The Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the Montrose County special-use permit for the Piñon Ridge uranium and vanadium mill, Energy Fuels Inc. reported yesterday.
On March 3, the State of Colorado District Court in Montrose County denied a legal challenge by Sheep Mountain Alliance seeking to overturn the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners’ decision to issue the permit for the mill. The Dec. 8 decision affirms the District Court’s decision to deny that legal challenge by SMA.
“Energy Fuels is extremely pleased with today’s decision,” said Stephen P. Antony, president and CEO. “This is another major step forward for the Piñon Ridge mill and Energy Fuels.
“The Appellate Court’s well-reasoned decision verifies the quality of our project and the thoroughness of the regulatory review process.”
SMA now has 45-days to request a rehearing on the case. SMA can also petition the Colorado Supreme Court to hear the case; however, the Colorado Supreme Court does not typically choose to hear cases on straightforward county land-use decisions, the company said. Energy Fuels added that it believes that the narrow legal avenues still available to SMA have very little chance of success.
SMA also has challenged the Radioactive Materials License for the Piñon Ridge mill issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. That challenge is currently being heard by the State of Colorado District Court in Denver.
“Two State Courts have now upheld the Piñon Ridge mill decision,” Antony said. “We remain optimistic that the Colorado District Court in Denver will also uphold the Radioactive Materials License for the Piñon Ridge mill which will allow Energy Fuels to move forward toward construction of this important project.”
