From The Denver Post (Bruce Finley):
The lawsuit, recently filed in Denver District Court, accuses Colorado’s Mined Lands Reclamation Board of abusing its discretion when it ordered Cotter to pump out and treat uranium-tainted water that inspections have shown to be rising toward the rim of Cotter’s defunct Schwartzwalder mine…
At issue is whether state regulators had enough evidence to order the cleanup and impose fines. Cotter is seeking a judge’s order to reverse both of those actions…
The lawsuit is the latest step in a standoff between Cotter and the state. Regulators have moved to increase a $55,000 fine against Cotter for failing to comply with cleanup orders. Since April, they’ve repeatedly ordered Cotter, a subsidiary of San Diego-based General Atomics, to pump and treat toxic water filling the mine along Ralston Creek. The creek, which flows into Denver Water’s Ralston Reservoir, contains uranium at levels far exceeding health standards for drinking water. Cotter in July began pumping contaminated water from surface alluvial ponds along the creek. But the most- contaminated water in the 2,000-foot- deep mine shaft is untouched. Cotter contends the water in the mine shaft is not connected to groundwater. State mining regulators argue that water in the mine is connected to groundwater and the creek.
More nuclear coverage here and here. More Schwartzwalder mine coverage here.