DENVER (AP) – A judge who barred federal officials from approving any activities on Colorado land that is part of a uranium mining lease program is amending his order.

The judge ruled last year that the U.S. Department of Energy violated environmental laws in approving renewed mining and milling under the Uranium Lease Management Program in southwest Colorado. He stayed 31 uranium leases on the land and said no drilling, exploration, mining or reclamation could occur there before a thorough environmental analysis is completed on potential effects of expanding the program.

This week, he agreed to a request from the Energy Department to narrowly amend the order so the department can complete the environmental analysis, comply with orders from regulatory agencies and perform other work such as air sampling.

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