The latent crisis of Mine Wastewater and Colorado State of Emergency

The latent crisis of Mine Wastewater and Colorado State of Emergency

Aug 13th, 2015

crisis of Mine Wastewater and Colorado State of Emergency

On August 10, 2015 at Gold King Mine near Durango, Colorado millions of gallons of toxic sludge were accidentally discharged into the Animas River by a EPA cleanup crew.

But lets start with a bit of context:

Starting in the 1870s, miners rushed to the Silverton region to seek out gold, silver, and other valuable resources.

The entrance to the Gold King Mine has long been collapsed, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planned to clear material blocking the tunnel to install a pipe allowing to pump out contaminated water in the mine. The mine has been inactive since 1923.Acid mine drainage

Since the 1980s, EPA has wanted to declare parts of the Silverton region a Superfund site, which would trigger federal funds for intensive cleanup efforts. Environmental officials have been working for years to clear toxic metals (contaminants including cadmium, arsenic, copper, lead and zinc) and acidic (acid rock drainage) water from Colorado’s roughly 22,000 abandoned mines.

However, local residents have long resisted this move, out of concern that the bad publicity would drive away tourists. Indeed Durango’s thrives on its tourism, including rafting, kayaking, fishing, tubing and other river activities. Again a case of physical, H&S risks against socio-economic, cultural consequences, and finally risks.

In June of 1975, a tailings storage on the banks of the Animas River northeast of Silverton was breached, dumping tens of thousands of gallons of water, along with 50,000 tons of heavy-metal-loaded tailings into the Animas. For 100 miles downstream, the river ‘looked like aluminum paint,’ according to a Durango Herald reporter at the time.

A few days ago the agency was trying to clean up a toxic mess that has been simmering for decades.

Unfortunately, the definition of emergency in this industry (mining and environmental rehabilitation) comes short of including the public and other actors from a hazard exposure point of view. I wonder now what are the local residents opinions.

Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Category: Consequences, Risk management

2 responses to “The latent crisis of Mine Wastewater and Colorado State of Emergency”

  1. environment crisis says:

    Healthy environment indeed we must do together. From any corner of the world until the midpoint of the world….

  2. Mellie says:

    Great common sense here. Wish I’d thohugt of that.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Riskope Blog latests posts

  • New achievements in risk assessment and management
  • 2-05-2023
  • Print PDFNew achievements in risk assessment and management will be attained thanks to SRK Consulting merging with Riskope. Indeed, we…
  • Read More
  • Open letter to the organizer of the tailings dam round robin exercise
  • 29-03-2023
  • Print PDFDear Ryan, please receive this open letter to the organizer of the tailings dam round robin exercise. It explains…
  • Read More
  • Landslides risk assessment and monitoring
  • 8-03-2023
  • Print PDFDuring the first couple decades of our professional life we worked extensively with Landslides risk assessment and monitoring in…
  • Read More
  • Get in Touch
  • Learn more about our services by contacting us today
  • t +1 604-341-4485
  • +39 347-700-7420

Hosted and powered by WR London.