Cotter gets state's OK to process uranium ore

By TRACY HARMON
The Pueblo Chieftain

CANON CITY - Cotter Corp. got the green light last week to restart its uranium mill after the Colorado Health Department lifted a nearly six-month suspension prompted by worker safety issues.

Cotter addressed all worker health issues that were of concern to the state, including respiratory protection, worker dose assessment and air sampling. Cotter was found to be following the new procedures during numerous unannounced inspections by the health department.

"Because they addressed worker health issues, we were obligated to lift the suspension in a way that did not open the gate on other issues," said Dave Butcher, director of the state health department's radiation services.

Specifically, the health department requires Cotter to obtain prior written approval before receiving any materials that are considered "alternate feed materials" for processing or disposal.

Currently, Cotter is only allowed to process uranium ore, said Rich Ziegler, Cotter Corp. vice president.

"There is no economic value to processing ore. We would have to spend money to bring material in," Ziegler said.

"It is going to be tough for the next 60 days and I will have to evaluate (additional) layoffs and make a decision this month. It is pretty tough to lay people off," Ziegler said.

Cotter has laid off approximately 55 workers in the past six months.

Ziegler hopes to get a state work permit to process calcium fluoride from the Metropolis facility in Illinois.

"I have 3,000 barrels on-site but I need another 2,000 barrels before it would be feasible to process the calcium fluoride," Ziegler said.

Cotter has until March 3 to correct license violation problems before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will approve the mill site to receive any materials from Superfund sites.

Cotter has been approved to receive waste material from Li Tungsten, but will have to address issues with its inventory system and leaking tanks before the EPA will give its approval.

"All of us in Fremont County need to know of and understand the violations Cotter has recently been cited for, because it means a potential risk of each of us," said Jeri Fry, co-chair of Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste. which opposes Cotter becoming a waste disposal site due to its close proximity to the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

"Cotter is not doing a good job. Labeling and inventory are housekeeping items and Cotter is not even getting that right.

"This kind of reckless behavior does not make them a good neighbor," Fry said.

A Nov. 19 inspection by state health officials led to a Dec. 12 notice of violation. At issue were drums containing radioactive material that did not have radiation symbol labels and redwood tanks, which were leaking chemicals that Cotter was using to process ores, according to Butcher.

"With the wood tanks we are told some seepage is to be expected, but we've asked Cotter to hire an independent consultant to tell us whether this is normal or repair actions are necessary," Butcher explained.

Ziegler said the tanks are designed to seep. He has, however, hired an independent consultant to report on the issue of tank structures and that should be done within a few days, Ziegler said.

State health department officials also had concerns about the mill's impoundment ponds where tailings, or wastes, are stored after ore is processed. An independent air sample was conducted Nov. 19.

"There was radon gas coming off the material in the impoundments. The usual method of handling that is to cover it with water, so we've asked them to pump more water in there and they are addressing that," Butcher said.

"The (highway) mulch (applied at the outer exposed edges of the ponds) is keeping the dust from blowing."

"We are pumping in water to the impoundments which is more costly. We were trying to save the resource, the water," Ziegler said.

The state still has not given the green light for Cotter to accept the Maywood, N.J., waste soils.

Cotter is still working on a revised assessment that addresses socio-economic and transportation deficiencies.

When the revision is complete, the state still will require two public meetings, and the Fremont County Commissioners will have the option of seeking an independent review of the assessment, Butcher said.

More public meetings will be in the offing later this year as the state plans to accelerate Cotter's license renewal process.

"The timely renewal of the license will give the public means to comment on the processing and disposal of these alternate feed materials," Butcher said.