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"Environmentalists and local politicians Friday cheered a Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety order late Thursday directing Denver-based Cotter Corp. to begin curtailing drinking water contamination from an inactive Jefferson County uranium mine this summer. Uranium pollution revealed to be more than 13 times state standards was contaminating Ralston Creek, and the state rejected a cleanup plan proposed by Cotter, which owns the Cotter Mill uranium processing facility near Canon City and several uranium mines around the state. The mining division required Cotter to begin water treatment at its Schwartzwalder uranium mine west of Arvada by July 31. "The mining division took bold and decisive action to protect our drinking water," Jefferson County Commissioner Kathy Hartman said in a release. "I am pleased to see immediate action to protect Ralston Reservoir.""

" For many years the residents of the Lincoln Park area, most recently Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste and its supporters, have been monitoring the futile efforts of Cotter Corp. to clean up their mess at the Canon City mill. The mill site and parts of the surrounding neighborhoods have been a Superfund site since 1984 with soil, air and groundwater showing uranium and molybdenum contamination. Cotter has been doing "interim" clean-up on their site, but not a complete clean-up to the levels that will be required when they close. That's not good enough! Several months ago, Cotter announced plans to refurbish and start processing again in 2014. The question on everyone's lips is: "How can they build a new plant without cleaning up the old one?" The answer has been: "There is nothing in the law to prevent it.""

"The owners of a closed uranium mine near Golden have been ordered by the state health department to stop discharging polluted water into a creek that flows into a Denver-area reservoir. The state health department is taking action because Cotter Corp. has been discharging pollution without a permit and uranium levels in the water are significantly exceeding the safety standard, Steve Gunderson, director of the state water quality control division, said Thursday. The agency sent the notice earlier this month. The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety has sent a separate notice to Cotter saying it believes the company is violation of several state laws. Cotter could face fines of up to $10,000 if found in violation. The Denver-based company didn't immediately return a call seeking comment."

Plant will close its 40-acre secondary impoundment pond Cotter has committed to close its 40-acre secondary impoundment pond with its recent license amendment with the state, plant manager John Hamrick told the Lincoln Park/Cotter Superfund Community Advisory Group on Thursday. About 20 people gathered at Garden Park High School for the monthly CAG meeting. Hamrick said the agreement also calls for Cotter to establish a timeline for certain actions, including a March 31 deadline for a commitment letter. That document will detail Cotter's plans to either close its uranium plant south of Cañon City, the site of a Superfund cleanup, or retool it for continued production.

"Seeking to alter opaque, unresponsive corporate culture Sharyn Cunningham and her family bought five acres in Cañon City's Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1994, and for eight years they used a drinking water well contaminated by the nearby Cotter uranium mill. Drums of uranium mill concentrate. They only discovered the toxic minerals in their drinking water after Cotter was purchased in 2000 by General Atomics - makers of Predator drones and a major player in the nation's nuclear industry - and promptly announced plans to begin storing radioactive waste from an EPA Superfund site in New Jersey. Cunningham says she and her family suffered various illnesses resulting from the contamination of their well but decided not to sue, even as other area residents fought Cotter in a pair of class-action lawsuits. She refuses to discuss her health problems because she wants to focus on legislatively changing Cotter's corporate culture."

Cotter is responsible for the 25-year-old Superfund site that engulfs Lincoln Park. A Superfund site is one of the most toxic places on Earth because of radioactive and chemical contamination. It is time for a Superfund meeting, and it is time for informed decisions that protect our future and us. CCAT has asked for one right away so you can get answers about contamination in the Cotter/Lincoln Park Superfund site and about Cotter's future plans. We have just received the news that there will be a meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. June 8 at Harrison School, 920 Field Ave.

Reactions to Cotter Corp.'s announcement of plans to begin refurbishing the uranium mill south of Cañon City were mixed Friday. "My first reaction was this is not going to happen," said Carol Dunn, co-chair of Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste. "I was a little surprised by their decision." Cotter will send a letter Tuesday to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announcing their intent to apply for a license amendment that would allow them to begin refurbishment of the facility. The company hopes to begin processing uranium again in August 2014. "There is a formal process," said Steve Tarlton, radiation management leader for CDPHE.

"State regulators have rejected a plan by Cotter Corp. to clean up contamination from a closed uranium mine that has flowed into a creek that feeds a Denver-area reservoir. The Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety said Thursday it doesn't believe the plan would prevent uranium from contaminating Ralston Reservoir, which supplies some of the Denver area's drinking water. Loretta Pineda, the agency's director said Cotter has been directed to resume treating the water and submit a new plan within two weeks."

"Colorado Governor Bill Ritter stood by the banks of the Arkansas River near a neighborhood contaminated by a uranium mill today and signed legislation that will force uranium mills to clean up existing messes before launching new projects. "This just gives us a better hold on the milling process," Ritter said before signing the bill, a bipartisan measure sponsored by Rep. Buffie McFadyen, and Sens. Ken Kester and Bob Bacon. Greenwood Village based Cotter Corp. operates the mill that became a Superfund cleanup site in 1984. During the statehouse battle over the law, Cotter vice president John Hamrick said the legislation would kill Cotter's proposed project to refurbish the mill and haul 12.5 million tons of uranium ore from New Mexico for processing. Hamrick on Tuesday declined to comment on the status on any future project."

While their plant officially remains an environmental disaster, owners of a Cañon City uranium mill are pursuing a plan to reopen for nuclear business by hauling 12.5 million tons of ore by train from a protected mountain in New Mexico to refurbished facilities along the Arkansas River. Cotter Corp. executives have informed state officials they will crush and chemically leach 500,000 tons of uranium per year for 25 years - starting as soon as 2014 - "dependent upon market forces."

As Cotter Corp. begins the process of refurbishing its uranium mill, Lincoln Park residents have varied opinions about the prospect of renewed mill operations. "Why not," Brandie Smith asked. "They ain't hurting nothing." Smith, who has lived in the area for most of her life, said the soil around her home is the "best for gardens" and that she has had no problems with water.

"$10 to $15 million spent on work since 2006 Cotter Corp. continues to make efforts to clean up environmental damage caused by its operations during the last 50 years. John Hamrick, vice president of milling, said the company has spent between $10 and $15 million on clean-up efforts since the mill shut down operations in 2006. However, continuous efforts were taking place at the mill while operations were under way, he said. House Bill 1348, also known as the Uranium Processing Accountability Act is currently working its way through the Colorado General Assembly. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Buffie McFadyen and Sen. Ken Kester and was developed by Colorado Citizens Against ToxicWaste and Environment Colorado. According to those groups, the bill would "hold the uranium industry accountable for its own mistakes and ensure Colorado does not subsidize those companies through tax dollars or incentive pollution by saying actions do not have consequences." "

"The state Senate Wednesday passed a tough new uranium processing bill that will require companies to clean up past toxic pollution before being allowed to expand operations. House Bill 1348 (pdf), the Uranium Processing Accountability Act, met little resistance in the Senate, where it passed 24-9 after sailing through House 62-2 earlier this month. The bill, which also requires companies to notify homeowners with drinking wells near contaminated groundwater and provides for more public input in the state regulatory process, now heads back to the House to work out amendments adopted in Senate. A concurrence vote could happen later this week "Actions have consequences and uranium companies need to clean up their mess," cosponsor Ken Kester (R-Las Animas) said in a release. Kester represents Cañon City in Fremont County, home to the Cotter Corporation's uranium mill and an EPA Superfund Clean-up site. Cotter has expressed interest in expanding its operations despite a toxic legacy dating back to the Cold War era."

The Cotter Corp. uranium mill has been cited by the state for radioactive contamination at the adjacent Shadow Hills Golf Club. Though the mill has long been connected to nearby groundwater contamination - the area has been a federal Superfund cleanup site since 1984 - this is the first time state officials have linked the mill to contamination at the golf course and the first time contamination has been traced to mill operations after 1979, when it was rebuilt.

Owners of an idled Canon City uranium mill where contamination remains a problem are planning to reopen for business. The Cotter Corp. has told state officials they plan to process uranium from a New Mexico mine as early as 2014. The company would ship 12.5 million tons of ore by train to its site along the Arkansas River.

"The owner of a defunct uranium mine leaking pollution along a creek that flows into a Denver Water reservoir has launched a cleanup as ordered, state officials confirmed Thursday.\n\nCotter Corp. installed a system that can pump and treat up to 50 gallons per minute of contaminated water from inside its Schwartzenwalder Mine, west of Denver in Jefferson County.\n\nWater tests in 2007 recorded uranium levels in mine water exceeding the human health standard by 1,000 times. Elevated levels in Ralston Creek also were recorded.\n\nThe Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ordered the action. State natural-resources officials also are monitoring the mine, which produced uranium for weapons and nuclear power plants."

Federal researchers have begun a public health review in Cañon City amid renewed concerns about pollution from a closed uranium mill. The study, by the Health and Human Services Department, is examining potential exposure to pollution from the Cotter Corp. mill and the possible health risks. "We're not saying these (potential health impacts) were caused by the contamination," said environmental scientist Teresa Foster. "We're not at the point where we can make that determination. We're taking the community's concerns very seriously."

Federal researchers have begun a public health review in Canon City amid renewed concerns about pollution from a closed uranium mill. The study, by the Health and Human Services Department, is examining potential exposure to pollution from the Cotter Corp. mill and the possible health risks. "We're not saying these (potential health impacts) were caused by the contamination," said environmental scientist Teresa Foster. "We're not at the point where we can make that determination. We're taking the community's concerns very seriously."

"On Tuesday, environmental activists announced legislation that will be proposed in the state House of Representatives soon. The Uranium Processing Accountability Act would require uranium processors to comply with clean-up orders before new applications are processed, strengthen public oversight of bonding requirements; require processors to inform residents about threats to their water if they have registered wells in close proximity to known groundwater contamination; and require processors to amend their operating license before accepting new sources of "alternate feeds." The legislation would affect the Cotter uranium mill south of Cañon City. "