State health officials are reviewing an explanation from Cotter Corp. after a spill at the company's defunct uranium mill in central Colorado.
The Denver Post reports a pipeline leaked about 1,800 gallons of possibly tainted 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.
A report from Cotter, sent Monday, says a coupler on a 6-inch pipeline broke Nov. 24 or early Nov. 25 and was fixed. The company says the spill has been contained.
Cotter manager Stephen Cohen says it's unlikely the spill will worsen contamination of groundwater.
From 1958 to 1978, Cotter processed uranium for nuclear weapons and fuel at the mill.
