Three conservation groups and two government agencies have filed statements of opposition against water right permit applications filed by Energy Fuels Resources Corp., which is seeking to build the nation’s first uranium mill in nearly three decades in Paradox Valley.

More than 100 people gathered Monday night in Nunn to plead with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency to put a stop to a permitting process that marks the initial stages of a proposed uranium mine near the town.

A new wave of testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that 79 percent of the wells tested north of a World War II-era copper mine in Nevada have dangerous levels of uranium or arsenic or both that make the water unsafe to drink. The source of the pollution is a groundwater plume that has slowly migrated from the 6-square-mile mine site.

A company that wants to mine uranium in Weld County claims that proposed state rules on protecting groundwater might be illegal. Powertech USA also questions the legality of allowing public comments on setting rules that cover issues such as groundwater quality and mine reclamation. The company argues the proposed rules are too broad.

After garnering a Montrose County approval heavy with conditions and contention, an energy company now faces another challenge: A local environmental group fired a legal salvo disputing that permit and how it was obtained.

A Canadian company's push to build the United States' first new conventional uranium mill since the Cold War has cleared local hurdles — despite environmental concerns — and won wary high-level support.