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H.R. 3602

Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015

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.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3](D-NM)Sponsor
5 cosponsors5 D
5cosponsors3committees9actions3related bills19subjects
  1. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  2. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.

    Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee
  3. Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

    Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee
  4. IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  5. IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Judiciary Committee
  6. IntroReferralH11100-A

    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.

  7. IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  8. IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  9. IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015 — Informed