fbpx

Thank you to the loyal readers and supporters of The Colorado Independent (2013-2020). The Indy has merged with the new nonprofit Colorado News Collaborative (COLab) on a new mission to strengthen local news in Colorado. We hope you will join us!

Visit COLab
Home Tags Tailings

Tag: tailings

Feds open door to more uranium mining in Southwest Colorado

  When you look at a map showing the density of abandoned uranium mines in the West, a slice of southwestern Colorado stands out like...

Uranium trains continue to criss-cross Utah as Moab project hits milestone

One of the rationales frequently trotted out in support of a proposed uranium mill in western Montrose County is that it won’t impact outdoor...

EPA proposes new clean-up plan for Leadville

LEADVILLE -- To outsiders, the amber hills of piled up mine waste, or tailings, that mark the countryside here are just part of the dramatic mountain scenery. But they're the subject of a new round in a long conflict between historic preservationists and environmentalists. To some long-time Leadville residents and state preservationists, the tailings piles are a valuable part of a distinct local history, a symbol of the great gold and silver booms of the past. To the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, though, they are poison, the refuse of a century and more of industrial extraction that, despite decades spent on clean-up efforts, is still leaching heavy metals like zinc and cadmium into area water, putting the Arkansas River and downstream communities and wildlife at risk.
Adjust Font Size