U.S. Energy Corp has won approval for a revised plan which will allow it to build a mine tunnel at Mount Emmons. The plan was being strongly protested by conservationists due to the mine's proximity to the ski town of Crested Butte.
There were concerns voiced by the High Country Citizens' Alliance that the exploration for molybdenum would affect the water quality in Crested Butte. The Riverton based company finally won approval from the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board as the board voted 4-1 in favour of the proposal.
Dan Morse the executive director of the High Country Citizens' Alliance said that they still had concerns about the water quality deteriorating after the mine tunnel construction would begin. The group plans to appeal the decision before the board on Wednesday.
However the U.S. Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Keith Larsen said that mining procedures were different now days. Keith Larsen also said that the new environmental and safety regulations would ensure that the mining operations were safe and would not damage the environment in nearby locations.
The Mount Emmons project site is in the same area as the old Keystone Mine. Lead, silver and zinc was mined here until 1969. A plant treats water from the site before it flows to Coal Creek.