Court rules on Piñon Ridge mill
The Denver District Court handed down a decision Wed., June 13, on a case involving the proposed Piñon Ridge uranium mill near Naturita.
Judge John McMullen ruled in favor of the defendants, Energy Fuels Inc. and the Colorado Department of Public Heath and Environment, on 10 of the 11 claims.

 

The single claim on which the judge ruled for the plaintiffs, Sheep Mountain Alliance and the towns of Telluride and Ophir, involved procedural steps overlooked when issuing a radioactive materials license.

The court decided the defendants failed to comply with the Colorado Radiation Control Act, which requires a public hearing that includes an opportunity for cross-examination of witnesses. The court’s decision essentially pulls the license until these obligations are met.

“The decision by Judge McMullen rejected every one of the Plaintiff’s claims suggesting that our license somehow failed to fully protect public health and the environment on the West Slope,” Stephen P. Antony, Energy Fuels President & CEO, said in a statement. “Based on the Court’s decision, we are confident that after this procedural issue is resolved, the license will be reissued.”

The public hearings are scheduled for July 5. Barring any new information coming out of these sessions, it is likely the mill development will continue.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a statement the following day stating it was reviewing the judge’s decision. “It would be premature to speculate about our next steps,” the department stated.

The more substantial claims brought forth by the plaintiffs involving environmental, health and safety concerns were struck down by the court.
“There’s never been a uranium mill in Colorado that has been operated and cleaned up without problems,” said Jennifer Thurston with Sheep Mountain Alliance. “We have deep concerns about how the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment regulates uranium mills.”

Making home rentals race-ready
Homeowners thinking abut taking advantage of relaxed rental laws and cashing in during next August’s big bike race take note. There’s more to being a vacation rental lord than meets the eye.

With Durango expected to push maximum density with 20,000 visitors in the week leading up to the Aug. 20 start of the Pro Cycling Challenge, city leaders have relaxed nightly rental rules, making it easier for homeowners to rent out their houses. However, there are a few things to consider before you hand over the keys to the castle (if you can find them, that is), warn local tourism experts. For starters, what about those dirty socks under the bed or that leftover science experiment in the fridge?

“Visitors will be paying a premium for their stay, which typically comes with high expectations, so home owners will want to anticipate some of the common headaches that come with offering a vacation rental,” said Kory Samson, sales and marketing guru with Gateway Reservations.

According to Samson, vacation home rentals can often come with unexpected hiccups and challenges that a homeowner may not have considered – like emergency T.P. shortages or plumbing with an impeccable sense of timing. There are also considerable inconveniences for local rentees, such as what to do with the expansive fleece wardrobes, beer collections and ski/bike quivers. And who will take care of the chickens and veggie garden?
“Some homeowners will make common mistakes like leaving food in the refrigerator or cabinets, clothes in the closet or other personal items accessible that they may not want strangers having access to,” Samson said.

In an effort to help rookie rentees navigate the vacation rental jungle while maintaining their sanity, Gateway is offering a checklist on its website to help owners identify some of the things they should consider before they sign up.  Things like how you will market your home to visitors, how to provide access, how will you secure your belongings, will there be cleaning and damage deposits, and many other considerations made the list.   The full checklist can be found at www.GatewayReservations. com/Vacation-Home-Checklist.

Some of the major details that may have been clouded by the visions of dollar signs dancing in our heads:
- How will you manage credit card payments?
- Are you able to store all of your personal belongings?
- Will you be able to empty your cabinets, pantry and the refrigerator and have them clean and open for a guest?
- How will you manage damage deposits?
- Will you have a cleaning fee and, if so, how much?
- Will you have a minimum nights stay?
- What are your cancellation policies?

In addition, owners have to consider how to market their house – in addition to a highly visible classified ad in online and print version of the Durango Telegraph, that is (heck, we’ll even throw in a photo for an extra $10.) Other options include Durango Central Reservations and Gateway, which is waiving its listing fees for homeowners looking to rent during the race.  

For more information, call our classified manager extraordinaire, Tracy Chamberlin, 259-0133 or classifieds@ durangotelegraph.com; or contact Samson at 385-4711 or visit www.GatewayReservations.com.

USFS upgrades fire restrictions
Southwest Colorado has gone to the next level of fire restrictions. On Wednesday, the U.S. Forest Service announced stricter Stage 2 fire restrictions in lower elevations and new Stage 1 restrictions on higher elevations on San Juan National Forest and Tres Rios Bureau of Land Management lands.

 

Currently, the only place on San Juan National Forest and BLM Tres Rios land where an open fire is allowed inside a permanent fire grate is at the following high-elevation campgrounds: Sig Creek, South Mineral, Little Molas, Cayton, Burro Bridge, West Dolores and Mavreeso. In all other backcountry areas and all other campgrounds, all open fires are banned. Petroleum-fueled stoves are still OK to use under the Stage 1 restrictions.
 

Stage 2 restrictions for lower elevations are as follows:
-Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire, campfire or woodstove is completely prohibited;
-Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle or building;
-Use of chainsaws and other internal-combustion engines must be accompanied by a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces, and a size 0 or larger round pointed shovel at least 36 inches long.
Higher elevations Stage 1 restrictions are as follows:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire or other fire is limited to permanent fire rings or grates within developed campgrounds (Exceptions: petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices);
- Smoking is limited to an enclosed vehicle or building, or within a 3-foot-wide area cleared of vegetation;
- Chainsaws and other internal-combustion engines must have approved, working spark arresters;
- Welding or use of other torches is prohibited;
- Use of explosives is prohibited (including fireworks).
Maps and information on the restrictions are posted online at: www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan.

– Tracy Chamberlin and Missy Votel