Laserfiche WebLink
<br />DenverPost.com - News: Colorado and Denver <br /> <br />Page 2 of3 <br /> <br />35 <br /> <br />"If the cleanup requires long-term \'later treatment on the <br />Alamosa River, Friedland's settlement provides a significant <br />beginning," Salazar said. "But that :may not be sufficient to <br />cover longterm costs." <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Jim Lyons, Friedland's Denver attorney, said the state's move <br />substantIates Friedland's claim that other companies were <br />responsible for a significant part of it he mine's environmental <br />problems, <br /> <br />"Clearly, the fact that the attorney ,general has' taken this step <br />v.lndlcates our view that there are a number of companies and <br />Individuals who had substantial harids-on Involvement at <br />Summltville Mine and for which they should be held <br />accountable," Lyons said. He noted: that the five companies <br />previously were sued by either Frle\:lland or Industrial <br />Constructors Corp. "The litigation simply makes them directly <br />subject to claims brought by the state, which we applaud," <br />Lyons said. ' <br /> <br />Salazar said the defendants could be grouped Into three <br />categories. Bechtel, the world's largest construction company, <br />built and operated the ore-crushing and cyanide systems that <br />contributed to acid mine drainage In the 1980s, he said. <br /> <br />ASARCO leased the mine for six ye~rs In the 1970s, Atlantic <br />Rltchfleld Is the successor to Anaconda Minerals, which did <br />significant exploration and site work at the mine, work that <br />contributed to heavy-metal runoff Into the Alamosa River, <br />Salazar said. The EPA previously settled Its claim against both <br />companies after determining they played very minor roles In <br />the calamity, said EPA attorney Nancy Mangone, <br /> <br />The third group Includes Sunoco arid A.O. Smith, which mined <br />the site back In the 1930s and 1940s. <br />, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />, <br />"In our view," Salazar saldll "they \'Iere the second-largest <br />contributor to the problem besides Galactic Resources," owned <br />by Friedland. <br /> <br />; <br />This Is the second time the state h~s amended Its original 1996 <br />lawsuit. Salazar said the state ma~ add yet another company to <br />the suit. , <br /> <br />Copyright 2001 The Denver Post. AU rlgh~S reserved. <br />ThlJ material may not be published, broa~cast, rewritten or redlstrlbu~ed. <br /> <br />@ Related articles <br /> <br />IDPOfromA.'Z . <br /> <br />. ,I{ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />hltp://www.denverpost.com/news/newsOl03t.htm <br /> <br />1/3/2001 <br />