Judge halts uranium-mining plans in Colorado over environmental issues

A federal judge has hit the brakes on a nuclear renaissance, ruling that U.S. Department of Energy officials violated environmental laws when they re-launched a program to mine uranium and produce yellowcake fuel in Colorado. U.S. District Judge William Martinez ordered DOE officials to stop approving exploration, mining and all other activities on 31 sites leased to uranium companies. The ruling affects about 25,000 acres southwest of Grand Junction along the Dolores and San Miguel rivers. A 53-page opinion filed late Tuesday said the DOE "acted arbitrarily and capriciously in failing to analyze site-specific impacts" on people and the environment — especially given the history of uranium mining in the region. Martinez also found DOE officials violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists about the impact of leasing uranium lands...more