EPA Mine Disaster Update

[LongBlade]

Huh. So the guy who owned the land where the EPA screwed up told them he didn't want them messing around for fear that they'd create another accident as they had done previously on his land...

The owner of the Colorado's Gold King Mine says he tried to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from gaining access to his property, but that he relented after the agency threatened to pound him with ruinous fines if he refused.

Mine owner Todd Hennis said that he had little choice four years ago but to allow in an EPA-led crew, which triggered the Aug. 5 blowout that sent 3 million gallons of toxic orange wastewater down the Animas River.

"When you are a small guy and you're having a $35,000 a day fine accrue against you, you have to run up the white flag," Mr. Hennis told CBS4 in Denver.

Mr. Hennis said he opposed having the EPA investigate leakage from the inactive mine near Silverton, Colorado, because he had tangled with the agency in previous years over its work at another mine he owns in Leadville, Colorado.

"I said, 'No, I don't want you on my land out of fear that you will create additional pollution like you did in Leadville,'" Mr. Hennis told Colorado Watchdog.org. "They said, 'If you don't give us access within four days, we will fine you $35,000 a day.'"

source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/20/mines-owner-i-tried-keep-out-epa-was-threatened/

[DoctorQuest]

Sure. That absolves him of all responsibility for creating the mess in the first place.

BTW. Crappy news website unless you like bewbs. :)

[mirth]

There's a much bigger problem than what happened at the Gold King mine and it shouldn't just be left up to taxpayers to foot the clean up bill.

http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_28647978/colorado-faces-230-mines-leaking-heavy-metals-into?source=pkg

After the 3 million gallon Gold King Mine blowout, Colorado officials began scrambling to create a map of a problem they've known about for years: 230 other old mines statewide leaking heavy metals-laced muck into headwaters of the nation's rivers.

These old mines have leaked so much for so long, thousands of gallons a minute, that state agencies don't track the combined toxic flow. But by the estimates at sites where the Environmental Protection Agency has stepped in, the overall discharge equals at least one Gold King disaster every two days — spreading cadmium, copper, lead, arsenic, manganese, zinc and other contaminants.

[Nefaro]

I learned, from my father and other farmland owners, to tell the EPA "no thanks" when they show up on your door asking permission for anything. 

Was told that they're just looking to make some Agency cred/promotion via issuing fines wherever possible.  After hearing what sounded alarmingly like many questionable door-to-door salesman pitches from one of these EPA officials, directly, I understood what they were talking about.

[OJsDad]

Mirth, I couldn't get the link to work.  Denver Post sight is horrible. 

Why do you say tax payers shouldn't pay the bill.  I totally agree if the companies are still in business, but if they are not, then what is the solution.

[mirth]

Mirth, I couldn't get the link to work.  Denver Post sight is horrible. 

Why do you say tax payers shouldn't pay the bill.  I totally agree if the companies are still in business, but if they are not, then what is the solution.

We could start by updating the 1872 General Mining Act, collecting royalties from mining operations on public lands and making mining companies responsible for cleanup of their sites.

[OJsDad]

I'll agree with the changes need to the 1872 General Mining Act, with all royalties going to help with old site cleanup.

And I have no problem with making companies responsible with site cleanup.  I was finally able to read the article.  From the way it sounds that's not an issue any more. 

One of the biggest things that could help is with liability laws that will protect non government entities from helping with the cleanup. 

One other thing that wasn't clear from article is if they can actually clean up a site for good or if these are going to be issues for next to forever.

[mirth]

One other thing that wasn't clear from article is if they can actually clean up a site for good or if these are going to be issues for next to forever.

I think the only way to mitigate the effects long term is by building water treatment plants.