater reservoirs can leech into the water supply. Projects like this destroy farmland and wildlife habitat, creating an eyesore and land that may not be useable for generations.

In the case of uranium mining, all these concerns are multiplied a thousandfold, as the normal risks would all be there, but would also be radioactive. Modern standards require tailings disposal sites that could be safe for 200 years, but another solution would have to be found eventually, as the debris could be dangerously radioactive for thousands of years. 

Cultural Destruction

Beyond the health and environmental concerns, local residents are worried about damage to the regional culture that can come with industrial development of this type. Coles Hill itself is the site of the county’s oldest and best preserved plantation house, which are rare in this part of the state. Development would bring in a great many people from outside the area not only to build and operate the mine, but to provide support services to those who do. While the economic opportunities are welcome, they also bring changes to the local lifestyle. For example, an unusual feature of the county is that many rural people there speak with the Tidewater accent of the coast although they are not geographically part of that region. Regional dialects like this are fast dying out due to development and exposure to mass media. 

Will the National Interest Force the Issue?

There is little doubt that if the country experienced a shortage of uranium due to increasing energy needs, that the state and county might be more tempted to permit uranium mining. And if it were a matter of national security, the federal government could find ways to step in and make sure it happened. Locals most concerned about the health problems would probably move away if they could, and land values for property without uranium in the area might drop as no one would want to live near a site that might generate toxic radioactive health risks. 

Not in My Backyard

The whole issue is a microcosm of the dilemma facing people in other parts of the country and the world who are often seen as holding up progress when they resist development projects or resource extraction. The “NIMBY” principle (“Not in my backyard”) takes on a whole new significance when the project actually is in  your backyard. When this much money and potential wider national interests are at stake though, it’s likely that the decision ultimately will be out of the hands of the local government and be decided by state and national policies. 

 

 

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