The Special Use Permit application submitted by Energy Fuels Corporation for the Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill to Montrose County has been approved with 19 conditions in September 2009. The proposed mill site is located in the Paradox Valley immediately adjacent to Hwy 90, six miles from the Dolores River.  SMA has challenged this land use decision in District Court as well as Energy Fuels water rights filing.

In December 2009, Energy Fuels submitted an application to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) for a Radiactive Materials License. The CDPHE has held 4 "official" public hearings to date and has not announced any additional public meetings. The CDPHE is required to issue a decision by January 17, 2011. SMA is conducting a thorough analysis with experts on the lengthy application. We plan to submit comprehensive comments this fall. We encourage you to express your concerns by submitting your comments in writing or signing one of our petitions - coming online soon. Please click READ MORE below for updated talking points and fact sheets.

The coalition to Stop the Mill is gathering signatures on two petitions, a general statement of opposition and a letter from parents concerned about the impacts from the mill on our children and future generations. These petitions are intended to show the state the large amount of concern and opposition to this proposal, you do not need to be a resident of Colorado to sign.

Follow the links below to sign and please pass this along to your friends who know and love SW Colorado.

PARENT PETITION

GENERAL PETITION

Submit comments to:

Mr. Steve Tarlton or Mr. Warren Smith

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please cc CDPHE Executive Director Martha Rudolph's Assistant This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OR:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
HMWMD-B2
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO  80246-1530

We strongly suggest that you request a confirmation of receipt.

For more information on the application and the latest updates from the CDPHE CLICK HERE

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) is preparing an updated Resource Management Plan (RMP) and associated Environmental Imapct Statement (EIS). The UFO includes the BLM lands surrounding the San Miguel River in San Miguel County and the majority of BLM lands in Western Montrose County. An RMP, similar to a county master plan, is a land use plan that describes borad multiple-use guidance for managing public lands administered by the BLM.

In addition they published the Draft Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report for the Uncompahgre Planning Area. 

SMA along with our regional conservation partners submitted comprehensive scoping comments for the RMP and comments on the Wild & Scenic Eligibility in March. The BLM is now compiling all the comments and data and expects to have the draft RMP and EIS in the winter of 2010/2011.

For more information and maps from the BLM CLICK HERE