Weighing the Impact of the Gold King Mine Spill—And Hundreds of Inactive Mines Like It

Recent EPA documents permit us to create a picture of the activities taking place when the Gold King Mine spill occurred and its impact.

Cement Creek, which was flooded with millions of gallons of mining wastewater, meets with the Animas River in Silverton, Colorado, on Aug. 11, 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency accidentally released approximately three million gallons of wastewater into the creek from the Gold King Mine, polluting the larger Animas River downstream. Theo Stroomer/Getty Images

Earlier this month, contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) trying to characterize the quantity and quality of water from the Gold King Mine in Colorado accidentally disturbed a blockage retaining water in the abandoned mine. The breach led to the release of about three million gallons of water contaminated with acidity, metals, and other pollutants into the Animas River.

Since then, the EPA has released an analysis of the water quality and bottom sediments during and after the mine spill plume passed through locations in Colorado. In addition, I have located and perused some data for the Animas River before the spill. The EPA also released Task Orders and Statements of Work for the Gold King Mine from 2013 to 2015.

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