I understand that Virginia already has mercury problems from small scale gold mining, I believe large scale gold mining would leave an even greater impact, and should be rejected.

Virginia has not updated its laws around gold mining since the 1900s.  Companies today use cyanide in their processing, and waste ponds have the potential to leak several years later.  We are barely keeping our drinking water clean as it is, we do not need new mines putting that at risk. 

I am sure the gold companies say they will be responsible, but they are large corporations, they are responsible to their shareholders, not to the communites they pollute.