"The Environmental Protection Agency is violating laws requiring public input by working behind closed doors to draft regulations for a proposed uranium mine in northern Colorado, activists said, citing agency documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

The EPA said Thursday it isn't violating any laws but is collecting information in anticipation of a permit application from Powertech USA, which wants to mine uranium using technology that injects a solution underground to dissolve and extract the mineral.

Attorney Jeff Parsons of the Western Mining Action Project, which obtained the EPA documents, and Matt Garrington of Environment Colorado say any rules for so-called "in-situ" uranium mining should be devised publicly and on a national level."

Judith Kohler reports for the Associated Press December 18, 2009. [2]