DENVER—A Denver judge says a citizens group can proceed with a lawsuit accusing state officials of failing to require Cotter Corp. to set aside enough money to clean up its uranium mill in Canon City.
Soon after the group Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste sued, the state health department sought to dismiss it. A judge denied that request Friday but didn’t rule on the merits of the group’s arguments.
Court documents say Cotter’s radioactive materials license from the state required Cotter to post a surety of $20.8 million to clean up the mill site, but Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste say it could cost at least $43 million to decommission and decontaminate it.
The health department hasn’t filed its response to the lawsuit yet.
