SHIFTING PUBLIC POLICY IN ABANDONED MINE LANDS REMEDIATION: A CASE STUDY IN THE POST GOLD KING MINE SPILL

On August 5^th, 2015 an EPA contractor attempted to excavate the top portion of the debris pile blocking the portal of the Gold King Mine above Silverton, Colorado. An incorrect assumption by the EPA and its contractor that the water level inside the mine was below the top of debris pile led to a complete failure of the mass blocking the portal. Approximately 3,000,000 gallons of acid mine water was released downstream into Cement Creek, on to the Animas River and ending in San Juan River. The accident adversely affected the water quality of downstream communities in 4 states, and incited a tremendous political and pulic reaction. The small town of Silverton Colorado was suddenly embroiled in the middle of a complex multi-state environmental crisis. In this presentation, the public policy challenges of abandoned mine lands (AML) remediation in the alpine environment are explored. The focus is on local government public administration experience in managing the gamut of policy challenges posed by this environmental disaster. The presenter’s goal is to lead scientists and other attendees into a dialogue driven discussion centered on local governments role in national scale environmental crises and the resulting restoration programs. In particular, the desire of the local government in Silverton to help inspire a new model of regional scale remediation and coordinated research programs for AML across the west will be discussed.