Del. Englin Discusses Controversial Trip to French Mine, Environmental Issues

Del. David Englin, who represents Virginia’s 45th District in the House of Delegates, recently returned from a trip to France paid for by Virginia Uranium.

“My constituents expect from their legislators environmental champions,” he said in an interview with three Patch editors at St. Elmo’s Coffee Shop in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. “This trip was one piece of me getting information that I need to be able to be that environmental champion.”

Virginia Uranium seeks to begin mining in the commonwealth, where state law allows exploration of uranium deposits but no mining unless new regulations are created. Englin said he has heard a bill on the mining matter could be introduced during the next legislative session. 

“I am not for mining in Virginia,” said Englin, who sits on the Natural Resources Subcommittee. “With the information that I have now, I’m opposed to uranium mining and I’ve been opposed to it. I’m close to 100 percent likely to vote against them on this.”

He added that the trip, which was valued at approximately $8,500 to $9,500 for him and his wife, according to Virginia Uranium, “has not changed my overarching position of opposition, but has given me more information to base a decision on science and reason and not a knee-jerk liberal reaction.”

Englin, who represents parts of Arlington, Alexandria including Del Ray and Old Town, and neighboring Fairfax, went to Bessines, France, with six Virginia delegates.

He said he asked questions to the mayor, farmers and others about environmental and health issues and brought with him questions from some Virginia-based environmental groups. Additionally, he said it was important for him to experience the trip.

"I don’t trust any other legislators to make decisions on behalf of my constituents," he said. "It's not that I would question the integrity of some of my colleagues, but I'm not going to cast a vote on behalf of my constituents based on someone who represents Prince William or Loudoun County."

Virginia Uranium gave Englin the choice between one first-class plane ticket or two coach tickets and he chose the two coach tickets for him and his wife, Shayna. The company also paid for the cost of the hotel room.

Shayna holds a master's in public policy from Harvard University and accompanied him on the briefings and site visits and “asked as tough questions as anyone,” he said.

When Englin is not in Richmond as a delegate, he works with Shayna at their consulting firm, Englin Consulting. Shayna Englin founded the firm in 2006. 

The Bessines mine has been closed for 16 years, but Englin said it shows a good example of how a reclaimed mine has affected the agricultural community surrounding it and has similar climatic conditions to Virginia’s Pittsylvania County.

“I’d encourage every member of the General Assembly to go on this trip and ask tough questions,” Englin said, adding that he would consider a proposal from Virginia Uranium to review an active mine in Canada if it would give him additional and better data.

Virginia Uranium Project Manager Patrick Wales said: “I think there’s been a misunderstanding of what the intent of the trip was. There wasn’t a lot of free time. … This in no way was a vacation.” He added that Virginia Uranium would like to host local representatives and community leaders on similar trips as well.

The company took three Virginia legislators on a similar trip last year.

Megan Rhyne, executive director of Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said, "As an organization, we would leave it to the voters of a particular district to decide whether or not this type of activity is a good thing."

“This is going to be a major policy decision for Virginia,” said Englin. “The way bills pass in Richmond, you can have 10 people in a room at 6 a.m. in the morning and you need to be sure that you’re doing the right thing.”

Editor's Note: This story has been changed to reflect that the Bessines mine has been closed for 16 years, not "decades."

Del Ray Patch Editor Drew Hansen contributed to this report.