It's unlikely that existing regulations are sufficient to keep quality of life across the board stable or even better than what it is now.  I'm sure the Canadian company Aston Bay Holdings is working very hard and spending lots of money to make it possible for them to form a commercial mine in VA.  They're only coming here to take advantage of the fact that they can get it done cheaper because less laws are in their way. Regulations are paved with blood and shouldn't be taken so lightly . Allowing commercial extraction will harm current and future generations of VA. 

(PS hobbyists aren't impacted by this)