OPHIR – A second Colorado municipality is now challenging the licensing of Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill, which would be the first mill of its kind licensed in the U.S. in more than 25 years. The license for Piñon Ridge was granted earlier this year by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Town of Ophir has joined the Town of Telluride in seeking to intervene in a lawsuit challenging licensure of the mill because the public was not allowed to have a meaningful role in the process, as required by both state and federal law.

Public Justice, the national public interest law firm, represents both Ophir and Telluride, each about 50 miles from Piñon Ridge’s proposed location in the Paradox Valley of Montrose County, Colo. Critics note the potential dangers from milling uranium – namely, toxic and radioactive air and water contamination.

Telluride attorneys Kevin Geiger and Steve Johnson are working with Public Justice attorneys Richard Webster and Matthew Wessler on the case.

For more information about the lawsuit, contact Public Justice’s Matthew Wessler (mwessler@publicjustice.net) or Deborah Mathis (dmathis@publicjustice.net) at 202/797-8600.