Financial assurance, immediate cleanup efforts are focus of agreement
Posted: Saturday, January 14, 2012 12:00 am
By TRACY HARMON | tharmon@chieftain.com |
CANON CITY — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Friday it has reached an agreement with Cotter Corp. in a dispute over a surety bond and speeding up plans to clean up the company’s now-closed uranium mill.
At the Cotter uranium mill, there are separate financial assurance requirements: one to cover the termination of the company’s radioactive materials license and the other to cover site cleanup.
The financial assurance, or bond, designed to cover the termination of the radioactive materials license, was increased in 2011 to $20.8 million from $14.7 million.
Recently completed negotiations with Cotter increased the assurance amount for ongoing cleanup operations to $6.8 million from $2.6 million, said Steve Tarlton, manager of the state health and environment radioactive materials program manager.
Of that $6.8 million, $3.2 million will be posted as financial assurance; $3.6 million will apply immediately to accelerating a number of specific cleanup tasks.
Opponents said they still feel uncomfortable with the assurances.
"We still have some concern that $3 million of the bond is being deferred while Cotter performs work over the next year. What if Cotter walks away tomorrow and the state does not have the bond?" said Sharyn Cunningham, co-chair of Colorado Citizen's Against Toxic Waste.
We're thrilled that Dr. Urbina and the governor have heard and responded to our plea for enhanced public participation and it could not come at a better time. Cotter is asking for weak soil cleanup standards and an agreement behind the scenes before they submit the plan for public review," Cunningham said.
Documents developed to address groundwater contamination on and off Cotter property, as well as soil contamination on Cotter property, will be posted to the state’s health and environment website: www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/cotter/index.htm
http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/cotter-corp-state-agree-on-cleanup/article_f1206d00-3e73-11e1-98d4-001871e3ce6c.html
Posted: Saturday, January 14, 2012 12:00 am
By TRACY HARMON | tharmon@chieftain.com |
CANON CITY — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Friday it has reached an agreement with Cotter Corp. in a dispute over a surety bond and speeding up plans to clean up the company’s now-closed uranium mill.
At the Cotter uranium mill, there are separate financial assurance requirements: one to cover the termination of the company’s radioactive materials license and the other to cover site cleanup.
The financial assurance, or bond, designed to cover the termination of the radioactive materials license, was increased in 2011 to $20.8 million from $14.7 million.
Recently completed negotiations with Cotter increased the assurance amount for ongoing cleanup operations to $6.8 million from $2.6 million, said Steve Tarlton, manager of the state health and environment radioactive materials program manager.
Of that $6.8 million, $3.2 million will be posted as financial assurance; $3.6 million will apply immediately to accelerating a number of specific cleanup tasks.
Opponents said they still feel uncomfortable with the assurances.
"We still have some concern that $3 million of the bond is being deferred while Cotter performs work over the next year. What if Cotter walks away tomorrow and the state does not have the bond?" said Sharyn Cunningham, co-chair of Colorado Citizen's Against Toxic Waste.
We're thrilled that Dr. Urbina and the governor have heard and responded to our plea for enhanced public participation and it could not come at a better time. Cotter is asking for weak soil cleanup standards and an agreement behind the scenes before they submit the plan for public review," Cunningham said.
Documents developed to address groundwater contamination on and off Cotter property, as well as soil contamination on Cotter property, will be posted to the state’s health and environment website: www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/cotter/index.htm
http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/cotter-corp-state-agree-on-cleanup/article_f1206d00-3e73-11e1-98d4-001871e3ce6c.html
