A uranium mine in Colorado's Paradox Valleywins uanimous approval by Montrose County commissioners who make reference to 9/11, saying they want to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
"The worst mining accident that I ever saw happened on 9/11," commissioner Ron Henderson told the crowd gathered in Friendship Hall to hear a decision on the proposed Piñon Ridge mill, the Colorado Independent reports. "There has never been a place on earth where the specific density of the air was ever any heavier than it was right there [in Manhattan], caused by political unrest."
The controversial project, to be developed by Canadian company Energy Fuels, would be the first of its kind to be built in the U.S. in 25 years. Previous mining in the area created a vast toxic wasteland that is off limits to people and animals. The project now requires review by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. It was opposed by many residents of nearby Telluride and other mountain communities, including actress Daryl Hannah. Hannah said earlier a win for Energy Fuels would be a loss for Mother Earth, arguing that jobs can't compensate for a poisoned landscape.
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Gary "Chris" Twombley was put on administrative leave in December 2023
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