EPA chief: Gold King Mine disaster claims to be fully reviewed by month’s end
About 70 of the claims initially were rejected by the federal government
The Denver Post

Jerry McBride/The Durango Herald via AP, File
WASHINGTON — EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said Monday he plans to have reviewed by month’s end a stack of about 400 claims filed mostly by residents of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation over damages they sustained during the 2015 Gold King Mine disaster.
That’s not to say the checks will arrive soon — Pruitt and his staff didn’t give a timeline for when Uncle Sam might pay up for the government’s role in releasing 3 million gallons of contaminated water into the Animas River watershed near Silverton.
But Pruitt said that he and the legal team at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are aiming this month to make recommendations on all 400 claims, including about 70 that initially were rejected by the EPA on the grounds the agency had sovereign immunity from this kind of legal action.
“This agency, and more particularly the U.S. government, caused harm to citizens in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah and it had not taken steps to address that,” said Pruitt, speaking to a small group of reporters in his Washington, D.C., office.
Photos: Laser light show wraps up Fourth of July fun in Aspen
Aspen’s Fourth of July festivities came to a close after the sun had set on Monday with a laser light show.

Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism
Readers around Aspen and Snowmass Village make the Aspen Times’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.
User Legend: Moderator
Trusted User