Skip to main content
HR 3602 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Colorado Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Executive agency funding and structure Federal-Indian relations Government liability Government studies and investigations Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Intergovernmental relations Lakes and rivers Metals Mining New Mexico Pollution liability Public contracts and procurement State and local government operations Utah Water quality Watersheds

Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015

Introduced: September 24, 2015 Introduced by: Luján, Ben Ray Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 5, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Sep 25, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
Sep 25, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sep 24, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 24, 2015
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015

This bill entitles persons to compensation for allowable damages (i.e., property, business, or financial losses) under the Federal Tort Claims Act if they were injured by the spill into Cement Creek from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado. The spill occurred on August 5, 2015.

The bill establishes an Office of Gold King Mine Spill Claims within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to process and pay compensation claims.

The EPA must work with affected states and Indian tribes to develop, fund, and implement a long-term monitoring program for water quality of the Animas and San Juan Rivers in response to the spill.

The bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 by requiring certain agencies to work with affected states as well as research universities to: (1) identify the most dangerous abandoned and inactive mines, (2) establish a priority plan for cleaning up those mines, (3) update the plan as new information becomes available, and (4) develop a long-term research initiative. That initiative must evaluate the physical, chemical, and geological attributes of closed, abandoned, and inactive mines and pursue technological developments to aid in the cleanup of those mines.

Prior to carrying out mine remediation activities, agencies must: (1) provide affected tribal, state, and local governments notice of such activities; and (2) develop a spill prevention, control, and countermeasures plan for avoiding and mitigating the impacts of a spill.

What's happening now October 5, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1