Gold King Recovery Act introduced

Lawmakers from Colorado introduced a bill Tuesday that would ensure that help in the aftermath of the Gold King Mine spill doesn’t dry up.

The Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015 was introduced Tuesday by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., along with fellow Colorado Democrats, Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis. The bill will require that the Environmental Protection Agency continue to compensate those affected by the spill. It also stipulates the EPA work with states and tribes to implement long-term water-quality monitoring, identify any risks for future spills at other abandoned mines and prioritize a water treatment plant in the Upper Animas watershed. 

“The effects of the Gold King Mine spill resonated far beyond the banks of the Animas River,” Bennet said. “In addition to the acid mine drainage that polluted our river, the disaster took its toll on businesses throughout the region, particularly recreation and tourism. The community deserves a commitment to a solution for this long-standing pollution.”

La Plata County commissioner Gwen Lachelt expressed support for the bill and a future water treatment plant.  “That is a vital step for the long term restoration of the health of the Animas River,” she said.

Local businesses affected by the spill also applauded the effort. “We would like to thank Sen. Bennet for his sponsorship of the bill,” Andy Corra and Tony Miely, owners of 4Corners Riversports said.  “Not only does this bill help clarify compensation options for losses to businesses such as ours, but it puts in place actions and safeguards to help deter future accidents.”

To ensure spill victims get compensation, the bill would set up a special Office of Gold King Mine Spill Claims within the EPA.

The bill also requires the EPA and other agencies to identify the most dangerous abandoned mines across the West and establish a priority plan for cleanup.

Meanwhile, locally the EPA is shifting into the next phase of management. It announced last week it is closing down the Incident Command Post in Durango and will transition long-term operational plans to its regional offices in Denver. In addition, it has released a long-term draft monitoring plan on which it is seeking input from local, state and tribal stakeholders until Oct. 8.

The EPA noted this transition is focused on river assessment and testing operations and does not apply to stabilization of the Gold King Mine itself.

“This monitoring plan represents the next phase of this important work and reflects our commitment to continue working closely with state, local and tribal officials to evaluate the potential impacts of the spill,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a news release.

Although test results from surface water and sediment have returned to pre-event conditions, the agency said it will continue sampling out of an “abundance of caution.”

EPA recently held a call with officials from Colorado, New Mexico and Utah; the Navajo, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes; and local governments to discuss the draft plan and solicit input. The agency plans to initiate the new monitoring plan this fall.

The one-year plan will use “sound science” to monitor the Animas and San Juan rivers under differing seasonal conditions and flows to determine if fluctuations in contaminant levels mimic variability seen in pre-spill data, where available. It proposes testing water and sediment quality as well as the biological and fish community under a variety of flow conditions at 23 sites along Cement Creek, the Animas and San Juan rivers and the upper section of Lake Powell.

After the one-year period, EPA will review results to determine its next steps. It also plans to coordinate with other regulatory partners and stakeholders in an effort to share data and not duplicate efforts.

Despite the closure of the local post, the EPA will continue to offer free well testing along the Animas River through Sept. 30. Well water samples are collected from the wellhead and the tap, and results are provided directly to well owners.

To date, more than 400 private wells have been tested locally. To request a test, residents can call 844-607-9700.

To see results from the latest round of surface water tests taken on Aug. 24 - 25 or view the monitoring plan., go to: www2.epa.gov/goldkingmine.

Barbara McLachlan announces bid

When it comes to state politics, Barbara McLachlan is hoping to keep it in the family.

Last week, McLachlan, the wife of former Rep. Mike McLachlan, D-Durango, announced her bid for the state House of Representatives in District 59.

The seat was held by her husband from 2012-14 before he was unseated by current Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio. Brown, who also held the seat from 2010-12, is up for re-election next year.

McLachlan, 60, a retired English and journalism teacher at Durango High School, touted education and the environment when announcing her candidacy Sept. 16.

“As a teacher in this district for 20 years, I have dedicated my life to ensuring a high-quality education ... and I’m running for state representative to continue that work,” she said in a news release. “Our Western Slope school districts deserve our fair share of funding. I’ve seen firsthand the impact of shrinking budgets in our classrooms, and I know that when our schools have the resources they need, students learn and achieve more. We can do better.”

She also spoke of better protections for clean air and water, which she said are central to local heritage, culture and the economy. “From farming and ranching, to tourism and recreation, to hunting and fishing, it’s critical that we work together to protect our water and our environment for future generations,” she said.

Strengthening the region’s economy is another focus for McLachlan, who said the area trails the rest of the state in job growth. “While the rest of Colorado has been feeling the effects of the recovery, our Western Slope community has lagged behind. Many families are still having a hard time making ends meet and being able to save for retirement and a higher education,” she said. “We need to focus on policies that will help create good jobs for hardworking Coloradans and build a stronger regional economy.”

District 59 includes Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray and San Juan counties.

McLachlan was honored as the District 9-R Teacher of the Year in 2012 and won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the national Journalism Educators Association in 2014. A native Coloradan, she has lived in the area for 33 years and currently works as a consultant and a student teacher supervisor at Fort Lewis College.

Hoarding hobo gets jail time

A Telluride-area man is looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card after making one-too-many stops at the town’s free box.

Last week, Benjamin Yoho, 41, of Telluride and Ouray, was sentenced to six months in prison and a year of probation for amassing what amounts to a giant trash heap on national forest lands outside the mountain town. According to the case brought against him in District Court in Durango, over a six-month period last winter,  Yoho took up residence on the Uncompahgre National Forest, where he amassed thousands of pounds of junk and trash, much of it taken from the free box.

Unfortunately for Yoho, he stashed his treasures not far from the popular Jud Weibe Trail and was soon found out by local law enforcement. In May, San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters posted a video of Yoho’s campsite on Youtube. Shortly after, volunteers and government workers went to the site and bagged some 8,500 pounds of trash, which had to be taken out by helicopter.

Yoho was convicted on three charges: residing on national forest; maintaining a structure on national forest; and leaving debris on national forest. Conditions of his probation include placement at a halfway house and a ban from Forest Service and BLM lands. The court also recommended he receive mental health treatment.

“I hope this serves as a warning to all that trashing our national forest is unacceptable,” Masters said.

made a mockery of it. In the future, law enforcement and citizens need to be more vigilant in controlling abuses of the Free Box and ... make sure certain people are not using donated items for criminal purposes.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service with support from the San Miguel County Sheriff. Yoho was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dondi Osborne, of Durango.

– Missy Votel