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Us Energy's Plan For Mount Emmons Mine Moves To Next Step

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service says it has enough information from a Wyoming company to launch an analysis of its proposal to mine molybdenum near Crested Butte.

The agency says the public will get to comment on U.S. Energy Corp.'s proposal to mine at Mount Emmons before it decides whether to approve the proposal.

Riverton-based U.S. Energy had talked with environmentalists about possibly returning its mining claims in Colorado to the federal government for something of comparable value, but talks stalled last year. The parties said then that they were willing to keep talking, but in the meantime, the company is preparing for mining.

It proposes a mine that would average about 17 million to 20 million pounds of molybdenum production annually after its third year of operation.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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