Colorado is prodding the Environmental Protection Agency to pick up the pace and make good on promised cleanup at the Gold King and other inactive mines contaminating Animas River headwaters in southwestern Colorado.
Gov. John Hickenlooper, Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton this week asked EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for extra support — emphasizing the EPA role triggering the Aug. 5 Gold King disaster.
EPA officials on Wednesday made no commitment.
Colorado leaders are demanding that the EPA ensure sufficient funding for cleanup as promised, that Silverton and nearby communities get a seat at the table as promised, and robust interim cleanup of creek water as promised.
“We urge you to prioritize funding for this project as soon as possible to restore the health of the Animas River watershed, protect public health, and maintain the local recreation and tourism economy,” Hickenlooper and the lawmakers said in a letter to McCarthy.
While EPA officials have proposed a priority listing of mine sites around Silverton and say they’ll treat the Gold King cleanup like any other site, the Colorado leaders insisted that “the EPA must recognize its role in the most recent spill and its subsequent obligation to this community.”
They contend a temporary treatment plant on Cement Creek “may not operate” beyond this fall and that “this facility has the ability to treat more of the acid mine drainage in the watershed.”
They asked EPA officials to expand the scope of those water-cleaning operations, to be continued until overall cleanup is done, and to speed up reimbursement of costs that towns, counties, tribes and businesses incurred due to the 3 million-gallon deluge — caused by botched EPA efforts to drain the Gold King Mine.
“We also have heard significant concerns from local communities that the current water quality monitoring on the Animas River is not sufficient,” the letter said. “It is likely that spring runoff will remobilize the sediments and metals deposited during the spill. … The EPA must provide adequate funding. … The funds pledged to date by EPA for these needs are insufficient.”
EPA officials on Wednesday said they appreciate Hickenlooper and the Colorado congressional delegation’s interest in their process for designating National Priority List sites.
“We look forward to working with the states, tribes, local governments and other interested parties as the process moves forward,” agency spokewswoman Christie St. Clair said. “The agency is forming a community advisory group, which will play a key role to help inform the agency during the NLP proposal process and any future next steps.”
Hickenlooper and the lawmakers are “united in supporting the local communities and wanted to make it clear that this is a priority for our state,” gubernatorial spokeswoman Kathy Green said.
“The letter also makes clear that the we will hold the EPA accountable to make sure they do it right, provide adequate funding and reimburse the communities. The proposal of Bonita Peak Mining District to the national register is just the beginning and we are committed to working with the EPA throughout the process.”
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700, bfinley@denverpost.com or @finleybruce
