Sep 15, 2021
I would like to add my voice to the gathering storm of protest over the proposed permitting of Union Milling. The Leadville Mill owners are seeking a permit to process large amounts of mine tailings, up to 80 truckloads a day, right through town to a location next to the wastewater treatment plant about four miles south of town on U.S. 24.
According to the permit application, this is a cyanide leaching operation. Cyanide and other chemicals are needed in big quantities for chemical leaching of 80 truckloads a day. Other speculators around Colorado will be trucking their mine tailings here because it is almost impossible to find communities who will permit such volumes of toxic chemicals in their own backyard. The physical plant is here and has been here since back in the day when “environment” was not in anybody’s vocabulary.
The groundwater, or water table, is very close to the surface in this area. When our well was drilled near Malta, we hit water at 30 feet and water gushed out, creating a small stream across our property until it was capped.