Gold King Mine Spill: EPA Response and Related Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Aug. 17, 2015 |
| Report Number |
IN10341 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Bearden, David M.;Tiemann, Mary |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
On August 5, 2015, a surge of acid mine drainage (AMD) wastewater spilled from the Gold King Mine site north of Silverton, Colorado, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed debris from a tunnel opening. The spill discharged into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River, and migrated downstream to the San Juan River into New Mexico, Utah, and tribal lands. The spill raised widespread concern about impacts on water quality, public health, agriculture, fish, and wildlife; and the adequacy of EPA's response. The EPA Administrator stated that 'EPA is taking responsibility to ensure that it is cleaned up' and has generally suspended mine site investigations. EPA removed the debris during a Superfund site investigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This statute is the principal federal authority used to remediate abandoned or inactive hardrock mining sites prioritized for federal attention and those on federal public lands. States have played the predominant role in remediating hardrock mining sites on non-federal lands.
