Residents of Nucla, Naturita split on wisdom of proposed mill
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
Article Last Updated; Friday, June 12, 2009 MONTROSE - A proposed mill that could help restart Colorado's uranium industry drew heated debate at a public hearing Wednesday night.
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Photo by JOE HANEL/Herald
Cindy Carothers, left, Patty Geer and their father, Lee Sutherland, show their support for a proposed uranium mill near Naturita before a meeting of the Montrose County Planning Commission on Wednesday in Montrose.
The Montrose County Planning Commission delayed its decision on a special-use permit for Energy Fuels Inc., which wants to build the Piñon Ridge uranium mill 12 miles west of Naturita in the Paradox Valley. Commissioners favored the mill, but they needed more time to craft language for the permit. The commission will make its decision July 1.The mill would have effects far beyond the remote valley. It would be the first new American uranium mill in decades, and it would offer a convenient place to process ore from Colorado's shuttered uranium mines.