DENVER – News Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency was responsible for another mine spill, this time near Crested Butte, came with a quick political punch.
But the Standard Mine spill, which occurred at a Superfund site, is greatly different than the Aug. 5 Gold King Mine spill, in which 5 million gallons of orange, contaminated water poured into the Animas River in Silverton.
The Standard Mine incident, which occurred Wednesday, was limited to less than 2,000 gallons. And the spill near Crested Butte was not the result of excavation work. Gold King also never had a Superfund listing, which offers restoration dollars to blighted areas.
What is similar is that an EPA contractor is at the center of the Standard Mine spill, as was the case with Gold King. It was not clear who the contractor was. In the case of Gold King, it was Environmental Restoration LLC, which is the St. Louis-based response contractor for the EPA.
The EPA was heavily criticized in the wake of Gold King for poor communication by delaying notifications to local governments. But Crested Butte Town Manager Todd Crossett said the EPA immediately notified state and local officials after the latest incident.
The Standard Mine spill included gray-colored sediment from a holding pond at the mine. The contractor was de-watering the pond containing un-mineralized sediment and water from the lower mine adit.
The water and sediment was treated to a pH of 7, which is considered normal. The treated water was being discharged into Elk Creek. But a vacuum truck pumping water from the pond dipped into the gray-colored sediment, which led to the discharge into Elk Creek.
The material released into the creek contained a mixture of pH-neutral pulverized rock slurry and water from the mine.
Crossett said in a statement. that the Town Department of Public Works has determined that any impact to the town’s drinking water would be negligible.”
To be safe, Crested Butte is conducting its own water testing.
For the EPA’s critics, the incident offers an opportunity to pile on.
“While initial reports are that the water was not contaminated, another spill caused by the actions of the EPA calls further into question this agency’s ability to adequately execute these types of projects,” said U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.