Buddy Hebb says when he received a phone call from his MLA asking whether he would give the provincial government access to his private road for uranium exploration, he had a simple response: “Absolutely not.”
Hebb, who lives in Vaughan, N.S., in West Hants Regional Municipality, says he received the call from MLA Melissa Sheehy-Richard on the evening of June 19. He says the call has reignited concerns around mining in the area and he now keeps the gate to the access road locked.
“She constantly tried to convince me that this was the best thing. And I know different, and the community knows different. It starts with exploration, and it ends up with holding ponds and what have you,” he said.
He believes it’s a sign the provincial government is moving ahead with exploration without listening to public concerns about the industry.
Nova Scotia’s government issued a request in May for uranium exploration proposals for three sites with known deposits of the heavy metal, but it received no bids.
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Hebb’s son, Reuben, says the family is worried about potential environmental damage with uranium exploration, which could affect their opportunities to “hunt and fish, enjoy (their) lives and raise kids.”
It’s a concern geologist and former Annapolis Valley councillor Brad Redden says is legitimate.
“You can mitigate the risk and damage from uranium exploration and mining, but you can never get rid of it,” said Redden.
“And with it being radiogenic and long-life, it’s never not there. You just make the risk smaller.”
Sheehy-Richard did not respond to a request from Global News for comment.
Premier Tim Houston’s office denied that the province requested access to Hebb’s road. Houston reiterated in a statement his position is the same as it was when he was asked about uranium mining following a cabinet meeting a couple weeks ago.
“We’re not going to open uranium mines unless it is an industry-led project and at this time industry has not expressed any interest,” he wrote.
Legislation passed in March lifted a full ban on uranium exploration and mining that had been put in place in 2009, although there had been a moratorium on such activities since 1981.
Houston said the legislative changes were needed to help the province withstand economic challenges from American tariffs.
For the Hebbs, they say their focus is fighting to preserve their land.
“The whole community, the whole province shouldn’t be on board with this. Our province is too small for this,” said Buddy Hebb. “Put the moratorium back on it again and leave it. It’s safe in the ground.”
His son added, “We’d like to see them just put the ban, reinstate the ban.”
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