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EPA leader Stephen Johnson, center, discusses the latest "Good Samaritan" abandoned mine cleanup legislation with Republican Colorado Congressman Bob Beauprez, left, and director of the Colorado Mining Association, Stuart Sanderson, right .EPA experts and elected officials met at the McLellan Mine near Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County to give a public update on the status of the law.
IDAHO SPRINGS - Against a backdrop of orange-stained mine waste near Clear Creek, state and federal environmental officials Thursday outlined their latest proposal for a good samaritan bill that could ease voluntary cleanup efforts at thousands of abandoned mine sites around the West.
"There are more than 17,000 abandoned mines in Colorado," said EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. "This is a great opportunity for people to collaborate on cleanups. President Bush is committed to removing roadblocks and removing the liability that hinders voluntary efforts," Johnson said.
At issue is the pollution-laden water that frequently trickles from orphaned mines, including numerous sites in Summit County. Often called acid mine drainage, the water can be heavily tainted with toxic heavy metals, in some cases at levels that are harmful to human health, and more frequently in concentrations toxic to aquatic life.
That includes streams in Summit County like the Snake River, parts of which are listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act. Concentrations of metals, primarily zinc, exceed state standards set to protect aquatic life in the Snake. While a Snake River cleanup has already been targeted by several groups, passage of a good samaritan law would ease the effort immensely, said Carol Russell, of the EPA's mining program.
"There are more than 17,000 abandoned mines in Colorado," said EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. "This is a great opportunity for people to collaborate on cleanups. President Bush is committed to removing roadblocks and removing the liability that hinders voluntary efforts," Johnson said.
At issue is the pollution-laden water that frequently trickles from orphaned mines, including numerous sites in Summit County. Often called acid mine drainage, the water can be heavily tainted with toxic heavy metals, in some cases at levels that are harmful to human health, and more frequently in concentrations toxic to aquatic life.
That includes streams in Summit County like the Snake River, parts of which are listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act. Concentrations of metals, primarily zinc, exceed state standards set to protect aquatic life in the Snake. While a Snake River cleanup has already been targeted by several groups, passage of a good samaritan law would ease the effort immensely, said Carol Russell, of the EPA's mining program.
The geographic scope of the problem is staggering, said Elizabeth Russell, of Trout Unlimited, the cold water fisheries conservation group that has taken a lead role in mine cleanup efforts recently. Russell, recently hired to focus on the Snake River cleanup in Summit County, said 40 percent of all headwaters streams in the West are impacted to some degree by acid mine drainage.
As now written, federal environmental rules include strict liability provisions that assign perpetual responsibility for cleanups to anyone tackling remediation at abandoned mine sites.
Johnson said that, while there have been various good samaritan proposals floating around for years, the latest version includes some compromise language that could pass muster in Congress.
Among the issues that have tangled up the legislation in the past are the extent of involvement by the mining industry, for example whether mining companies should be allowed to re-mine cleanup areas. Public involvement has also been a question mark.
"There's been a debate, through the years, what the public process should be. The president's proposal outlines that by including a requirement for a notice and comment period and a public hearing," Johnson said.
As now written, federal environmental rules include strict liability provisions that assign perpetual responsibility for cleanups to anyone tackling remediation at abandoned mine sites.
Johnson said that, while there have been various good samaritan proposals floating around for years, the latest version includes some compromise language that could pass muster in Congress.
Among the issues that have tangled up the legislation in the past are the extent of involvement by the mining industry, for example whether mining companies should be allowed to re-mine cleanup areas. Public involvement has also been a question mark.
"There's been a debate, through the years, what the public process should be. The president's proposal outlines that by including a requirement for a notice and comment period and a public hearing," Johnson said.
"We're pleased there appears to be a unified approach," said Stuart Sanderson, president of the Colorado Mining Association. "The chances of this getting passed are better than in years. We're here to support legislation that would remove barriers and disincentives to cleanups."
Ed Rapp, of the Clear Creek Watershed Foundation, said that he's been working on the issue for 14 years, and described the most recent bill as a "tipping point" that will help make the need for a good samaritan law clear to casual observers.
"We are the keepers of the headwaters streams," Rapp said of High Country communities like Idaho Springs and Summit County.
Explaining that more than 300,000 people downstream rely on those water sources, Rapp said it's easier to fix the problem at the source by reclaiming abandoned mines.
Dennis Ellis, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, also touted the good samaritan measure as an important piece of the mine cleanup puzzle. Pointing at the trickle of acid mine drainage nearby, Ellis explained that, at 20 gallons per minute, the mine site will add 10 pounds of metal to Clear Creek in the next 12 hours.
Ed Rapp, of the Clear Creek Watershed Foundation, said that he's been working on the issue for 14 years, and described the most recent bill as a "tipping point" that will help make the need for a good samaritan law clear to casual observers.
"We are the keepers of the headwaters streams," Rapp said of High Country communities like Idaho Springs and Summit County.
Explaining that more than 300,000 people downstream rely on those water sources, Rapp said it's easier to fix the problem at the source by reclaiming abandoned mines.
Dennis Ellis, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, also touted the good samaritan measure as an important piece of the mine cleanup puzzle. Pointing at the trickle of acid mine drainage nearby, Ellis explained that, at 20 gallons per minute, the mine site will add 10 pounds of metal to Clear Creek in the next 12 hours.
"That's unacceptable in a watershed that serves 300,000 people," he said.
Republican Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez said abandoned mine remediation has been hampered by a lack of common sense, and promised to work with Democratic Rep. Mark Udall to get a good samaritan measure passed this year.
"We want to deliver results. It's time for action, not continued debate," EPA chief Johnson concluded.
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
Republican Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez said abandoned mine remediation has been hampered by a lack of common sense, and promised to work with Democratic Rep. Mark Udall to get a good samaritan measure passed this year.
"We want to deliver results. It's time for action, not continued debate," EPA chief Johnson concluded.
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
