Nearly a decade after the Gold King Mine spill polluted rivers in Southern Colorado, two senators introduced a bill to help affected communities finally receive compensation.
Haylee May reports for Colorado Public Radio.
In short:
- The 2015 spill released toxic wastewater into the Animas and San Juan rivers, impacting communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Navajo Nation.
- The new bill allows the US Environmental Protection Agency to settle claims for economic losses like lost income and crop damage that current laws did not cover.
- The legislation seeks to address financial harm caused by the spill up to two years after the event.
Key quote:
"The Gold King Mine Compensation Act clears the procedural hurdles that kept businesses that suffered economic losses due to the spill nearly 10 years ago from being made whole."
— Matt Salka, La Plata County Board of Commissioners chair
Why this matters:
The Gold King Mine spill caused long-term economic and environmental harm. This bill aims to provide justice for farmers, businesses and families still grappling with its impact, bringing closure after years of limited compensation.
