Colorado Forest Project In the News

[excerpt from story] 

On Feb. 21, the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee overwhelmingly passed a bill to prevent unsafe uranium mining. If it survives the House and Senate, HB 1161 would require all uranium mines in Colorado to meet strong environmental and public health protections as a “designated mining operation.” The bill would also require mining companies to restore groundwater quality at injection or “in-situ” uranium mining projects to their original conditions.

Conservationists are hailing HB 1161 as a major step toward public health and safety.

“The uranium rush could trample our open spaces and poison our waters,” said Pam Kiely, legislative program director of Environment Colorado. “This is a glowing victory to protect our environment from radioactive uranium mining.”

A broad range of groups support the bill, including the Colorado Environmental Coalition, the Colorado Medical Society, Environment Colorado and the Alliance for Responsible Mining.

Jeff Parsons, attorney of the Western Mining Action Project, concluded that uranium mining can have devastating consequences. If the bill passes the Colorado House and Senate, it will be one more step to ensure that mining and milling in the state are done right the first time, he said.

“We’re one step closer to protecting our water from radioactive uranium mining,” Parsons said. “There’s no second chances with the new uranium boom. If we want to protect communities, uranium mining companies need to do it right the first time around.”