Uranium moratorium lauded by officials
EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, The Herald is reprinting historic stories from the South Okanagan focusing on the biggest news story of each year.
FEBRUARY 28, 1980: No matter the motives, Penticton area officials are pleased with the decision Wednesday by the provincial government to place a seven-year moratorium on uranium mining and exploration in the province.
“It was a brave step for this government to take,” Ald. Rod Barrett said today, “especially in light of the $300 million contract the government has with Korea to provide uranium to that country. I figured the government had a strong commitment to sell uranium to Korea. I think it was certainly a well thought out decision. I don’t really think it was strictly a political decision to knock the slats out from under the New Democratic Party.”
Barrett says he felt the Bates Inquiry into uranium mining performed a valuable function and helped mould public opinion.
“The inquiry brought out information step by step about the hazard of uranium mining. I’m somewhat unhappy the inquiry has been dissolved. It would have been nice to see the whole inquiry through to the end. I think they should complete the technical aspects of the inquiry, and I think the provincial government should fund completion of the inquiry.”
Barrett says the seven-year period should allow other alternate sources of energy to be developed. “The government will have to spend some bucks on developing alternate sources of energy,” Barrett added. “In any event I have heard reports that there wasn’t enough uranium in B.C. to make mining of the mineral worthwhile.”
Walt Taylor of the South Okanagan Environmental Coalition says the decision will now turn the focus of energy development onto other areas. “If we work wisely in the next seven years, we will be able to develop an alternate energy source,” Taylor said. “Alternate sources have been ignored because of uranium but there are other sources that can provide more and better jobs without the risks.”
A study by a group at the Harvard School of Business concluded that solar energy would be adequate if developed and that uranium energy could be phased out over the next 50 years. “We are quite pleased with the decision.
Now, instead of fighting against uranium powered energy sources, we can look at developing alternate methods.”
Taylor said he is worried about the dissolution of the Bates Inquiry in that some important facts could have been brought out. He said he was particularly concerned about the effects of low level radiation.
“I feel we should have a chance to bring out further information from experts on uranium mining.” Taylor claims the decision was politically motivated and could have been made over a year ago. “However, the decision does take a great deal of anxiety off our shoulders,” he added. Environmentalists throughout B.C. are happy with a moratorium but at the same time they are wondering what motivated the decision.
Premier Bill Bennett, in announcing the moratorium, said that a $2 million royal commission into uranium mining will stop functioning immediately.
Dr. David Bates, who headed the inquiry, was in Australia studying uranium mining when the moratorium was issued and had still to issue his report.
“We have some regrets that all the information wasn’t able to get out,” John Rogers, a spokesman for the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said Wednesday.
“Bennett’s decision was based on political issues and not scientific data. He could have made the decision some time ago.”