On behalf of the non-profit environmental organization Appalachian Voices, whose membership includes many Central Virginia residents living along the Gold-Pyrite Belt, we strongly encourage the State Agency Committee to endorse the statement of task drafted by the Press Pause Coalition. 

The Press Pause Coalition’s draft statement: successfully incorporates the statement of task drafted by State Agencies, provides a panel of expert speakers, would more fully educate committee members and members of the public on the complexities of gold mining processes and related concerns, and clearly details the companion document the committee would produce.

This is the most effective path presented to the Committee for evaluating the health, environmental and regulatory concerns of large-scale gold mining. Thank you for your support of the Statement of Task suggested by the Press Pause Coalition, and for the work of all the Committee members.