Thursday, Jan 27 2011 6:15PM
The first uranium mill in over 25 years is set to open in western Colorado.
Amid strong objections from environmental groups, Colorado has approved the licensing for the construction of the first uranium mill in the U.S. in more than 25 years, in order to produce fuel for nuclear power plants.
The mill, called Pinon Ridge, will be built in a rural valley located in western Colorado by Canadian company Energy Fuels. The $175-million project will be set up in an area mainly occupied by closed-down uranium mines, some of which the company said could reopen to supply uranium ore, possibly creating 300 new jobs and encouraging rural community development in the region.
While the mill could help reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil, uranium has been known to produce radioactive pollution. The Wall Street Journal reports government cleanup is still ongoing at many former mine locations.
Still, the New York Times reports most local residents support the plan and that the company now has to secure transportation and air emissions permits.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, uranium can be absorbed through skin, eyes, ingestion and inhalation, and is known for causing lung cancer among other diseases.