2002-2009
CCAT is a local, grass roots organization in Fremont County, Colorado, that formed March 7, 2002, after the Cotter Corporation’s uranium mill announced plans to import 450,000 tons of radioactive/toxic waste from the Maywood Chemical Works Superfund Site in New Jersey for direct disposal into their tailings impoundment. The Cotter Mill sits uphill two miles from downtown Canon City, with approximately 8,000 residents inside a two mile radius. We are a diverse volunteer group of educators, business professionals, health care workers, business owners, county and state employees, retirees, homemakers, students and others. We love our region and want to preserve its rare assets: Nature’s Beauty, Clean Air, and Fresh Mountain Water.
Current laws provide public involvement in decision making, and CCAT has been involved by addressing our County Commission, City Councils, and attending public meetings. We testified at legislative hearings encouraging the eventual passage of House Bills 1408 and 1358 that revised the Radiation Control Act of Colorado. Though not perfect, the bills provided additional rights to our community threatened with becoming a radioactive dump for our Nation. The revised statutes provided $50,000 for County Commissioners to hire independent consultants to review industry environmental assessments, deadlines for applications involving radioactive waste, public hearings, socioeconomic impact studies, and a requirement that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment consider these facts when making decisions about siting or operations of these facilities. CCAT also participated as a Party to the Cotter Maywood Hearing in 2004, and the Cotter License Renewal Hearing in 2005, calling and questioning witnesses and presenting evidence proving the socioeconomic threat to our community.
Our goal is to educate ourselves and others on radioactive industrial operations that threaten our property values, health, economy, tourism industry, or social well being. We will continue to pass this information along via the media, special meetings, newsletters, our website, local events and documentaries.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
► Colorado Housebills 1408 and 1358: In 2002 and 2003, CCAT encouraged public support for revision of the Radiation Control Act of Colorado, which increased public participation and socioeconomic impact evaluation for siting and licensing facilities handling radioactive waste.
► Cotter Uranium Mill application for Maywood radioactive waste: In 2002,CCAT began educating the public on radioactive materials and waste, and encouraging expression of public opinion. In 2007, CDPHE submitted Cotter’s renewed license without approval of direct disposal of waste because of the potential for negative socioeconomic impact. In 2008, Cotter announced they would no longer pursue the Maywood Contract.
♦ General Petition Opposing Maywood: 5,000 signatures
♦ Business Petition Opposing Maywood: 145 signatures
♦ Health Care Providers Opposing Maywood: 60+ signatures
♦ Educators Opposing Maywood: 60+ signatures
♦ Medical Societies of Fremont & Colorado: Signed Resolutions opposing Maywood and calling for Decommissioning of the Mill.
♦ Maywood Hearing Fall 2004: CCATwas a Party representing citizens and presented evidence of potential negative socioeconomic impact.
► Public Meetings: Between 2002 and 2009, CCAT attended and encouraged public participation in over 40 meetings concerning the Cotter Uranium Mill at the City, County, Superfund and Licensing level, with unprecedented public attendance.
► Cotter License Hearing Fall 2005: CCAT participated as a Party representing citizens, presented and questioned witnesses, and presented evidence opposing Direct Disposal and Processing of Waste as proof of negative socioeconomic impact.
► USEPA Technical Assistance Grant: In 2003, CCAT was awarded a $50,000 grant, used to hire Dr. Charles Patterson, Geologist and Hydrogeologist, and Dr. Arjun Makhijani, radiation expert. Both reviewed the site extensively and submitted reports with recommendations for improving investigation, monitoring, and clean up in 2007.
► Sierra Club, Rocky Mt. Chapter, 2003 Award: “Outstanding Community Service”
► USEPA National Award, 2004: “Excellence in Community Involvement”
► Community Advisory Group: Beginning in 2004, CCAT encouraged development of the group and attended every meeting from 2005 to March 2009.
► Public Comments on State and Federal Actions: CCAT submitted extensive Public Comments on Federal and State actions: Maywood Environmental Assessment; Old Tailings Pond Area proposed Clean Up; Cotter Remedial Action Plan proposed change; NRC Generic Environmental Impact Statement proposal; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry-Draft Lincoln Park Public Health Assessment; Cotter 2003 License Application; Cotter waste processing applications; BRM Uranium Exploration Conditional Use Permit; and more.
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