Was the Gold King Mine abandoned?
Was the Gold King Mine abandoned?
Was the Gold King Mine abandoned?
The Gold King Mine spill occurred at the Gold King Mine—an abandoned mine near Silverton, Colorado—in August 2015. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) personnel and a company under EPA contract triggered the release of toxic wastewater in an attempt to remove such wastewater from the mine.
What is the status of Gold King Mine today?
The bright orange plume from the original spill is gone, but legal fights and restoration projects continue. And heavy metals from the three million gallons of mining wastewater remain in waterways used by communities, farmers and ranchers.
Who paid for the Gold King Mine clean up?
Under the finalized settlement, the company and its Canadian owner, Kinross Gold Corporation, will pay the United States $40.1 million and another $4 million to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for cleanup efforts, Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Rich Mylott said in a release.
Why did the Gold King Mine spill happen?
The Gold King disaster was caused by a contract EPA crew that was checking out the mine for future cleanup work. As they used heavy machinery to peel back a layer of rock and dirt covering the opening — or adit — orange-colored water began spilling out. And then it began gushing out.
Who owns the Gold King Mine?
The GKM shipped 711,144 tons of gold and silver ore while in operation. The mine has been inactive since then. It is currently owned by San Juan Corporation. The GKM is located in the Upper Animas Watershed in southwestern Colorado.
How far did the Gold King Mine spill go?
2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill
| The Animas River between Silverton and Durango within 24 hours of the spill. The river turned yellow from the oxidation of dissolved iron in the escaped waste water. | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 5, 2015 |
| Waterways affected | Animas and San Juan rivers |
| States affected | Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah |
What happened 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill?
While excavating above the old adit, pressurized water began leaking above the mine tunnel, spilling about three million gallons of water stored behind the collapsed material into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River.
Why did the Animas River turn yellow?
Sandstone and limestone rock formations in Hermosa Basin have led to yellow or gold coloration in the Animas River. Red Mountain is high in iron oxide. “That’s nothing more than rust,” Churchwell said. “When we get rain on the mountain, we get sediment in the creeks and the Animas.”