Colorado

Editorial: Threat of uranium mine in gated Colorado neighborhood drives home risk of split estates

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Editorial: Threat of uranium mine in gated Colorado neighborhood drives home risk of split estates

South T Bar Ranch is a cautionary tale for Coloradans. Beware the split estate.

Colorado law allows for surface rights of land to be split from sub-surface mineral rights. Most commonly, conflict arises in Colorado’s natural gas-rich Denver-Julesburg Basin, where the Front Range sprawl north of Denver has landed subdivisions above mineral rights owned by major corporations planning or already using hydraulic fracturing to extract the gas.

South T Bar Ranch, located northwest of Cañon City, could become a nightmare situation for homeowners compared to the problems presented with hydraulic fracturing. Even modern uranium mining — known as ablation — causes a significant disruption to surface land, although companies claim it is safer and less problematic than pit mining.

Global Uranium and Enrichment, which owns the mineral rights below the 5,200-acre gated community, has received the necessary permits to begin exploratory drilling for uranium. If the company plans to proceed and extract deposits of uranium, landowners are legally required to provide the surface access necessary for the operation.

The blame for this scenario is twofold: a lack of due diligence by land buyers and a lack of disclosure from sellers, Realtors, and title companies.

The possibility of uranium mining on this land should have significantly reduced the value of these parcels from the outset. In other words, the land should have sold for a reduced price compared to other parcels in Fremont County where homeowners owned their mineral rights.

In this instance, it was homeowners in 2008 who gathered together their mineral rights and sold them to a company that was later purchased by Global Uranium and Enrichment. Subsequent landowners missed out on the windfall from that sale.

A simple disclosure could have avoided all this heartache. We’re not saying homeowners wouldn’t have still purchased the land, but at least they would feel less blindsided or would have had the knowledge needed to negotiate a better price on the land.

Colorado’s Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate does include IN ALL CAPS an oil, gas, water and mineral disclosure. However, the disclosure only informs people about the risk of split estates; it doesn’t include specific information about whether the land being purchased is split from mineral rights. The clause merely encourages the buyer to “seek additional information.” Most buyers get the contract to buy and sell just before closing.

Title companies also do not trace the mineral rights separately, which really is an astounding lapse in the expensive services the title companies perform. Homeowners are on their own to research the ownership of mineral rights using county records or to hire an attorney to research the title and deed for them.

Where should the onus of due diligence fall?

The current system places too much of a burden on potential buyers. Colorado law already has strict rules for the disclosure of water rights and water sources, and the law should be updated so that disclosure of mineral rights is treated the same. Potential land buyers should be able to quickly see in the real estate listing whether land comes with water and minerals. The point of sale is too late to warn a potential buyer that the estate may or may not be split.

The website for the South T Bar Ranch now includes a disclosure about the split estate and the possibility of uranium mining. More homeowner’s associations, metropolitan districts and other entities should take similar steps to help potential buyers make informed decisions.

Unfortunately, it’s too late for the owners of South T Bar Ranch, who bought after the mineral rights deal in 2008 and failed to learn of the split estate through their Realtor, title company, or other investigations.

People who profited off selling the mineral rights feel vastly different about the potential for mining operations than those who purchased their property later and will not see a windfall from the operations. Some may have failed to negotiate for a reduced price, given the potential for mining.

Global Uranium and Enrichment is only seeking permits to drill wells exploring uranium deposits at this time. The possibility of an actual mining operation is still years away and will require a separate permitting process. It’s possible nothing will come of this exploration, and homeowners will be spared from having mining operations in their backyard (or nearby).

Coloradans can learn from this lesson, and those who learn they are already on a split estate, can make an offer to buy the mineral rights back before market conditions lead to exploration and extraction near their home.

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Colorado

What I’m Hearing: Colorado keeps retooling, another Liga MX bid and more around MLS

Published

43 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

What I’m Hearing: Colorado keeps retooling, another Liga MX bid and more around MLS

The offseason in MLS is in full swing and The Athletic has you covered on all the latest breaking news.

Here’s the latest I’m hearing around the league…

Colorado Rapids to acquire Sealy

The Rapids are finalizing a deal to acquire Trinidad and Tobago international winger Dante Sealy from CF Montréal, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Montréal will receive around $2 million GAM from the Rapids, sources add.

Sealy, 22, was a highly rated graduate of FC Dallas’ academy and moved to Montréal ahead of the 2025 season, enjoying a breakout campaign with nine goals and two assists.

Colorado is among the most aggressive teams in the trade market, seeking young, domestic-based talent, and Sealy is the latest example. He previously spent two seasons with PSV’s second team as well, where he made 54 appearances.

It’s a busy winter of change for the Rapids, who will name Tottenham assistant Matt Wells their next head coach, The Athletic reported last week. He has been involved in player acquisition decisions.

CF Monterrey bid for Orellano

Liga MX’s Monterrey has submitted a bid to sign Luca Orellano from FC Cincinnati, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Orellano was the subject of bids from Cruz Azul last winter, but ultimately signed a new contract to stay.

Orellano, 25, is a natural winger who has excelled in a wingback role for Cincy. He had a strong debut season with 10 goals and seven assists in 2024 but didn’t match that output this past year as he struggled with injury. He had two goals and six assists in just under 2,000 minutes.

Monterrey is one of the highest-spending Liga MX clubs and has acquired talent from MLS clubs before – including from Cincinnati, when Los Rayados signed forward Brandon Vazquez in 2024.

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Orlando City to sign Coronel

Orlando City is finalizing a deal to sign Paraguay international goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.

Coronel is a free agent after departing the Red Bulls this winter. He was one of the best players in this free agency class.

Orlando was looking to sign a new starting goalkeeper after longtime backstop Pedro Gallese departed this winter when his contract expired.

Coronel, 28, made 180 appearances for the Red Bulls, an anchor for their playoff run to reach MLS Cup in 2024, where they fell to the LA Galaxy. He made 31 MLS appearances in 2025.

Coronel has nine caps for Paraguay, starting the first six matches in World Cup qualifying. Paraguay, which will open the 2026 World Cup as the co-host U.S.’s first opponent, secured qualification in September.

Orlando has been busy to kick off its offseason, with The Athletic previously reporting the club is finalizing deals for a pair of highly-rated young Brazilian talents via the U-22 initiative: Tiago from Bahia and Luis Otávio from Internacional.

Red Bulls sign Che

The Red Bulls have signed American defender Justin Che from Brøndby, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.

Che, 22, is a graduate of Dallas’ academy and a former U.S. youth international. He has bounced around in recent years, including stints in Germany with the youth setups at Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim.

The versatile defender, who can play right back or right centerback, gives the Red Bulls – and new manager Michael Bradley – options in defense.

Che made 15 MLS appearances for Dallas before heading to Europe. He made 24 appearances for Hoffenheim’s second team.

It’s a busy winter for the Red Bulls, with The Athletic previously reporting the club is finalizing deals to send Peter Stroud to Minnesota United and Lewis Morgan to San Diego FC.

Bartlett asks D.C. to speak about future

D.C. United center back Lucas Bartlett is attracting interest on the trade market and has asked the club to discuss his future, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

Teams around MLS have called D.C. about a potential deal, as well as a club in Europe, sources say. Bartlett, 28, joined D.C. United ahead of the 2024 season and has been a key starter the last two years, making 67 appearances.

The aerially dominant center back spent time with FC Dallas and St. Louis City in his career as well.

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Colorado

United States Postal Service offers reward after mail carrier robbed in Denver

Published

13 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

United States Postal Service offers reward after mail carrier robbed in Denver

December 14, 2025 / 5:14 PM MST
/ CBS Colorado

The United States Postal Service is offering a reward for information on the person who robbed a Denver mail carrier this weekend.

According to the USPS Inspection Service, a man approached the letter carrier around 9:45 am.n. on Friday near Roslyn Street and 8th Place. Officials said he was around 5’5″ and was wearing a black mast, black jacket, blue jeans and black shoes. The USPS says a possible firearm was tucked in his belt.

CBS

They are offering a $150,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the robbery.

The USPS encouraged anyone with information on the case to contact their inspection service at 1-877-876-2455 or make a report online.

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Colorado

Medina Alert issued after hit-and-run crash seriously injures motorist in Denver

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Medina Alert issued after hit-and-run crash seriously injures motorist in Denver

DENVER — Authorities issued a Medina Alert Sunday following a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a motorist.

Police said the driver of a gold 2008 BMW X3 SUV struck another vehicle at the intersection of Sheridan Boulevard and W. 17th Avenue in Denver around 4:37 p.m. Saturday.

The crash left the driver of the victim vehicle with serious bodily injuries, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

CBI

The BMW driver fled following the crash, traveling northbound on Sheridan Boulevard, CBI said in a bulletin.

The gold BMW X3, with Colorado license plate ECB F17, sustained heavy damage on the driver’s side from the collision.

If seen, call 911 or the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000.

This was the second hit-and-run crash and Medina Alert in Denver on Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, a pedestrian in a crosswalk was seriously injured after being struck by a 2010 white Toyota Corolla, Colorado license plate EDM U42, at the intersection of Federal Boulevard and W. Kentucky Avenue.

The driver of the Corolla left the scene—heading northbound on Federal Boulevard.

No arrests have been announced.

A Medina Alert honors the memory of Jose Medina, a 21-year-old valet driver who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2011.

A taxi driver witnessed the event, followed the driver, and gave the police the license plate number, leading to the capture and arrest of the suspect.

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