Piles of mine waste that loom above the historic Colorado mountain town of Leadville are a...
Nick Michael with CJK Milling stands on top of discarded piles of ore in Leadville, Colo. on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP City councilmember Christian Luna-Leal poses for a portrait in front of a detention pond containing mine waste in Leadville, Colo., on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Runners pass by piles of ore discarded decades ago in Leadville, Colo., on Friday, June 28, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP A pile of ore discarded decades ago is seen in Leadville, Colo., on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Brice Karsh, who owns a fishing ranch downstream of a proposed project to mine gold from piles of ore discarded decades ago, speaks about his concerns at his ranch in Leadville, Colo., on Friday, June 28, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Piles of ore discarded decades ago are seen with the town of Leadville, Colo., in the background on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP An old mining structure is seen in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Gary Knippa, owner of CJK Milling, walks down the stairs at the company's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Ore grinding balls are seen at CJK Milling's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Nick Michael with CJK Milling discusses a project map at the company's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Nick Michael with CJK Milling points to a project map at the company's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Gary Knippa, owner of CJK Milling, stands outside of the company's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Machinery is seen at CJK Milling's mill in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP Nick Michael with CJK Milling holds an example of the byproduct of a proposed project to mine gold from piles of ore in Leadville, Colo., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Thomas Peipert/AP…
MATTHEW BROWN, BRITTANY PETERSON and THOMAS PEIPERT