Defunct uranium mill reports 2nd leak in weeks

Cotter Corp. has reported a second water spill in less than two weeks at its defunct uranium mill in central Colorado.

The Canon City Daily Record reports that Cotter employees discovered Thursday that the pumping system at the mill near Canon City had broken down. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials say an estimated 500 gallons of possibly tainted water leaked from the pipeline.

Cotter reported another spill on Nov. 25 that leaked about 1,800 gallons of water uphill from Canon City and the Arkansas River. Well tests in July found water in the waste pipeline area contained elevated levels of uranium and molybdenum.

From 1958 to 1978, Cotter processed uranium for nuclear weapons and fuel at the mill.

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Information from: Canon City Daily Record, http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/