I decided against using the Internet for my research and, instead, headed to the classroom to find out what I needed to know for the sake of our children and grandchildren -- and all those who might follow.

A good place to start seemed to be radiation, since the root of most concerns seems to lie in the radioactive nature of uranium.

I signed up for a course called "Understanding Nuclear Radiation" at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. While there, I heard about a week-long workshop on the subject at the University of Richmond, so I signed up for that also.

What I learned is that radiation has been a life-sustaining force since the formation of the Earth. It is essential to our lives. I learned that we always have been exposed to radiation in the air, from outer space and from the water and food we consume. Without radiation, the Earth would be a cold and barren place.

The common measure used for exposure to radiation is the millirem. On average, each person in the United States is exposed to 360 millirem of radiation each year. How you reach that average exposure level for the year depends upon factors such as the elevation of your hometown, the construction materials in your house, how much time you spend in the sun and many other circumstances.

Some people receive less than 360 millirem per year -- and some receive more. But 360 millirem is the average amount received by each of us across the United States.

We pick up radiation from watching television and additional radiation from flying cross country on an airliner. Life-saving medical procedures increase our dosage of radiation. A routine chest X-ray delivers six millirems, while the much more serious CAT-scan delivers 110 millirems.

What I learned is that under normal conditions, radiation causes no harm to our bodies. Intense exposure to radiation can be harmful, and that is why you see medical and dental technicians taking precautions as they go about their work on a day-after-day basis.

Nothing I learned supported the wild claims of radiation ruining the air and water in a modern, properly managed uranium mining and milling operation. For what it's worth, if you live within 50 miles of a coal-fired power plant, you get more exposure to radiation than if you live the same distance from a nuclear power plant.

If you've noticed, nearly everything being thrown around about uranium mining -- things like death zones, deformed babies, destroyed rivers -- all are rooted in unregulated mining activities that occurred 30 to 50 years ago.

Has anyone noticed that all those activities are illegal today? Has anyone noticed that we are living in a time of powerful government oversight regulating everything from where we can smoke to whether a child can ride in the back of a pick-up truck?

What this knowledge means to me is that if the Coles Hill project goes forward with all the safeguards we can expect from federal and state authorities, our region will see a multi-billion-dollar expansion of economic opportunity that will benefit all of us in countless ways. It also means that we will contribute to our nation's energy independence -- which is a vital factor in our national security.

This letter, written by Carol S. East and originally published in the Danville Register & Bee, was brought to my attention by a friend. This friend notes:

"I applaud Mrs. East for taking the time and initiative to learn about radiation. Much of what she mentions is readily available on the internet. In fact, Virginia Uranium's website has an American Nuclear Society Radiation Dose Chart so you can calculate your estimated millirems exposure to common sources of radiation. However, this chart lacks information regarding millirems of exposure for uranium mines and mills. Perhaps that is due to the muriad of unique variables that need to be considered for such a calculation.

"I hope Mrs. East will explore classes which will enable her to navigate the Internet. I think she'll be surprised at the number of reputable documents regarding mining and milling of uranium and associated risks. Unfortunately, heavy metal contamination resulting from mining and milling was not part of her recent curricular activity.

"Mrs. East might also consider the study of real estate so as to be informed regarding the potential effect that a uranium mine and mill will have on area property values. (Of course, if you happen to own land near the proposed mine and mill, and become a proponent of uranium mining and milling, there may be some personal reward.)

"Mrs. East states, "Nothing I learned supported the wild claims of radiation ruining the air and water in a modern, properly managed uranium mining and milling operation." I am hopeful that she will provide examples of such operations. It would be helpful, for comparison sake, if the examples had similar climate, population, hydrology, geology and watershed to ours.

"Mrs. East asks, "Has anyone noticed that we are living in a time of powerful government oversight regulating everything from where we can smoke to whether a child can ride in the back of a pick-up truck?" The answer is yes. Let's give them one more thing to screw up."