AG opinion: Uranium mining regulation not up to local officials 

RICHMOND — Local officials would have little influence over uranium mining if Virginia decided to end a decades-long prohibition , Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli concluded in an advisory opinion. Cuccinelli issued the nonbinding opinion in response to a request by Del. Donald Merricks, who represents Pittsylvania County, home to one of the largest uranium deposits in the world. In the lengthy opinion dense with case law citations, Cuccinelli states that Pittsylvania County would have no authority to regulate uranium mining “in any fashion” while the moratorium is in place and would have very narrow powers should the General Assembly lift the moratorium. The...